The Fender Rolling Thread

[kimokalihi]

I am about to put 17x8 wheels with 225/45r17 tires on my legacy. Not only that but I just recently installed Tein coilovers and lowered the car all the way and now the tires are slightly tucked up in the wheel wells. It doesn't run one bit with the stock 195/60r15 tires but adding over an inch to the width of the tire and about .8" taller diameter is going to make them rub for sure.

The fenders will need to be rolled. I have a few questions on how this works.

Is the purpose of rolling your fenders to just flatten the lip of the fender in? Or is it also to bend the fender out?

It appears as if most shops are charging $50 per corner. Is that a typical rate? I'd rather not pay someone $200 just to roll my fenders when it seems to me like it would be pretty easy to do as long as you have some patience. The tool itself goes for $170-$270 online. Also too much to be spending on this. I'd rather try my luck with a baseball bat. I think you can also rent them. Anybody know where they rent the tool from and how much?

When rolling your fenders and bending in that lip I'm assuming you have to get rid of your fender liner right? Doesn't seem like it would still fit after that.

Here's a tutorial on the wooden baseball bat method:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... er+rolling

[kimokalihi]

I will post my results here after I either rent the fender roller, pay a shop (unlikely) or use a baseball bat and heat gun.

[sqc151]

i have a fender roller. its a bit of a process to roll fenders. thats why its $50 a fender. (its the labor involved per wheel) also when i roll fenders i roll them in. u only need to remove the rubber strip that goes around the lip. fender liner can stay. also make sure u have a heat gun to soften the metal and paint so it doesnt crack. ive rolled countless fenders and cant see the bat being that easy being u need alot of pressure to flatten the lip. besides, the roller makes it that much cleaner looking.

[Vandal_RS]

I just rolled my rear fenders with an aluminum bat and a travel hair dryer. It is not the easiest thing to do, but it works. You have to use your tire for leverage. I just bent the lip as close to flat as possible. You have to keep the paint heated if you don't want it crack. If you can rent a fender roller, I would.

As sqc151 said, for the rear you just have to remove the bit of rubber on that lip. It is The front is where your run into issues with the fender liner. I don't have a solution for that, but I don't recommend getting rid of it either.

sqc151, have you come up with a solution for the fender liner in the front?

[evolutionmovement]

I never had a problem with paint cracking. It was a long damn time ago and a small operation, but IIRC, I might have used a block of wood and a hammer. I know I didn't roll it with a bat or similar.

[Vandal_RS]

Honestly, that seems like a better idea. The paint WILL crack when using a bat (or a jack handle, did that once in a pinch), without a heat gun or hair dryer.

[SiCkSTi04]

Do it right or go home lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LdDAa6TNWE

[sqc151]

I just rolled my rear fenders with an aluminum bat and a travel hair dryer. It is not the easiest thing to do, but it works. You have to use your tire for leverage. I just bent the lip as close to flat as possible. You have to keep the paint heated if you don't want it crack. If you can rent a fender roller, I would.

As sqc151 said, for the rear you just have to remove the bit of rubber on that lip. It is The front is where your run into issues with the fender liner. I don't have a solution for that, but I don't recommend getting rid of it either.

sqc151, have you come up with a solution for the fender liner in the front?

ive never had a problem rolling the front. i have to do 2 more 91 SS's. when im done ill take pics and post here.

[edgeofvamp]

I have seen people that roll the front fender, before it is completely flattened to the inside of the fender they put some kind of clips in and then just rivet or pin the fender liner to those clips.

[cj91legss]

In NWIC on ebay, someone has the tool already kimo. I don't know his rate but it's shouldnt be as expensive as a shop.

[kimokalihi]

Wish I would have gone that route or better yet just bought my own. Stupid speedware motorsports ripped me off and beat my fenders in with a hammer.

[92.Legacy.SS]

anyone do this yet i have rota rims that are 17x7.5 and im going to ru 225/45 tires and i know im going to need to roll my fenders in the rear but still need to know about the front since the liner is there and is it possible to heat the liner up and roll that with the front fender?

[kimokalihi]

I wouldn't worry about the liner. If it rubs just cut a small piece of it out. Your tires will end up wearing a hole through it anyway if you don't and they rub. I would suggest renting a fender roller too.

[92.Legacy.SS]

yeah im not some strong black guy lol but ill see how close it is and just camber it some to compensate for the wheel poke if i have some or not but these rims/tires will be summer only