Beating your pinch weld flat with a sledge hammer. --Let's discuss!

https://geartechcustoms.com/shop?olsPage=products/toyota-tacoma-fend-x-wheel-liners

 

Here’s the direct link:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fend-x-wheel-liners.557518/

I thought I had pics in there but I guess not lol. I have to find the other thread later

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fend-x-wheel-liners.557515/page-6
Found it lol. Post #116 is when I started the install

 

Awesome thank you.

 

Alright boys and girls, are reading this obsessing of this thread for a couple of weeks I finally decided to do the deed. I had multiple people suggest that I cut the weld first and fold it in, but I went with what seems to be the consensus here, hammer out for the win! I can confirm, it was the right move.

I removed the fender flare and liner first and used a four lb sledge quickly wrapped in a T-shirt. I’m super happy with the results!

Thank you all for doing what you do, contributing. I couldn’t have done it without you.

 

Nice work!!

 

Im getting ready to do this, just waiting to find a welder to do my cab relocation kit.

 

Anything else I need besides the Big F*ckin’ Hammer? 4lbs should be good? Should 1 or 2 tubes of seam sealer enough?

 

Couldn’t you use vice grips to fold it over and then start hammering?

 

Nope. Just a hammer wrapped in a t-shirt. I used the brushable seam sealer.

The vice grips might work, but I have my doubts. It doesn’t hurt to try.

 

I didn't need any sealer, I wrapped my mini sledge in that foam that you'd put in the bottom of a tub and electrical tape. Slowly hit it from one end of the seam and work your way across back and forth till its all the way over to prevent any cracking.

 

Did you remember the elbow grease?

 

Still have to roll a coat of seam sealer and then the rubber coating.

 

Wondering if anyone has a template for fender liners to cover the big gaping mud catcher right behind the pinch weld after doing this? I don't want it to rot out in there. I trimmed my fenders back 2 inches as well.

 

Last part almost made me spit my coffee out laughing

 

Because it's easier to ask than go pull my fender liners at the moment....I have 255 85 r16s and I rub on the upper fwd fender well after big bottom outs....it looks like there is a pinch weld behind the liner there too? I assume if yes then I just follow the same procedure?
Thanks!

 

You can use ABS plastic and make them yourself. You can also buy the Fend-X, then basically do it yourself. It’s the most difficult and time consuming mod that I’ve done, but it does look a lot better.

Did you keep the insulation that goes there? I used a Dremel tool and shaved off the foam so I could still reuse it to help keep the sound down.

 

At this point I have had no liner for a while now and I've shaved my fenders. I'll probably do another round of shaving too when I get the courage to go for seconds. My first time I attempted with a dremel and it wasn't pretty. This time I bought an Air Panel saw so hopefully it goes better and smoother. As for how to mount new liners, I don't have tabs anymore so I'd have to make something.

 

To mount them I just drilled holes and used L brackets. Make sure that the screws you use don’t need a nut on the back side. That makes things much easier.