Cheap Fender Apron Fix

The fender apron on the left hand side of the truck was starting to rot off so, being a good Toyota owner, I went to my local dealership and inquired on how much a replacement part would be. I was expecting 20-30$ maybe as much as 40$

They quoted me 100$

ONE. HUNDRED. DOLLARS.

Look, I love Toyota and hate rigging stuff, but I love money and hate being overcharged more.

So, in the spirit of halfassery and drunken backyard mechanics everywhere. Here's a little step-by-step tutorial on how not to get ripped off for a piece of cheap rubber.

Step 1: Remove grungy old Fender Apron, put aside...


Step 2: Buy 22$ worth of cheap rubber carpet at your hardware store...


Step 3: Use your old apron as a pattern to trace on top of the carpet with a silver tip pen (or whatever you have handy) Don't forget to mark where the holes go...


Step 4: Cut the carpet in the shape of the original Fender Apron, then stand back to admire your work and have a good laugh at how much money you saved. Perhaps have a beer (or two) in celebration...


Step 5: Punch the holes using a screwdriver... or whatever. Then, using the wrong kind of pushpins because you're a nitwit who never measures things, try to install the new fender apron anyway while swearing such copious amounts of profanity that the old lady next door cackles in delight. When that doesn't work go back to the store for the correct size pins. Install correctly this time.

I'm posting this, not because I actually think it'll be useful for the genuinely mechanically inclined people out there, but because I wanted to show the younger guys reading this forum (and the mechanically timid) that literally anyone can work on their truck and end up with something that almost resembles something professional. Note: Had I been lazier I could have just wrapped electrical tape around the original, too small, pushpins to increase their size and just jammed them in there but I wanted to do something that wouldn't be too ashamed to post on a public forum. So I went back and spent the 4 bucks on the correct pins.

So what's the real lesson here? If I can do this, you can do this. Have faith in yourselves kids, and don't get ripped off.

 

I never knew anything went there mine were long gone when I bought the truck

What is it that they do??

 

Suppose to Keep mud and rocks from getting up into the engine bay.

 

I bet that works real good

I try to stay only on hard surface roads if I can

 

You don't happen to remember the size of the push pins/clips? I need to replace them on my '15 as the Toyota mechanic broke them, then just stuffed them back in to make it look good. I went out to the garage and found the apron hanging by just one clip!

 

For the sake of others searching this topic, I can confirm that these pop rivets work:

Trim Panel Push Retainer Clip, for Toyota Lexus GM 90467-07041

$11 Autobahn88 Push-Type Clip, fits for GM,Geo Metro Tracker 1989-On,Suzuki,Toyota,Hyundai (OEM: 96057846, M619582, TQ696C07, 09409073085PK, 9046707041, 8615522000) (Pack of 20)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HFTP22G

These clips for Nissan also work, but it's a tighter fit. So I used them in the holes that were larger, for whatever reason.

CIKIShield 50 Pcs Retainer Clips and One Plastic Fastener Remover - Stronger Than Original

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071FZQRC2

 

OP - good idea - thanks for posting.

Yes - $100 for a piece of rubber apron is nothing short of rape.