DIY: Bushwacker Fender Flare Installation

Rockoma5 · Sep 19, 2014

thos look awwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssssssssssome

mikevee · Sep 19, 2014

These are awesome!

08FireRescueTaco · Nov 29, 2014

I have a question. I have an 08 access cab I had a local truck accessories place install mine been on for 2 years and I just noticed that all 4 fenders the top sections I can pull back from the truck. Is it supposed to that? The bolts are still there an are tight but there not attached to the fender, it's like just the side bottoms are keeping them on.

bjmoose · Nov 29, 2014

08FireRescueTaco said: ↑

I have a question. I have an 08 access cab I had a local truck accessories place install mine been on for 2 years and I just noticed that all 4 fenders the top sections I can pull back from the truck. Is it supposed to that? The bolts are still there an are tight but there not attached to the fender, it's like just the side bottoms are keeping them on.
Click to expand...

Yep.

08FireRescueTaco · Nov 29, 2014

Damn ok. All these years and I didn't know that

tuna · Nov 30, 2014

Must say these look awesome and are now on the Santa's wish list... the contrast from the black makes it look even better. Would love to see these on a silver sky

Ocatacomawells she's looking very sharp!

ccress83 · Mar 15, 2015

I tried going the cheaper route and bought a set off of another website. There not bushwacker but look identical. There made for the 2005-2011, i have a 2012, they fit fine but i dont like how i cant attach them along the top at all. I wont put them on untill i figure out how to get them secure along the top. I tried to return them and the company was gonna charge a 15% restocking fee on top of shipping. So i said screw that ill try and make them work. If not then I just ate what I paid for them. I did find this video on you tube so i may have to buy smaller bolts with some play in them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8GLwZzkMcY

oh crap its him · Mar 15, 2015

This was a concern for me as well at first. Not sure about the off-brand, but with the Bushwackers once you get them installed they hold very tight against the body. I've never had any issues with mine coming loose.

Crosis · Mar 15, 2015

I bought a set of these a year ago and still haven't put them on. I don't have a lift yet and my Duratracs are 265's so they don't even extend past my stock flares I think it will look goofy as shit to have the wider flares with 265s. Since these Duratracs seem to never wear out, I don't think I will ever install my Bushwackers.

oh crap its him · May 6, 2015

Hey guys, just wanted to give a quick update on these flares. I've had them on since September 2013, and just recently removed them to repaint and replace the hardware. I had initially painted the bolts and a lot of the paint chipped off so I'm installing all new hardware and weatherstripping. So far these have held up great, and I haven't had any issues with hardware rubbing on the paint or any rusting. The weather stripping has held up very well and no issues with the flares warping or loosening. I ordered a replacement hardware kit from Summit Racing for ~$40, but it looks like pricing across the board has increased to $112 for some reason. A few of the bolts did loosen a little so I'll be using some blue locktite this time around, and won't paint the bolts since the paint that I used didn't really hold up to the elements.

Hope this helps!

ODNAREM · May 6, 2015

Nice write up!Looks good!

ODNAREM · May 6, 2015

Nice write up!Looks good!

Up2NoGood · May 17, 2015

Subbed, nice write up

WHT.RUS · Jun 1, 2015

Did you have to drill a new hoke to the bumper?

oh crap its him · Jun 24, 2015

WHT.RUS said: ↑

Did you have to drill a new hoke to the bumper?
Click to expand...

yes, two of them. pretty easy though.

Nate15 · Jul 11, 2015

How many spacers did you use?

JD Hog · Aug 12, 2015

Wildcat[OP] initial post: ↑

I just recently installed a new set of Bushwacker Pocket Style fender flares on my 2013 DCSB. These come with installation instructions, but some of the steps aren’t totally clear so I thought if anyone else performed this mod some pictures might help. They come flat black with silver metal bolts. I had the flares painted to match my truck and the color is spot on.

I am going with an all-black accessory theme with mine so first I spray painted the bolts and washers using primer and then matte black. I just used a cardboard box with holes punched in it to old the bolts. I put down a piece of wax paper to try and prevent the bolts and washers from sticking to the cardboard. It worked pretty well.

Then you attach all of the bolts around the edge of the fender flare. The factory fenders and mud flaps have to be removed which is really easy. I started with the back ones. Just take out the bolts on the underside of the wheel well and pull from the bottom on one side and work the rest of the way around. It will pop right off.

The main flare on the front comes off the same and is just as easy, but don't forget to take out the two bolts up under the wheel well in the middle.

It pops right off. You have to take some pliers and turn out the plastic clips that held them on. The blue ones come out real easy, but the orange ones will fight a little.

The small flare on the front bumper was kind of difficult to remove only due to the clips holding it in place. First you must remove the two screws on the bottom edge of the bumper holding on part of the black plastic wheel well. Then pull it toward the wheel and down to expose the blue clips that need to be removed.

There are seven that have to be removed and about three of them are hard to get to, but it can be done.

There is one clip at the top hiding that you have to get to through a hole in the wheel well.

I used a flat head screwdriver to push the tab on the clips to get them out. Like I said, this part wasn't very fun, but it is doable. Once the clips are out, the front piece will fall right off.

Next I put on the rubber stripping that comes in the kit. Just do as the directions say, pull a little bit of it off and push it around the edge. Goes on easy and just cut it off when you get to the end point. Make sure you know exactly where the end point is before cutting though. May have to hold it up next to the truck to see where it makes contact. Pretty straight forward though.

Then you're ready for installation. The rear ones just line up with the factory holes and you just put in the bolts that are supplied with the kit and tighten down. Be sure not to over tighten because they are just screwing into plastic. There is a little spacer that goes on at the back end to add additional support.

The front two pieces bolt together and then are placed onto the truck as one piece. There are two black clips per flare on the front that use two little black screws to hold it up in the middle. Follow the directions by marking the spot where they need to be and stick the clip in the sheet metal with the hole facing downward.

Three bolts go on the rear and one bolt on the front, then the two little screws in the middle.

The front piece that attaches to the bumper needs to have two holes drilled through it for the flare to be attached. You are just drilling through the plastic bumper, so it is real easy. There are four longer bolts that match the other 42 little ones and this is where they go. Bolt them on and the fenders are installed!

Go back and lift up the piece of black plastic wheel well and use the screws you removed to reattach it.

That is all there is to it!

Pretty easy and mostly straight forward, just takes a little time. I'm guessing it took me about 3 hours or so total. Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks ! Might be something I think about in the future .

boris7 · Sep 18, 2015

sub'd

jpachard · Sep 18, 2015

How much wider are these than factory flares? I've heard conflicting information on this.

Cheers, James

Slipstream87 · Sep 18, 2015

not much... but every little bit counts when it comes to rock chips imo. an inch?

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