How to replace the front fender 2009-2018 Dodge Ram 1500
To replace the front fender on your Ram 1500 it couldnt’ be easier. You will be asked to set up, remove the mudguard, remove the fender as well as carry out a few other steps. You can carry out this tutorial of 13 chapters in 90 minutes. Take your 8 mm socket and your 13 mm socket and let’s get started!
Duration
90 minutes
Number of steps
13
Difficulty out of 5
3
Average savings
$160
Parts You Will Need
Tools You Will Need
Step-by-Step Installation
Chapter 1:
Lift the vehicle
Step 1/4
Turn off your vehicle’s ignition, set the parking brake, pull the hood release handle and open the hood.
Chapter 1:
Step 2/4
Loosen the wheel lug nuts on the side of the fender you want to replace.
Chapter 1:
Step 3/4
Lift the front of your vehicle. Place the vehicle on the jack stands.
Chapter 1:
Step 4/4
Don’t forget to put the wheel under the vehicle!
Chapter 2:
Informations
Step 1/1
In order to change the fender on your vehicle, you need to remove the Grille assembly, the headlight and the bumper cover.
Chapter 3:
Remove the mudguard
Step 1/3
Now you need to remove the mudguard. Unclip the ABS sensor cable retaining clip behind the mudguard.
Chapter 3:
Step 2/3
Using a ratchet and an 8mm socket, unscrew the 3 mudguard retaining screws.
Chapter 3:
Step 3/3
Next, remove the mudguard.
Chapter 4:
Unscrew the mud flap / fender screw
Step 1/2
Using a Phillips screwdriver, loosen the screw attaching the mud flap to the fender.
Chapter 4:
Step 2/2
Then, remove it.
Chapter 5:
Unscrew the fender retaining bolts
Step 1/4
You now have access to the two screws attaching the fender to the underbody. Brush the two screws and spray them with penetrating oil.
Chapter 5:
Step 2/4
Then, unscrew them using a ratchet and a 10mm socket.
Chapter 5:
Step 3/4
In the wheel arch, shift the insulating foam and, using a ratchet, an extender and a 10 mm socket, unscrew the fender retaining bolt.
Chapter 5:
Step 4/4
Do the same on the front bracket using the same tools.
Chapter 6:
Unscrew the screw inside the door
Step 1/8
Open the door.
Chapter 6:
Step 2/8
Next, unscrew the retaining bolt in the door opening using the same tools.
Chapter 6:
Step 3/8
Using a ratchet and a 10 mm socket, unscrew the first fender retaining bolt situated along the hood.
Chapter 6:
Step 4/8
Then unscrew the two central bolts using a ratchet and a 13 mm socket.
Chapter 6:
Step 5/8
Lastly, unscrew the last bolt using the 10 mm socket.
Chapter 6:
Step 6/8
Remove the plastic cover from the windshield frame to access the last fender retaining bolt.
Chapter 6:
Step 7/8
Then unscrew it with the 10 mm socket.
Chapter 6:
Step 8/8
You can now remove the fender.
Chapter 7:
Reinstall the fender
Step 1/2
Put the new fender in position on the vehicle.
Chapter 7:
Step 2/2
Start by reinstalling the retaining bolt at the base of the windshield frame and the two central bolts, without tightening them too much in order to keep the necessary play to adjust the alignment of the fender with the hood.
Chapter 8:
Align the fender with the hood
Step 1/4
The fender must be aligned with the hood while the hood is in closed position.
Chapter 8:
Step 2/4
Carefully close the hood. Then, align the fender, keeping an even spacing along the entire length of the hood.
Chapter 8:
Step 3/4
Once in position, open the hood, then finish tightening the 2 central bolts.
Chapter 8:
Step 4/4
Next, screw the other two bolts back along the hood.
Chapter 9:
Align the fender
Step 1/5
Loosely screw the bolt back onto the bracket. Then the one in the door opening.
Chapter 9:
Step 2/5
Align the fender with the door and, while maintaining alignment, screw the bolt back into the wheel arch.
Chapter 9:
Step 3/5
Put the insulating foam back in place.
Chapter 9:
Step 4/5
Then finish tightening the bolt in the door opening, followed by the bolt on the bracket and the bolt at the base of the windshield frame.
Chapter 9:
Step 5/5
You can now screw the 2 retaining bolts back onto the underbody.
Chapter 10:
Put the mud flap back in
Step 1/1
Put the mud flap back in place. Then retighten the screw.
Chapter 11:
Put the mudguard back in
Step 1/3
Put the mudguard back in place.
Chapter 11:
Step 2/3
Then tighten all the screws.
Chapter 11:
Step 3/3
Clip the ABS sensor connector back inside the mudguard.
Chapter 12:
Put the vehicle back on the ground
Step 1/2
Then, you will be able to put the wheel back on your vehicle.
Chapter 12:
Step 2/2
Put the car back on the ground and block the wheel properly.
Chapter 13:
Finalise the reassembly
Step 1/4
Put the bumper cover back in place.
Chapter 13:
Step 2/4
Put the headlight back in place.
Chapter 13:
Step 3/4
Put the Grille assembly back in place.
Chapter 13:
Step 4/4
Operation complete.
