Front Inner Fenders

Bryan410 · March 29, 2009

Well, had the cosmetic damage on the truck fixed a while back and they also changed the passenger side plastic inner fender well. Ever since the passenger tire rubs on hard rights and makes a little annoying noise. Nothing major, only when as far over as possible, and the tire just barely rubs the back of the fender. Drives/rides perfect other than this. Of course, the dealer says this is 'normal' for these newer trucks. BS, wasnt like it before and its the same stock size 245/70/17 winter tires as before it went in. Went out and took some measurements. From the sheet metal (which they didnt touch) the measurements were the same on each side, but from the fender wells the passenger tire is back almost a inch. So I looked a bit more and notice some differenences in the plastic wells between sides. I know ones a driver side and ones a passenger side, but i dont see why these differenences are there (peice sticking out on one but not the other, cant see anything in the engine bay for it to be needed, and the cut out for suspension to come through is different as well), would think they would be pretty much mirrors of each other. I took some pics anyway (which now I can not find, will have to try again). So my question is it possible they they used the wrong fender well, perhapes one for a 2WD, a Yukun, avalanch, ect.? Or just a bad install job? Should also be noted that the new bumper is more than a 1/4 inch lower on the passenger side, enough that I noticed it the first time I walked out the driveway after having it replaced, and also shows the quaility of the job they did.

Also, the driveway isnt perfectly level be it the asphalt is 20 years old and the frost goes pretty deep here, so the truck coulda been flexing a bit which may of caused the differences in the measurements, but then again, no differences in the measurements for the sheet metal.

Thanks.

Bryan410 · March 29, 2009

Managed to find two of the 7-8 pictures i took.

Be forewarned, theres some heavy road salt up under her that may scare some of you...

These are both of the difference between the rear of the tire and the fender.

The first is the driver side, the other is the passenger.

From these pics I dont see how the measurements to the sheet metal were the same from both sides, but I measured each one 2 or 3 times, perhaps im losing my mind.

Anyway, it clearly shows one (passenger) farther back than the other.

EDIT #2

Just notices, the angles between these 2 shots are completely off, which pretty much makes them useless, oh well.

PS

anyone else missing the end caps on their factory step bars?

was missing 3 back last summer, don't know if the lone one is left or not.

Mighta been someone doing a parkin' lot job to replace theirs...

Trav_13 · March 30, 2009

Managed to find two of the 7-8 pictures i took.
Be forewarned, theres some heavy road salt up under her that may scare some of you...

These are both of the difference between the rear of the tire and the fender.

The first is the driver side, the other is the passenger.

From these pics I dont see how the measurements to the sheet metal were the same from both sides, but I measured each one 2 or 3 times, perhaps im losing my mind.

Anyway, it clearly shows one (passenger) farther back than the other.

EDIT #2

Just notices, the angles between these 2 shots are completely off, which pretty much makes them useless, oh well.

PS

anyone else missing the end caps on their factory step bars?

was missing 3 back last summer, don't know if the lone one is left or not.

Mighta been someone doing a parkin' lot job to replace theirs...

What kind of Cosmetic Damage did you have fixed??

Possible that the Frame is Tweaked....seems like most of the newer GM Trucks....if they get tapped just right it could cause the frame to give a little bit and bring the wheel back on one side?

Bryan410 · March 30, 2009

Managed to find two of the 7-8 pictures i took.
Be forewarned, theres some heavy road salt up under her that may scare some of you...

These are both of the difference between the rear of the tire and the fender.

The first is the driver side, the other is the passenger.

From these pics I dont see how the measurements to the sheet metal were the same from both sides, but I measured each one 2 or 3 times, perhaps im losing my mind.

Anyway, it clearly shows one (passenger) farther back than the other.

EDIT #2

Just notices, the angles between these 2 shots are completely off, which pretty much makes them useless, oh well.

PS

anyone else missing the end caps on their factory step bars?

was missing 3 back last summer, don't know if the lone one is left or not.

Mighta been someone doing a parkin' lot job to replace theirs...

What kind of Cosmetic Damage did you have fixed??

Possible that the Frame is Tweaked....seems like most of the newer GM Trucks....if they get tapped just right it could cause the frame to give a little bit and bring the wheel back on one side?

Found a chunk of ice in a a little snow bank to a parking lot.

Pushed in the bumper, and town up the plastic piece with the fog light below

Had it up on the ramp a few times, first to inspect it, then to fix it, and then again when they needed to re-do the alignment. Couldnt noticed anything bent or buckled or anything, and the people who did the fix at the dealership said the frame was fine and was aligned, though i dont know how much i trust them. Might just take it to somewhere independent and have them measure the fram, but there are several difference in the two innder-fenders, but maybe thats just the way it is

jimbello · March 30, 2009

Well, had the cosmetic damage on the truck fixed a while back and they also changed the passenger side plastic inner fender well. Ever since the passenger tire rubs on hard rights and makes a little annoying noise. Nothing major, only when as far over as possible, and the tire just barely rubs the back of the fender. Drives/rides perfect other than this. Of course, the dealer says this is 'normal' for these newer trucks. BS, wasnt like it before and its the same stock size 245/70/17 winter tires as before it went in. Went out and took some measurements. From the sheet metal (which they didnt touch) the measurements were the same on each side, but from the fender wells the passenger tire is back almost a inch. So I looked a bit more and notice some differenences in the plastic wells between sides. I know ones a driver side and ones a passenger side, but i dont see why these differenences are there (peice sticking out on one but not the other, cant see anything in the engine bay for it to be needed, and the cut out for suspension to come through is different as well), would think they would be pretty much mirrors of each other. I took some pics anyway (which now I can not find, will have to try again). So my question is it possible they they used the wrong fender well, perhapes one for a 2WD, a Yukun, avalanch, ect.? Or just a bad install job? Should also be noted that the new bumper is more than a 1/4 inch lower on the passenger side, enough that I noticed it the first time I walked out the driveway after having it replaced, and also shows the quaility of the job they did.

Also, the driveway isnt perfectly level be it the asphalt is 20 years old and the frost goes pretty deep here, so the truck coulda been flexing a bit which may of caused the differences in the measurements, but then again, no differences in the measurements for the sheet metal.

Thanks.

Looks like a butchered up install to me. As you prob already no it is not normal for the tires to rub on the inner fender