Spring is the time to get your car looking good again after a long winter. Winter roads can cause a lot of damage to vehicles, such as damage caused by sliding into guardrails or other vehicles. If you have a damaged fender, you can do something about it without going to a collision shop. Average Do-It-Yourselfers should be able to change a fender on their own. Here is how you can change a fender on an average pickup truck.

You Will Need:

• Replacement Fender
• Ratchet Set
• Ratchet Extension Bar
• Pry Bar

Purchase A Replacement Fender

You can buy a new fender from a local auto scrap yard or an auto parts store like Hardys Auto Parts LLC. You can usually order a new fender that matches the color of your vehicle. To find the exact color match, look for a sticker on the inside of your driver's door or in the engine compartment that has the color code for your vehicle printed on it – this should be in the lower left-hand corner of the sticker. Give the color code to the auto parts store at the time of order, and they should be able to find you a fender that matches the color of your pickup truck.

Remove Your Fender

There are usually six bolts that hold the fender onto a pickup truck. Two bolts are located on top, two in the door jamb, one on the bottom, and one by the headlights. Start at the bottom and loosen and remove all the bolts. You will need to use a ratchet extension to reach the bolts in the door jamb. You might also have to use a pry bar to loosen the fender once the bolts are removed, but be careful because once the fender is loose it can easily drop to the ground and on your foot.

Install The New Fender

Set the fender into place and replace the bolts. (Do not tighten the bolts just yet.) Position the fender by moving it around and making sure you can open and close the pickup truck's door without it hitting the fender. You also want to make sure there is a little space between the headlight and the fender. Tighten the bolts down once the fender has been properly positioned in place.

If you had damage done to a fender on your pickup truck during the winter, you can save a lot of money by buying a replacement fender and putting it on yourself.