Has GM fixed their fender shortage?

[Yorktown Tony]

Got the sky back late yesterday. They did a pretty good job from what I can tell. I looked closely at the replacement fender and honestly, I don't think there is any reinforcement at the attachment points where the fender normally cracks. So same fender with the same problems.


Thanks to all for your advice.

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by Yorktown Tony

Got the sky back late yesterday. They did a pretty good job from what I can tell. I looked closely at the replacement fender and honestly, I don't think there is any reinforcement at the attachment points where the fender normally cracks. So same fender with the same problems.


Thanks to all for your advice.

Just curious, what was the list price for the fender? sometimes they say it on the invoice..

[GS Stage 1]

Originally Posted by Yorktown Tony

Got the sky back late yesterday. They did a pretty good job from what I can tell. I looked closely at the replacement fender and honestly, I don't think there is any reinforcement at the attachment points where the fender normally cracks. So same fender with the same problems.


Thanks to all for your advice.

Not that I am shocked they haven't upgraded the part to address the weak points, but I am disappointed.

Glad you got your car back.

And really glad they seem to making fenders again.

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by GS Stage 1

Not that I am shocked they haven't upgraded the part to address the weak points, but I am disappointed.

Glad you got your car back.

And really glad they seem to making fenders again.

IF they are charging the over $200 like they were asking last year when I tried to order one, I would just go with DDM's fenders since they are reinforced some down there...

[Yorktown Tony]

They did not pay retail for the fender, so not sure exactly what they paid. When I was researching the fender availability I believe the quotes were around 300 dollars. If I was paying for this myself I would have gone with DDM, less money and a product that is reinforced.

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

IF they are charging the over $200 like they were asking last year when I tried to order one, I would just go with DDM's fenders since they are reinforced some down there...

I'll defer to DDM on their particular design, but note in general that making a non load bearing part stronger at the failure point is not always better. The load doesn't go away, it's carried by the entire fender structure, its side attachment points, and the screws and sheet metal attachments. If the contact point does not fail, and the load is allowed to increase beyond the load capability of the other points, then failure will occur at those points.

There might also be partial failure stresses, such as ballooning or deformation of the fender and/or any of the associated contact points.

Again, this is just a general observation. NOT an assessment of DDM's fender design, or any other fender...other than the OEM version...which we already know (based on observation) appears to fail before anything else.

[Darkwing]

Originally Posted by Bogie

I'll defer to DDM on their particular design, but note in general that making a non load bearing part stronger at the failure point is not always better. The load doesn't go away, it's carried by the entire fender structure, its side attachment points, and the screws and sheet metal attachments. If the contact point does not fail, and the load is allowed to increase beyond the load capability of the other points, then failure will occur at those points.

There might also be partial failure stresses, such as ballooning or deformation of the fender and/or any of the associated contact points.

Again, this is just a general observation. NOT an assessment of DDM's fender design, or any other fender...other than the OEM version...which we already know (based on observation) appears to fail before anything else.

While reinforcing the load bearing point will not make the load go away, it will decrease the total load on other attachment points. This is due to the fact that the reinforced area and the immediate surounding area starting at the fastening point, if done correctly, will reduce the total overall dead load applied to the other attachment points.

Edit: This is of course assuming that the plane of weakness isn't shifted to a more vulnerable area than there was in the beginning as Bogie stated.

[Rob the Elder]

Since we have drifted into mechanical engineering . . .

My observation is that cracking is a result of two different mechanisms. One is interfearance when lifting. I dont see any viable improvement in the overall design making the fenders able to accept the lifting load.

The second source of cracking is apparently vibration due to weakness at the lower attachment point. Reinforcement is likely to help reduce or eliminate vibration induced cracking

[Darkwing]

Originally Posted by Rob the Elder

Since we have drifted into mechanical engineering . . .

My observation is that cracking is a result of two different mechanisms. One is interfearance when lifting. I dont see any viable improvement in the overall design making the fenders able to accept the lifting load.

The second source of cracking is apparently vibration due to weakness at the lower attachment point. Reinforcement is likely to help reduce or eliminate vibration induced cracking

So it all comes down to vibrations and cracks.

[MidniteBlues]

Originally Posted by Darkwing

So it all comes down to vibrations and cracks.

ACTUALLY it IS putting stress weights on the lifting points by IMPROPERLY lifting the car..IE thereby needing hockey pucks (or other means) to alleviating putting weight OR any stress on the lifting points..
Most damage happens because the tech makes CONTACT on the fender while lifting our kappas..

[Darkwing]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

ACTUALLY it IS putting stress weights on the lifting points by IMPROPERLY lifting the car..IE thereby needing hockey pucks (or other means) to alleviating putting weight OR any stress on the lifting points..
Most damage happens because the tech makes CONTACT on the fender while lifting our kappas..

Improper lifting will damage any car. I recall seeing a guy alongside the interstate trying to change a tire in one of those old cars with the slotted bumpers by trying to place the hook intended for the bumper under the lip of the wheel well opening. You're right though because the authorized service facility should be smarter than that dumazz was.

[captjohn]

Can you guys tell me how to find DDM? I searched and found DDM Tuning. My body shop replaced a right fender my wife damaged on a curb last may and the part was $281. She did it again and now the part is $467!

[skybus]

Originally Posted by captjohn

Can you guys tell me how to find DDM? I searched and found DDM Tuning. My body shop replaced a right fender my wife damaged on a curb last may and the part was $281. She did it again and now the part is $467!

Is this fender part the panel and removable piece behind each front wheel, left and right side?

Unless I've not looked close enough, I believe anything in front of the front wheels would be part of the entire front bumper assembly.

[captjohn]

Originally Posted by skybus

Is this fender part the panel and removable piece behind each front wheel, left and right side?

Unless I've not looked close enough, I believe anything in front of the front wheels would be part of the entire front bumper assembly.

Yes, it's the panel you remove to replace the battery between door and wheel on the right side.

[Rob the Elder]

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