97-06 Jeep Wrangler TJ Fender Flare Removal Guide

A truthful video about how to remove your 1997 - 2006 Jeep Wrangler TJ or LJ factory fender flares and the inevitable rusted out nutsert fiasco that awaits you. Any questions or comments, leave them below.

[@JGVETTGUY]

To make the fronts super easy to remove, slice them off with a sawzall ( you’ll see much easier) spray the screws w PB Blaster , pliers to hold the retainers and use an 8mm socket to remove. I sliced all four right off in a minute total. Not like you’ll ever reinstall them.

[@Rob-lz5iz]

When I replaced mine my two most useful tools were a recip saw and a saws-all with a metal cutting blade. You just have to accept the fact that whenever you work on an old jeep, you need to destroy whatever you are taking off.

[@lordhumongous371]

Jesus Christ!! This is gonna suck! Seriously, why were these fenders/flares designed so overly complicated? Everything else on the TJ is simple and straightforward.

[@taylorwelsh149]

So they can handle real offroading scenarios they don't bust off and they're durable, for what they are

[@leesire]

Yep, just going to tape mine and paint spray paint away. Good clip and thanks for sharing

[@davidrobinson4012]

My 1998 Wrangler fender flares are peeling. The body shop guy said to take them off and bring them over but warned that they are a pain and could strip out. After watching this I'm not gonna mess with it. Ahhh!

[@bceinvestor]

Great video. Thanks for showing the reality of removing the flares!

[@velixzeen]

Yep. Darn fine video. Nastiness all shown. Wish was easier. Flailing away at mine atm. Cheers and thanks!

[@crumpb63]

I put some Tag fender flares on my LJ about 3 years ago and I sure didn't have that many problems doing mine. It took me about three hours to remove the old flares and put the new flares on . The nutserts for the fenders they did cause a little bit of a problem but I did remove those and just go ahead and put regular bolts and nuts in its place did get my hands scratched a little bit on the plastic inner Fender protector but that was about it

[@captaincoyote1792]

Well, if I decide to tackle this…..I’ll send the wife and kids to the Cape for the weekend…..because I certainly will be using some good ol’ salty Sailor language that my kids aren’t qualified to hear just yet. Good on ya’ brother…..and Bravo-Zulu on producing a true-to-life video.

[@tps55555]

I replaced these recently and they came out really great. I highly recommend you get a nut insert tool because you will not be able to reuse all of the screws. The inserts made it a really tight and professional fit.

[@handymen5548]

Great Video! I watched this video after I got the first one off. Let's just say I have to buy new fender flares. Lol! Jeep deffinately over thought this design.

[@MrMulliganjl]

Convinced me not to try it

[@toni_bros]

To late for me 😂😂😂

[@CruentusDK1]

Yeah I didn't remove the wheel well liners. I applied pressure to the fender/flares by pulling on it, and continued to ratchet each of them loose. Busted my knuckles up good. Took a few minutes each but it worked. I was removing mine as the last owner painted them with a rubberized agent and they looked terrible.

[@neyneyhernandez2972]

Yeah I’m good EFFF that.... I’m super handy but this is just a headache waiting to happen... I’ll put some armor all on it and keep it moving!!!

[@stevep3618]

VERY helpful -- thanks.

[@johndanilson3331]

super helpful. thanks. pulling the trigger on new 7" flares now that I know what's involved.

[@BryanSpear]

If I remove the rear liners, would I be able to access the mounting bolts for the shocks?

[@toddellis5197]

Yep, I removed them... Had to Sawzall 4 or 5 of the nuts, and then dremeled them out.... How do you fix the broken/damaged nuts?

[@421CentralIowa]

I like videos like this because they teach me to just leave some things alone :). Something that should be easy isn't going to be, so I'm just going to tape off around them and paint them while installed. Annoying, but yeah...

[@RadioReprised]

That's what I did and they are easy to mask versus the misery I had doing what He did on one before I went the easy route!

[@nortonnewmann3711]

Oh hell no! If I was replacing the fenders... But looks like mask & paint with PlastiKote... wish me luck! (2001 TJ)

[@barryh5463]

Just bought a 2002 in Miss. What size ratcheting wrench is that?

[@JoeL-zr4kx]

all of a sudden im not looking forward to this. What size ratchet is needed? would it be better to replace with bolts instead for re-install purposes?

[@cmsgtjasonh5794]

8 mm is the size

[@RyanABC123]

What did you use to attach the new flares? Did you get new bolts for them or buy new OEM clips?

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Just used bolts I had laying around

[@rickyanez3213]

Thanks :)

[@BobbyHTTC]

Thanks so much for that video...the back flares are so much harder. What did you used (when installing new flares) for the few holes that were stripped? Did you end up using the nylon push rivets?

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Bolt and nut for the lower ones that you can reach and a few nylon rivets for the ones I can't reach from behind

[@ricklaine6583]

The nylon rivets is a great idea.

[@stevenhill2204]

Thanks for this vid. I thought this was going to be straightforward and simple. Nope. Just assume every nutsert will spin. I ended up cutting the stock flares about an inch from the body with a grinder, then clipped needle nose visegrips on the inserts and zipped them out with a socket and driver. As you said: This project is a pain. Also: Plan on replacing all the plastic fasteners as well.

[@frankschoenrock8585]

HOLY HELL!

[@skeletor7708]

Thanks i got to finish this nightmare tommorow, can you leave the inner liner in after getting the bolts out or do you need to buy a new one? Also did you get the miny fender out each side couldnt seem to get to those.

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Yes, i didnt remove any inner fender liner. Not sure what the miny fender is

[@JoeL-zr4kx]

I would assume he means the rocker guard pieces of trim/fender

[@wizard3z868]

You can make a nutsert install tool you need a bolt for the size of the fastner a nut to drill out the threads of and a washer an open end wrench to hold the nut and washer to the insert tight to the hole than anther wrench to tightenten down the bolt that compresse the rivitnut/nutsert. Seen a video of it like ten yrs ago worked great I had to install 8 of em took me like 20 minutes to make $5 in hardware and a $1 for a cheap drill bit that yes got destroyed drilling the threads of the nut lol

[@rudybishop9089]

Fu%% - a fate worse than death - easier to buy a new Jeep

[@The_legend_never_dies]

What size tires do you have?

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

+The legend never Dies 31 inch

[@dantevleonardo]

what front bumper do u have??

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Generic rock crawler style. Can find it on Amazon and ebay.

[@allenwilson9656]

I was gonna Bedline my flares , took me and my son about 2 hours to get 1 and half another to get off we gave up.... just wound up taping off the jeep and spraying it with them on. It's one heck of a job to get them off . But why did you tape yours off ? To keep from scratching

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Was going to tape off and bed line like you. Lol. But then decided to go with different flares

[@SeriouslyAwesome]

Thank God I have a Texas Jeep.

[@n9878f]

Say “no” to nutzerts

[@clok1966]

So what did you do with the ones you pulled out? It appears it's to damaged to put a new Nutseret in? or

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Bolt and nut easily replaces the ones you can reach from behind the fender

[@BlueCollarBachelor]

I was screaming at you Nooooooooooo! Harbor freight has a nutzert tool for cheap. If you would have properly removed those nutzerts, you could have easily fixed them!

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Or I can just do it my way and get it done.... they were completely rusted out and no tool would have prevented the final outcome.

[@captaincoyote1792]

Reverend….I’m curious about this “nutzert” tool….HF is just about four miles away.

[@BlueCollarBachelor]

@@captaincoyote1792 www.harborfreight.com/45-piece-threaded-insert-riveter-kit-1210.html

[@tps55555]

@@BlueCollarBachelor Thank you The Reverend! By far the most helpful comment on this sad situation. I took your advice and picked up a nut insert tool. It made for a very tight and professional installation. Kudos.

[@SweatPvP]

yep just gonna tape it off and spray the fenders. thanks lol.

[@chadw6448]

That's not how the removal tool works on those.

[@boknows8936]

Was considering taking off to paint them, that faded grayish color just isnt doing it for me anymore, well, guess im stuck with it, no way in hell im going through that 🤬🤣😎🍺🍺🍺

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Just paint them on the Jeep. Mask them off good

[@boknows8936]

@@JackofAllMasterofNone yeah, I was thinking the same thing, lol, thanks, it’s a lot of masking off to do though 😎😏

[@robertthrem3382]

Lol that’s not how you do it you can drill them or you can use a cut saw that might’ve been wise to use penetrating fluid or better yet give a small, propane, torch or a heat gun and watch them things come back to life when they get hot

[@JackofAllMasterofNone]

Ok.... Just trying to show people what they are in for.

[@Jake-pq3iz]

I came here then I put my oars in the water.

[@bbaker890]

"Guide" 🤣🤣🤣

[@robertmaxwell3548]

You finally got it right,using tool to add Pressure to remove Plastic nut?