DIY Indestructable Wheel Well Liners!!

[UP2MTNS]

This is just a teaser post....I'll have pics up soon. But the front right side came out great! LOL

[I Like It Sideways]

Teaser post ftl! Way to get my hopes up!
I kid. Can't wait to see this!

[UP2MTNS]

ok, here it is....so I had to custom order 2x5ft sheets of 3/16th inch black UHMW-PE. That's 1/8 thinner than what I used for the underbody protection. Still bullet proof, but a little more flexible and easier to cut.

Raw materials:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2306000-2306999/2306310_93_full.jpg

Here's the unprotected wheel well 'before' shot:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2306000-2306999/2306310_94_full.jpg
Notice the hanging wires above, and CAI intake in the top right...I've been driving around with my intake filter and right wheel about 12 inches from each other and nothing in between.

I forgot to take a shot of the new liner cut up and not mounted, but here are the results after about an hour of measuring, cutting....trying to fit.....more measuring....more cutting....more fitting....etc, etc, etc....

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2306000-2306999/2306310_95_full.jpg
2 main mounting points (bolts), and the mud flaps screw directly into the liner, and the two bolts on the front fender/sti corner splitter also bolt directly into the liner.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2306000-2306999/2306310_96_full.jpg
the bolt mounted behind the mud flap:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2306000-2306999/2306310_99_full.jpg

plenty of clearance:
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2306000-2306999/2306310_97_full.jpg


a littler rubberized undercoating paint for the rest of the wheel well...and fini!!
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/2306000-2306999/2306310_98_full.jpg

[BorkedWRX]

that's pretty sweet!

[munozppk]

Pretty Sweet! You shouldve called me up. I actually had this weekend free. Where did you get the black UHMW-PE? I going to custom make some mud flaps for my car.

[Galen]

i may have to look into doing this, my stock ones literally fell apart at the El Mirage rallyx this weekend. lol.

[I Like It Sideways]

Excellent DIY!!!

[UP2MTNS]

Pretty Sweet! You shouldve called me up. I actually had this weekend free. Where did you get the black UHMW-PE? I going to custom make some mud flaps for my car.

www.indplastic.com

you'll want to order their standard sheet sizes. The 2x5ft was a custom size, they were $70/sheet.

And I'd guess 1/8in. will befine.....3/16th is still pretty thick.

[Pedro]

Hey something you might want to try is 55Gal plastic drums.

one of those and a sawzall and you are set.

[409industries]

An excellent mod!!! I cannot stress how important it is to have good protection in there. There are several groups of wires that go through the wheel wells that need to be guarded. They are super vulnerable in there.

Nice job Jon... so when are you going to post up some templates for us???

[Not All There]

nice job man, ill be doing that soon to cover up some open areas in my rear wheel wells

[409industries]

Jon... im going to have to ask you to edit the thread title. I mean you haven't even given yourself a chance to destroy them yet. How can they be called "indestructible"???

LOL j/k

[sebhockey]

Jon... im going to have to ask you to edit the thread title. I mean you haven't even given yourself a chance to destroy them yet. How can they be called "indestructible"???

LOL j/k


I second that, and it doesn't help that he's gone for a bit and not testing them. I think we'll get around to installing group n mounts in both our cars before he tests out the new liners.

[soulbazz]

www.indplastic.com (http://www.indplastic.com)

you'll want to order their standard sheet sizes. The 2x5ft was a custom size, they were $70/sheet.

And I'd guess 1/8in. will befine.....3/16th is still pretty thick.

I assume the thickness is the decimal number listed on their website?
so 0.187 = 3/16" ?

It is like $10 for a 12"x24" sheet, how come yours was so much? because it was a custom size?

thanks

[me_jimmy]

poor o2 sensor, looks like a new one just waiting to happen

[WayBack]

you needed the foll 5', or could you have done it with a 12'x4' sheet (as seen in McMaster Carr)?

[UP2MTNS]

I assume the thickness is the decimal number listed on their website?
so 0.187 = 3/16" ?

It is like $10 for a 12"x24" sheet, how come yours was so much? because it was a custom size?

thanks

yes on the decimal question.

12"x24" is not nearly large enough to accomplish this.

The 24"x48" is the largest 'stock' size they have and its still not enough. Unfortunately they 'get you' on custom sizes unfortunately.

the 24x48 is what I used for underbody protection and its perfect.

[UP2MTNS]

I second that, and it doesn't help that he's gone for a bit and not testing them. I think we'll get around to installing group n mounts in both our cars before he tests out the new liners.

throughly tested....in winter snow, and 2 rallyX's.....7 months later everything is fine, these things are rock solid! Now I just need to do the left side.

[MConte05]

I think I need to do this too.... Any other ideas for how to beef up the stock liners aside from this? Or repair them?

Any ideas on what to replace the stock plastic pushems near the lips and the edges of the fender?

I have now gone through THREE wheel well liners, all three times they get ripped off, then sucked out by the wheel grabbing them, typically ripping out every mounting point and bending the fender itself.

[UP2MTNS]

I think I need to do this too.... Any other ideas for how to beef up the stock liners aside from this? Or repair them?

Any ideas on what to replace the stock plastic pushems near the lips and the edges of the fender?

I have now gone through THREE wheel well liners, all three times they get ripped off, then sucked out by the wheel grabbing them, typically ripping out every mounting point and bending the fender itself.

no other suggestions from me...as far as I know, these are the only 'aftermarket' wheel well liners out there. A real 'one of a kind' subaru product, haha.

[MConte05]

After looking around in my empty wheel well, I think I am going to try and JB Weld some nuts to the back of the metal tabs that are meant for the push-nut things, and then use a large plastic fender washer plus a bolt to hold the liner in, instead of using the push nuts (which get expensive quick).

I'll see how it goes, probably will do that this weekend during my mega parts install.

[UP2MTNS]

After looking around in my empty wheel well, I think I am going to try and JB Weld some nuts to the back of the metal tabs that are meant for the push-nut things, and then use a large plastic fender washer plus a bolt to hold the liner in, instead of using the push nuts (which get expensive quick).

I'll see how it goes, probably will do that this weekend during my mega parts install.

that seems like a lot of work. the sheet metal screws I used are working fine...or you could also use rivets, which would be just as easy.

[BenMara]

rivnuts or clipnuts could work too

[aerioAWD]

I just bought rivet tool. Spend about $27 Home depot with rivets. Tried a few on my clear IKEA polyurethane boards. Worked pretty good but you have to use little washers so the rivets dont pop out.

[UP2MTNS]

I just bought rivet tool. Spend about $27 Home depot with rivets. Tried a few on my clear IKEA polyurethane boards. Worked pretty good but you have to use little washers so the rivets dont pop out.

that's because those ikea boards are pretty flimsey compared to thicker uhmw plastic. do it right. (or you can get rivets with wider heads.)

[MConte05]

I ended up getting metal speed nuts with some 1/4" x 1/2" bolts, combined with a 1" fender washer. That fender liner is going nowhere.

[UP2MTNS]

1/4in. bolts? hell no it ain't going anywhere....LOL

[FastWagon]

Would you by chance be "making" these wheel well liners? Both my front fender liners on my Wagon are all broken out :( so yeah.. you make em?

[Thresham]

So, I might be making a set of these for FastWagon here...anyone else interested to help make it a little cheaper?


How much are we talking? I still haven't replaced my liner that ripped out at GH3, so this sounds appealing so far.

[UP2MTNS]

you needed the foll 5', or could you have done it with a 12'x4' sheet (as seen in McMaster Carr)?

I replied incorrectly before....12'x4' (12 feet by 4 feet) would give you PLENTY to both sides AND you'd have a LOT left over for INDESTRUCTABLE MUD FLAPS!! :)

seen here:http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?p=105404#post105404

:D
enjoy.

PS, I would actually just get the 8'x4' which will still let you make about 3 more pairs of mudflaps.....12'x'4 would give you a TON of leftover.

[scootfd3s]

doing this with a buddy of mine!!! ty ty..

[cszink]

Ah crap...the pictures aren't showing up :(
I keep tearing mine up and was wondering what I could replace them with.

[97impreza43]

fix pics pleases?? i want to see this =]

[dppaladino]

John I'd be really happy if your fixed the pictures in the original post! my liners just died.

[RS MN]

i agree with fixing the pics!

[UP2MTNS]

shiiiiiiiit....ok, I'll try to get some pics up soon....no promises though....short work week and xmas coming up...

[RS MN]

thank you :D

[Geronimo77]

Not to hassle you but any chance of the pictures getting updated?
I was driving in some mud and ripped a whole wheel liner out and have been very interested in making these.
Thanks

[UP2MTNS]

Not to hassle you but any chance of the pictures getting updated?
I was driving in some mud and ripped a whole wheel liner out and have been very interested in making these.
Thanks

updates! so I went with a simpler, more basic design that's mounted a bit more friendly. I decided to go with weld nuts this time around, but for street/rallyX application, a good sheet metal screw will do fine.

using standard 2x4' sheets of uhmw, I cam up with this basic design. The hardest part is cutting the ouside edge where its flush against the rear of the fender (where the mudflap would be).

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/992/imag0017z.jpg


weld nuts...

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/2583/imag0018u.jpg
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/9578/imag0019ho.jpg

installed!
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/9592/imag0020s.jpg

^^when I re-mount the mudflaps, I'll use that same bolt to hold down the flap at that point as well.


http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/1070/imag0021g.jpg

[RS MN]

wow that looks good!

i'd like to do this sometime :D

[bigcale]

Jon,
I need to see these in person and then I will bug you for a pattern. Is the front attached to the bumper skin?

[573]

Nice work.

I plan on doing some next week, but probably with more coverage. I'll use well nuts, too. They seem like a good intermediate between screws and weld nuts.

[UP2MTNS]

Jon,
I need to see these in person and then I will bug you for a pattern. Is the front attached to the bumper skin?

nope, just the front wheel well. doesn't really touch the bumper at all.

[chimchimm5]

I need to do this.

Soooo many ejected fender liners this weekend at the rallyx.

[dppaladino]

Thanks for the update John! looks good I will have to give this a try.

[enginerd]

Thanks for the brain candy fellas. My fender liners have never been straight and I'm finally getting around to replacing them. One side is basically hanging on for dear life.

So I am going to try to 'beef up' the stock fender liners ($30 /ea from Subaru) with a can of rubberized wheel well liner in a rattle can ($5 from auto store) to try and make them last a little longer. I also noticed that practically none of the stock OE attachment 'screws' are still around..and Subaru wanted like $1.50 per screw, and when you need like 20 of them...I looked for a cheaper alternative. Found some boxes of simpler push tab thingies at auto store for $5 for a box of 15.

And If ya'll are looking for urethane...try out Precison Urethane http://www.precisionurethane.com/polyurethane-pads.html. I got a stock 2'x4' sheet of the 90A 1/8" thick shipped to my door for $70. Gonna make new mud flaps to replace my destroyed RallyArmor basics. If my new fender liners don't hold up, I will probably try the DIY urehtane fender liners mentioned in this thread.

Thanks DI for sharing such great info!:rally-driver:

[Tarmac_GR_STI]

This is awesome! I'll definitely, eventually, do this to my car as well! lol.

I don't know why I didn't join this site a few years ago!

[chimchimm5]

So I am going to try to 'beef up' the stock fender liners ($30 /ea from Subaru) with a can of rubberized wheel well liner in a rattle can ($5 from auto store) to try and make them last a little longer. I also noticed that practically none of the stock OE attachment 'screws' are still around..and Subaru wanted like $1.50 per screw, and when you need like 20 of them...I looked for a cheaper alternative. Found some boxes of simpler push tab thingies at auto store for $5 for a box of 15.

No kidding the stupid clips are expensive and add up... and they don't let you buy them in bulk either.

I'm not sure your rubber liner in a can will help much in durability though. Jon's stuff is protecting from bullets made of rock.

Also, I theorize that the real reason why stock liners are eaten up so much is not the liner itself, but the fact that there is a small 5" lip to the front of the liner that hugs the underside of the U-brace. When we nose dive into the dirt, this stupid little lip acts like a scoop and pops itself off and then proceeds to drag the end the of the liner with it. It then goes right in the path of the tire and SCHWOOOOP fender liner eaten. I'm gonna make a metal piece that protects these lips and see if that helps.