Quarter Panel vs Fender: Full Comparison
Even though most of you drive cars, not everybody knows all the terms related to vehicles. There are many misunderstood and confused terms. Two such terms are quarter panel and fender. And many don’t know the difference between them. So in this article, we will take you through the differences between the quarter panel and fender.
Both of these parts are in the car’s body. The quarter panel provides the car’s rear side coverage, whereas the fender part covers only the wheel. The quarter panel area includes the part starting from your car’s back window to your taillight. On the other hand, the part that covers a fender begins from the edge of your car and goes until the front of your wheel. Having set the primary difference, let’s dive into other differences.
What Is A Quarter Panel?
A quarter panel belongs to the outer surface of your vehicle. And the quarter panel area includes the part starting from your car’s back window to your taillight. Besides, its designation comes for wrapping the wheel.
Usually, sheet metal is the ingredient that manufacturers use to make quarter panels. However, that isn’t the only material. They use fiberglass and fiber-reinforced plastic to make quarter panels. In addition, carbon fiber also is a material used to make quarter panels.
When a quarter panel gets damages, repairing it requires much effort and cost. The reason is that we weld quarter panels on vehicle assembly lines.
Why Are Quarter Panels Important?
Quarter panels are essential because it protects your rear wheel and other surrounding panels of your vehicle. And also functions as a barrier. It prevents dust, sand, and other debris from contacting the parts covered by it.
How to Fix Quarter Panel Damages?
When a quarter panel gets damages, you must evaluate the damage first. If it is a slight one, a regular repair is sufficient. However, if the damage is significant, you might have to replace the entire quarter panel. Moreover, repairing a quarter panel is less expensive than replacing it.
What Is A Fender?
A fender part in a vehicle covers the wheels of that vehicle. Besides, it acts as a barrier to mud and other types of debris. You might have seen fenders in bikes too. And bikes, too, serve the same purpose. A quarter panel and a fender perform similar roles by providing protection to the parts of the vehicle.
Like quarter panels, fenders are also made of different materials. For example, there are steel, aluminum, and plastic fenders. Moreover, you might have seen fiberglass fenders too. The materials may vary according to the model of your car.
The manufacturers fix fenders to cars using bolts. And screws might also be used. However, there can be occasions where they attach fenders by welding them to your vehicle’s frame.
Importance Of A Fender
Like quarter panels, fenders are also important to ensure your vehicle’s safety. In addition, when fenders are in good condition, the performance and look of your car enhance. It helps to protect your vehicle from debris.
Moreover, fenders are important to maintain the fuel efficiency of your car. The reason is a fender can improve your car’s aerodynamics.
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How to Fix a Damaged Fender?
Unlike a quarter panel, you can repair a fender by yourself. However, repairing a fender isn’t an easy process. The effort you have to put in depends on the model of your vehicle. If your car is made of metal and is an old model, you can repair it quickly. Apart from that, having the necessary tools for the process is also a must.
Difference Between Quarter Panel And Fender
Formation
A quarter panel belongs to the outer surface of your car. And its area includes the part starting from your car’s back window to your taillight. Usually, a quarter panel is a welded part of a vehicle.
On the other hand, fenders are designed to protect a vehicle’s wheels. In old model vehicles, these fenders were fixed using bolts and screws. However, modern cars have welded fenders. In motorbikes, fenders are known as mudguards. And they also stand for the same function.
Purpose
The purpose of a fender and a quarter panel is almost similar. They protect some components of your vehicle. A quarter panel protects the undercarriage of your car from dirt and debris. In addition, a quarter panel covers other panels from road tar and other possible hazards.
And a fender of your vehicle does a similar job. Many think that it is just an ornament, while it is not. A fender is a shield both for your vehicle and other surrounding vehicles. And it acts as a shield against mud, debris, liquids, rocks, and sand. If you drive without a fender, you aren’t damaging only your vehicles. It can bring a harmful impact on pedestrians and other cars too.
Cost of repair
When a quarter panel is damaged, it costs much more than you have to pay for repairing a fender. Typically, owners try to repair a quarter panel than replace it entirely. The cost might vary according to the damage that happened and the model of the vehicle. The average amount for replacing a quarter panel can extend to $1500.
When repairing a fender, if the damage is smaller, you should pay between $500 and $1500. However, the more the damage, the more you have to pay. Accordingly, it could go up to $6000.
Materials
Usually, a quarter panel is made up of sheet metal. However, that isn’t the only material that manufacturers use. Fiberglass and fiber-reinforced plastic are also used to make a quarter panel. In addition, carbon fiber also is a material to make quarter panels.
Like quarter panels, fenders are also made of different materials. For example, there are steel, aluminum, and plastic fenders. Moreover, you might have seen fiberglass fenders too. The materials may vary according to the model of your car.
Final Words
The quarter panel and fender are two vehicle components that people often misunderstand. Even though both function as protective parts of a vehicle, there are some differences too. The quarter panel area includes the part from your car’s back window to your taillight. On the other hand, the part that covers a fender begins from the edge of your car and goes until the front of your wheel. Moreover, when it comes to repairing these two components, the cost and the effort you have to put in are also different.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to repair or replace fender?
If your vehicle has got severe dents, it is always better to go for a replacement. A replacement of a fender can cost $2000. However, the amount varies depending on how significant the damage is and the model of your car.
Is fender the same as quarter panel?
No. they are two different parts of the body of your vehicle. The quarter panel area includes the part from your car’s back window to your taillight. On the other hand, the part that covers a fender begins from the edge of your car and goes until the front of your wheel. However, their functionalities are almost same.
Which part of a car is the fender?
The fender is the part of your car that protects its wheels and frames from debris and other hazards on the road. The majority of modern vehicles come with fenders on the front side wheel.
