Removal of front fender

The-Swede · Jan 5, 2021

Hi!
I have a customer with a Range Rover Freelander 1 year 1999 that im about to do some rust repairs on. I need to know how to remove the front fenders if some of you could help me with info about that. I have tried google, but i can only find info on how to remove the front bumper?
Sorry for my english (im swedish).
Thank you!

GrumpyGel · Jan 5, 2021

What is the difference between "front fenders" and "front bumper"?

The plastic "front end" (valance) of the Freelander comes off as a single piece. Its secured by lots of little screws around the bottom edge connecting it plastic (wheel arch) trim, a few screws and scrivets in the center cross pieces (and on top) a bolt securing it to the top of each wing accessed either through the indicator bulb changing flap or by separating the valance from the plastic trim (forget which). The valance then pulls off frontwards. Under it is (what might be considered) a metal bumper.

The-Swede · Jan 5, 2021

GrumpyGel said:
What is the difference between "front fenders" and "front bumper"?

The plastic "front end" (valance) of the Freelander comes off as a single piece. Its secured by lots of little screws around the bottom edge connecting it plastic (wheel arch) trim, a few screws and scrivets in the center cross pieces (and on top) a bolt securing it to the top of each wing accessed either through the indicator bulb changing flap or by separating the valance from the plastic trim (forget which). The valance then pulls off frontwards. Under it is (what might be considered) a metal bumper.

Aaah i mixed up "fender" with "wing", so that would explain why i could not find anything on fenders, never heard the word valance before though, not so strange since im swedish. So its not a big deal to remove a front wing (valance)?
Thank you for the help!

GrumpyGel · Jan 5, 2021

I believe "valance" is usually the term/name used for the body panel under a (old fashioned) bumper.

"Modern" cars like the Freelander don't have a bumper as such - they have plastic mouldings that shroud (cover) the whole front end (or bits of it). I don't really know what they are called - I think "valance" may be a name I made up for it

However, to remove the wing, you will need to remove that "valance" - then it should be easy.

The only difficult bit is those bolts inside the valance that bolt it to the top of the wing - you can't see them and have to feel around for them. Suppose you could use a USB camera poked through the gap to look at then. Access is awkward.

Actually, the little screws around the edge are often a pain in the back side to remove as they corrode - you may be used to drilling these out. I've never had a problem removing them in NZ, but we have no salt on the roads here. UK cars always seam to have problems though.

The-Swede · Jan 5, 2021

GrumpyGel said:
I believe "valance" is usually the term/name used for the body panel under a (old fashioned) bumper.

"Modern" cars like the Freelander don't have a bumper as such - they have plastic mouldings that shroud (cover) the whole front end (or bits of it). I don't really know what they are called - I think "valance" may be a name I made up for it

However, to remove the wing, you will need to remove that "valance" - then it should be easy.

The only difficult bit is those bolts inside the valance that bolt it to the top of the wing - you can't see them and have to feel around for them. Suppose you could use a USB camera poked through the gap to look at then. Access is awkward.

Actually, the little screws around the edge are often a pain in the back side to remove as they corrode - you may be used to drilling these out. I've never had a problem removing them in NZ, but we have no salt on the roads here. UK cars always seam to have problems though.

So, i need to remover the front bumper plastic moulding to get access to the bolts for the wing if i understand you correctly?

Nodge68 · Jan 5, 2021

GrumpyGel said:
What is the difference between "front fenders" and "front bumper"?

The fender is another name for the wing, it's a American name I believe.

GrumpyGel · Jan 5, 2021

The-Swede said:
So, i need to remover the front bumper plastic moulding to get access to the bolts for the wing if i understand you correctly?

The difficult to access bolts I talk about hold the bumper moulding to the wing and need to be undone to remove the moulding.

I have never removed a wing - so presume that the bumper moulding has to be removed first. However, thinking about it - those bolts can not bolt the moulding to the wing as the wing is also plastic. They must bolt the moulding to the chassis.

The wing is also be bolted to the chassis along the top, the bolts are visible when you raise the bonnet. I feel sure that there will be securing for the wing hidden by the moulding, or the moulding overlaps the wing, so I would expect the moulding needs to be removed before the wing can.

GrumpyGel · Jan 5, 2021

Nodge68 said:
The fender is another name for the wing, it's a American name I believe.

So you know if the bumper needs removing before the wing can be?

Nodge68 · Jan 5, 2021

The-Swede said:
So, i need to remover the front bumper plastic moulding to get access to the bolts for the wing if i understand you correctly?

There are some screws on the top along the inner wing, and more at the back, where the wing meets the A post, one is visible with the door open, and there's one low down by the sill too.
There's a fixing point at the front too if I remember correctly.
Once the arch liner is removed, any additional fixings should be obvious.

Nodge68 · Jan 5, 2021

GrumpyGel said:
So you know if the bumper needs removing before the wing can be?

I can't remember, it's ages since I took a wing off a FL1.

@Alibro has taken the wings off his EV FL1 recently, so would know for sure.

Alibro · Jan 5, 2021

Nodge68 said:
I can't remember, it's ages since I took a wing off a FL1.

@Alibro has taken the wings off his EV FL1 recently, so would know for sure.

I had the bumper removed before I tried to take the wings off so I'm not sure but the bolts are fairly obvious on the door pillar and under the bonnet.
Getting the wheel liners out is a pain with the plastic rivets but you need to do it to get at some of the fasteners I think. Or were they bumper screws? I honestly can't remember.

pwood999 · Jan 5, 2021

Front Bumper: https://remont-bampera.com/en/land-rover-freelander-1996-2006

Removal of front fender

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