DIY Fender Rolling : The corrected bat method

Bad Noodle · 06-02-2009, 08:45 PM

First, I've seen a ton of crazy methods for rolling your fender. I watched all the youtube videos of some guy messing it up with a floor jack handle, to some crazy asian going at his pink honda with a ball point hammer, to some guys wedging a bat between the wheel and fender and then driving slowly.

I've even tried making my own contraption out of a skateboard wheel...

So let's get to how to do it the right way. (by right way I mean it will cost you nothing, won't leave any marks, and will look like the results from the expensive fender roller)

You will need:
-wooden baseball bat
-heat gun
-wheel wedges (or whatever stops your car from rolling away)

Steps:
- raise your car a little bit and tear off the rubber modling. Should come right off
- make sure you can barely fit the bat between the wheel and the fender
- heat the area a little where you will be working
- put the bat underneath and put a little pressure on the handle. You should see the fender edge bend up a little bit (1mm or so)
- go all the way around the bending the edge a little bit
- keep the area you're working on hot to prevent the paint from cracking.
- once you got it started, raise the car a little bit, and do it again bending the lip in another 1mm
- you can see where this is going... keep doing this until the car is all the way in the air and you got the lip bent in as far as possible.
- if you need to bend the lip in further, turn around and use the handle. Place the handle against the bent lip and put pressure on the head of the bat to push the lip towards the fender even further. At this point, it's a good idea to have the ebrake off and the car out of gear so your wheel can rotate freely. Doign this will allow you to get a nice smooth edge on the bent lip.

-just do it slowly and you'll get great result. Take your time and do a little bit at a time. It should take you at least 30min per corner if you want to do a good job.

Here are the illustrations:

A mspaint summary

getting started

a little higher

all the way up

using the handle

finished
don't mind the scratch. that came from the skateboardwheel attempt. I slipped...
Shop and save with Target Ad and make sure you have seen it before buying things.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Dr. Ill · 06-03-2009, 12:51 AM

sweeeeet!

steve · 06-03-2009, 12:04 PM

I ran this system for years, until I bought the Eastwood fender roller.
But even with the roller, I bring out the bat. It can sometimes get to places the roller can't.

Awesome MS paint, too.

rexworx · 06-04-2009, 12:04 AM

Your the man.

Oh I think Im going to try this soon.

Boostinbildo · 06-04-2009, 09:19 PM

Awesome! Bookmarked for future referance

grippy monkey · 06-05-2009, 12:51 AM

all your pics are now awesome red X's

dudley123 · 06-05-2009, 12:56 AM

works for me..

Bad Noodle · 06-05-2009, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grippy monkey

all your pics are now awesome red X's

They're hosted on photobucket...make sure you're allowed to view the sight

sportcarmn · 06-09-2009, 05:40 PM

can i use an aluminum bat? also do i have to tear out the rubber molding?

ACLerok · 06-09-2009, 06:52 PM

that came out amazing. i used to do this on hondas for a bunch of friends. super cheap and super easy. then i bought a roller.

David Medina · 06-10-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportcarmn

can i use an aluminum bat? also do i have to tear out the rubber molding?

he clearly said you take off the molding...

i would stick to a wood bat.

itaride · 06-11-2009, 03:54 AM

I was reading this thread (which is awesomely done btw) and plan on doing this in the next couple of days. But something has occurred to me. Wouldnt that nice folded lip now be a trap for muck that could lead to rust? Any thoughts?

Bad Noodle · 06-11-2009, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by itaride

I was reading this thread (which is awesomely done btw) and plan on doing this in the next couple of days. But something has occurred to me. Wouldnt that nice folded lip now be a trap for muck that could lead to rust? Any thoughts?

not any more than the current rubber molding is a trap for moisture

Gooshin · 06-11-2009, 06:55 PM

the molding helps with preventing rocks hitting the metal which leads to paint chipping which leads to rust...

i too am curious if you can just slowly roll the fender with the molding still attached still its pretty pliable, plus makes car resale better if you can pull off a clean job.

also, "heat gun", would a decent hairdryer work too?

dougfeature · 06-11-2009, 10:57 PM

the paint cracks and bare metal is exposed...sand it and seal it

18gabtom35 · 06-23-2009, 11:50 PM

thanks for the great write up, I used it last weekend and it worked great.

bcblues · 06-26-2009, 02:35 PM

I removed my rubber molding and would suggest anybody rolling their fenders to do the same. The rubber molding (at least on my 04 STi) has metal fingers that help grip the fender. I suspect if you tried to roll the fender edge with the molding on, the metal "grippers" would tear the heck out of your paint.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gooshin

the molding helps with preventing rocks hitting the metal which leads to paint chipping which leads to rust...

i too am curious if you can just slowly roll the fender with the molding still attached still its pretty pliable, plus makes car resale better if you can pull off a clean job.

also, "heat gun", would a decent hairdryer work too?

Five-seveN · 07-02-2009, 08:30 PM

Awesome write up. I just finished and took the car for a test drive and no more rubbing! I couldn't find my heat gun so i just pulled an old hair dryer and had my dad hold it for me. Now i can really test this rubber!
5.7

wawawrx · 07-15-2009, 10:29 PM

how's this method vs. the good ol' taped mallet method??

IIdiceII · 07-16-2009, 12:45 AM

has anyone pulled a fender using the bat method?

Blackaxela · 07-18-2009, 10:01 AM

i rolled mine last year like that.

leighton1245 · 07-19-2009, 09:04 AM

I rolled mine to fit 18x9.5 grids with a mallet didnt think about something like this but will try this if i have to do it again on a diff car.

Here is what my bugeye looks like with 18x9.5 with rolled fenders.

CynicX · 07-19-2009, 10:38 AM

Excellent post Bad Noodle. I have a set of 18x9.5 Torque's with 245's coming in and I still didnt have a plan of attack for making them fit. I'll be doing this sometime this week....

snowflowmfg · 07-30-2009, 11:18 PM

Nice writeup. I think i'm gonna do this to save a few bucks.

ScoobyRS-t · 10-22-2009, 10:51 AM

Freakin sweet, Hey did you just use a blow dryer to heat it up? If so for how long did you heat up the area? My 245's rub a bit when i have people in the back so i need to fix this haha.

06-02-2009, 08:45 PM	#1
Bad Noodle Scooby Specialist Member#: 174442 Join Date: Mar 2008 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NNJ Vehicle: 2007 SuperWagon I don't spell well	DIY Fender Rolling : The corrected bat method First, I've seen a ton of crazy methods for rolling your fender. I watched all the youtube videos of some guy messing it up with a floor jack handle, to some crazy asian going at his pink honda with a ball point hammer, to some guys wedging a bat between the wheel and fender and then driving slowly. I've even tried making my own contraption out of a skateboard wheel... So let's get to how to do it the right way. (by right way I mean it will cost you nothing, won't leave any marks, and will look like the results from the expensive fender roller) You will need: -wooden baseball bat -heat gun -wheel wedges (or whatever stops your car from rolling away) Steps: - raise your car a little bit and tear off the rubber modling. Should come right off - make sure you can barely fit the bat between the wheel and the fender - heat the area a little where you will be working - put the bat underneath and put a little pressure on the handle. You should see the fender edge bend up a little bit (1mm or so) - go all the way around the bending the edge a little bit - keep the area you're working on hot to prevent the paint from cracking. - once you got it started, raise the car a little bit, and do it again bending the lip in another 1mm - you can see where this is going... keep doing this until the car is all the way in the air and you got the lip bent in as far as possible. - if you need to bend the lip in further, turn around and use the handle. Place the handle against the bent lip and put pressure on the head of the bat to push the lip towards the fender even further. At this point, it's a good idea to have the ebrake off and the car out of gear so your wheel can rotate freely. Doign this will allow you to get a nice smooth edge on the bent lip. -just do it slowly and you'll get great result. Take your time and do a little bit at a time. It should take you at least 30min per corner if you want to do a good job. Here are the illustrations: A mspaint summary getting started a little higher all the way up using the handle finished don't mind the scratch. that came from the skateboardwheel attempt. I slipped... Shop and save with Target Ad and make sure you have seen it before buying things. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

06-11-2009, 06:55 PM	#14
Gooshin Scooby Newbie Member#: 213441 Join Date: Jun 2009	the molding helps with preventing rocks hitting the metal which leads to paint chipping which leads to rust... i too am curious if you can just slowly roll the fender with the molding still attached still its pretty pliable, plus makes car resale better if you can pull off a clean job. also, "heat gun", would a decent hairdryer work too? Last edited by Gooshin; 06-11-2009 at 07:41 PM.

07-19-2009, 09:04 AM	#22
leighton1245 Scooby Specialist Member#: 210593 Join Date: May 2009 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Harrisburg, PA Vehicle: 2002 WRX PSM Epic tuned 300whp	I rolled mine to fit 18x9.5 grids with a mallet didnt think about something like this but will try this if i have to do it again on a diff car. Here is what my bugeye looks like with 18x9.5 with rolled fenders. Last edited by leighton1245; 07-19-2009 at 10:45 AM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
DIY Rear Diffuser : The Writeup	Sausage	Interior & Exterior Modification	194	02-19-2018 10:13 PM
fender rolling in the valley?	PCSkiBum_21	Rocky Mountains Impreza Club Forum -- RMIC	25	03-03-2009 05:40 AM
need fender rolled in the hampton roads on my sti	moorebl	Mid Atlantic Impreza Club -- MAIC	5	02-09-2009 07:41 PM
Looking to have fenders rolled in the West Chester area	Willie Dynamite	Mid Atlantic Impreza Club -- MAIC	5	04-06-2007 04:50 PM
Fender Rolling in the area?	moss	Tri-State Area Forum	4	05-14-2006 12:13 AM

06-03-2009, 12:51 AM	#2
Dr. Ill Scooby Specialist Member#: 126181 Join Date: Sep 2006 Chapter/Region: South East	sweeeeet!

06-03-2009, 12:04 PM	#3
steve Scooby Guru Member#: 4718 Join Date: Mar 2001 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Location : Location Vehicle: I gotz a Subaru again	I ran this system for years, until I bought the Eastwood fender roller. But even with the roller, I bring out the bat. It can sometimes get to places the roller can't. Awesome MS paint, too.

06-04-2009, 12:04 AM	#4
rexworx Scooby Guru Member#: 103232 Join Date: Dec 2005 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: GTX3576R 05GD, GTX3076R'd FXT Vehicle: GTX 3071R'd 11WRX PPG,4.44,LSD,E85,6spdx3	Your the man. Oh I think Im going to try this soon.

06-04-2009, 09:19 PM	#5
Boostinbildo Scooby Specialist Member#: 163892 Join Date: Nov 2007 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Eastern Connecticut Vehicle: 05 AW STI:SOLD Black 93 Singled tt Supra	Awesome! Bookmarked for future referance

06-05-2009, 12:51 AM	#6
grippy monkey Scooby Guru Member#: 131067 Join Date: Nov 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: LAX Vehicle: your "stance" sucks	all your pics are now awesome red X's

06-05-2009, 12:56 AM	#7
dudley123 Scooby Specialist Member#: 120831 Join Date: Jul 2006 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Richland, Washington Vehicle: PIA Purpose Built - SEMA-FullRace/HRE/Cosw.	works for me..

06-09-2009, 05:40 PM	#9
sportcarmn Scooby Newbie Member#: 209999 Join Date: Apr 2009 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Central Iowa Vehicle: 2004 STI Silver and Black	can i use an aluminum bat? also do i have to tear out the rubber molding?

06-09-2009, 06:52 PM	#10
ACLerok Scooby Specialist Member#: 27915 Join Date: Oct 2002 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Southern New Jersey Vehicle: 2004 Subaru WRX STi WRB	that came out amazing. i used to do this on hondas for a bunch of friends. super cheap and super easy. then i bought a roller.

06-11-2009, 03:54 AM	#12
itaride Scooby Newbie Member#: 207641 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Western South Dakota Vehicle: 2005 WRX WAYGUN ASPEN WHITE	I was reading this thread (which is awesomely done btw) and plan on doing this in the next couple of days. But something has occurred to me. Wouldnt that nice folded lip now be a trap for muck that could lead to rust? Any thoughts?

06-11-2009, 10:57 PM	#15
dougfeature Scooby Newbie Member#: 196971 Join Date: Dec 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: between chicago and milwaukee Vehicle: 2002 WRX WRB	the paint cracks and bare metal is exposed...sand it and seal it

06-23-2009, 11:50 PM	#16
18gabtom35 Scooby Newbie Member#: 210254 Join Date: May 2009 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Bonita Springs fl Vehicle: 2003 wrx wr blue	thanks for the great write up, I used it last weekend and it worked great.

07-02-2009, 08:30 PM	#18
Five-seveN Scooby Newbie Member#: 203275 Join Date: Feb 2009 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: WV Vehicle: 2006 WRX SBR 20G More boost to come!	Awesome write up. I just finished and took the car for a test drive and no more rubbing! I couldn't find my heat gun so i just pulled an old hair dryer and had my dad hold it for me. Now i can really test this rubber! 5.7

07-15-2009, 10:29 PM	#19
wawawrx Scooby Guru Member#: 200730 Join Date: Jan 2009 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Conshohocken Vehicle: '08 E92 M3 '95 GC ZJ	how's this method vs. the good ol' taped mallet method??

07-16-2009, 12:45 AM	#20
IIdiceII Scooby Guru Member#: 90438 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: New York	has anyone pulled a fender using the bat method?

07-18-2009, 10:01 AM	#21
Blackaxela Scooby Specialist Member#: 145673 Join Date: Apr 2007 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: Waterloo, Ontario Vehicle: 2002 Impreza WRX Aspen White	i rolled mine last year like that.

07-19-2009, 10:38 AM	#23
CynicX Scooby Guru Member#: 48199 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Maryland Vehicle: 06 WRX WRB	Excellent post Bad Noodle. I have a set of 18x9.5 Torque's with 245's coming in and I still didnt have a plan of attack for making them fit. I'll be doing this sometime this week....

07-30-2009, 11:18 PM	#24
snowflowmfg Scooby Specialist Member#: 163700 Join Date: Nov 2007 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Errrwhere Vehicle: 2013 Impurzer wFc #270	Nice writeup. I think i'm gonna do this to save a few bucks.

10-22-2009, 10:51 AM	#25
ScoobyRS-t Scooby Newbie Member#: 85324 Join Date: Apr 2005 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: CT Vehicle: 2005 WRX Silver	Freakin sweet, Hey did you just use a blow dryer to heat it up? If so for how long did you heat up the area? My 245's rub a bit when i have people in the back so i need to fix this haha.