Analysis Of Automobile Fenders: Functions, Design Trends, And Common Issues
Release time：2025-12-14
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The automobile fender is an important part that covers the wheels on the side of the vehicle body. It gets its name because it resembles a bird's wing. As a key component of the vehicle's exterior, it combines protection, aerodynamic optimization, and aesthetic appeal. The following analysis is carried out from multiple dimensions such as structural functions, material selection, and development trends.
I. Positioning and Design of Front and Rear Fenders
1. Front Fender
- Position: It is located right above the front wheel, connecting the hood and the front door, and behind the front bumper.
- Core Function: It needs to reserve the extreme space for the tire to rotate and bounce. During the design process, the dimensional matching is verified through the "wheel bounce diagram". For example, the left - front fender of pure - electric vehicles is often designed as an upper - lower split structure to integrate the charging port, while the right - front side mostly adopts an integrated design.
- Material Innovation: Some vehicle models use plastic materials (such as engineering plastics), which have the characteristics of lightweight and collision buffering, and comply with pedestrian protection regulations.
2. Rear Fender
- Position: It covers the rear - wheel area, connecting the rear door and the rear of the vehicle.
- Design Focus: It adopts an arc design that bulges outward in an arch shape to optimize the air flow direction, reduce wind resistance, and improve driving stability. Its surface usually has reinforcing ribs, which enhance the structural strength and hide the chassis components at the same time.
II. Material Selection and Performance Comparison
- Plastic Fenders: They are lightweight, reducing the overall vehicle energy consumption. Also, the deformation during a collision is controllable, resulting in higher safety. However, a precise painting process is required to ensure the appearance texture.
- Metal Fenders: They have excellent dimensional stability, low cost, and a mature painting process. But there are limitations in achieving complex curved surface shapes.
III. Core Functions and Technological Upgrades
1. Protection Function: It effectively blocks the splashing of sand, gravel, and muddy water kicked up by the wheels, protecting the chassis and mechanical components from erosion.
2. Aerodynamic Optimization: By guiding the airflow through the streamlined contour, it reduces the driving wind resistance and improves fuel economy (or the cruising range of electric vehicles).
3. Styling Design: The lines of the fender blend with the vehicle body's curved surface, directly affecting the overall visual style of the vehicle and becoming an important carrier of the brand's design language.
IV. Industry Development Trends
Currently, the automobile manufacturing field is accelerating the process of lightweight and integration of fenders. The application ratio of resin - based materials continues to rise for the following reasons:
- To meet strict pedestrian collision safety standards.
- To support more complex curved surface shapes and enhance design freedom.
- To simplify the assembly process. For example, in some vehicle models, the fender and the vehicle body side - wall are integrated, improving the structural strength and sealing performance.
V. Common Faults and Repairs
When the fender is dented, a professional repair process can be adopted:
1. Remove the wheel arch and the internal plastic liner.
2. Use an electric suction cup or a repair machine to pull the dented part and gradually restore it to a flat state.
3. Polish the surface and reinstall the components. During this process, it is necessary to ensure that the paint surface is intact to avoid rust problems later.
