Looking for new fenders for my 95

[timberjack]

As the title states, the front fenders are rotting away on my 95 psd. I've been doing some searching, and see fenders real cheap, but the shipping is over twice the price of the tin. Well, i'm sure it's because they should be shipped so they are not compressed by the time they make to your door, at least under ideal conditions.

Anyway, want to know what the best choice might be? I see ebay ones for $45 or so with $140 to ship them. Haven't asked to see if there is a discount for buying one of each side, but i figure i already know the answer to that question.

I've got the LMC trucks catalog, basically it's close to the same shipped final price, again not sure if there would be a discount for both fenders.

I haven't checked the local scrap yards yet, they sell new body panels, parts and such.

What kind of quality are the aftermarket fenders? Will the holes be in all the wrong places? I believe powerstrokeshop.com had them for close to $200 plus shipping, at least they should fit without worry.

I also saw what was referred to as CAPA certified. What's that stand for? The price was about close to double from the cheapest fender. Can i presume the quality is twice as better.

Any other advice or places to look y'all can offer will be appreciated.
Thanks, Ken

 

[BJS]

Have no clue what CAPA Means.... Certified Auto Parts Association???

If you can find good fenders in a salvage yard and repaint them that will be the cheapest and best route. Typically aftermarkets use a lower grade steel to make the pieces that was originally used. That said I have had reasonable luck with some pieces from Unique Industries (they are local to me)... I've gotten some ranger fenders & door from them and with only minor tweaking made everything line up right.

I've helped a buddy do a fender replacement after his GF found a post @ the bank (oops) and he'd found an aftermarket fender and there were no holes, you had to drill them all yourself. and after about 6 months he had stress dents in the fender because of substandard construction.

body shops will prefer to use OE reman (junkyard) or new OE parts over any aftermarket pieces because of the ease of fit and ensuring that the quality is there.

On a side note the inner & outer fender is one piece on the OBS trucks so keep that in mind when inspecting junkyard pieces.


If LMC is the same price as ebay I'd order from them so if you have a problem you'll have a better chance of getting it resolved.