How to Remove a Front Quarter Panel
by Robert Good
The front quarter panels on a vehicle are the parts of the vehicle's body between the driver and passenger doors and the front bumper. The front quarter panels are held in place on the vehicle's frame by a number of upper and lower bolts. To access the lower bolts you'll have to remove the wheel and wheel well cover, and to access the upper bolts you'll have to open the hood and remove them from within the engine compartment.
Step 1
Unscrew the lug nuts on the left and right front wheel using a tire iron. Use a car jack to raise the front end of the vehicle and rest the front end onto jack stands. Pull the wheels off the frame.
Step 2
Unscrew the screws that are holding the cover in place inside the wheel well and remove the wheel well cover from the frame.
Step 3
Locate the bolts inside the wheel well that are holding the quarter panel in place on the vehicle's frame. Find the right-size socket in the socket set that matches the securing bolts. Remove the bolts using the ratchet and socket.
Step 4
Open the hood of the vehicle and locate the bolts on the side of the engine compartment that are securing the quarter panel to the frame. Remove the bolts using the ratchet and socket.
Step 5
Pull the quarter panel off the frame.
References
- "Dodge Pickups, 1994-2001 (Haynes Manuals)"; Chilton; 2001
- "1999 Nissan Pathfinder Service Manual (Volume 1)"; Nissan Motor Co.; 1998
- "1990 Ford Mustang Shop Manual"; Ford Motor Co.; 1990
Tips
- If you have a steel-frame vehicle, you may need help from a friend to lift the quarter panel off the frame.
Things You'll Need
- Tire iron
- Jack
- Jack stands
- Screwdriver
- Socket set
- Ratchet
Writer Bio
Living in Tucson, Ariz., Robert Good has been writing from 2003 on a wide variety of subjects ranging from sports, gardening and cooking to auto repair, home maintenance and travel. Good holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of the State of New York.
