How the hell did this happen?

[Dave_Obsession]

Went outside this morning to wash the AU...whilst doing the wheels I saw this on the front right guard:





Now that wasn't there when I last washed the car 2 weeks ago...In that time it's only been driven about 4 or 5 times, only by me, and just to the 'usual' places...nothing special. I haven't hit or been hit by anything...so I have two questions:

1) Any idea what could have caused this?
2) Is it an easy fix? Heat gun and just bend it back into shape? I don't need it to be perfect, just not pointing down like it is...

[TheSneakiness]

When it happened to a mate of mine it was because the tyre caught up on the lip of the guard going up a driveway.

Gentle massage back should fix it.

[poppa smurf]

yep just gently "persuade" it back into place........no idea how it happened though

I've done it on other vehicles when I used the arch as a handhold to regain my footing, not recommended

[robbyj]

that happens on my front guards occasionally, i just get the old trusty hammer out.

[Whoosha]

Usally happens at full lock going up or down driveways or rough surface , get a block of wood or steel or better still a dolly wrapp it in a cloth and hold it firmly against the outer edge of the gaurd while gently tapping the lip back up from the inside with a hammer .. will be easyer if you take the wheel of first or the other option is to use a round pipe and roll it back into shape by twisting it between the tyer and gaurd

[Dave_Obsession]

Originally Posted by Rapid_Axe

When it happened to a mate of mine it was because the tyre caught up on the lip of the guard going up a driveway.

Gentle massage back should fix it.

I should add that I've tried pushing it back...even pushing as hard as I could it isn't budging...

Would having my guards rolled solve this? I didn't think I needed it as I'm only running Eibach springs (between low and super-low)...didn't think my car was low enough for this to cause an issue...

[Cam]

Had the same thing happen here, a little bit of force and the methods mentioned above do work..

Having your guards rolled will lower the chance of it happening, possibly prevent it all together with the height of your car..

[TheSneakiness]

Originally Posted by dave93761

I should add that I've tried pushing it back...even pushing as hard as I could it isn't budging...

Would having my guards rolled solve this? I didn't think I needed it as I'm only running Eibach springs (between low and super-low)...didn't think my car was low enough for this to cause an issue...

Needs a little more than a "push", should have said it needs some gentle "persuasion". ;)

[Polyal]

In other words something like a rubber mallet...a "soft" one. Or the palm of your hand and some gentle bashing/force

[galaxy xr8]

This happened to me aswell but as Whoosha has mentioned it was on full lock and going into a step driveway, I am now very cautious when on full lock but I rolled mine back up a little.

[Mr Hardware]

any AU that has actually had a life has this, both sides.

[4ford]

Also....don't overlook doing a close inspection of the outboard edge of that tyre, just in case the guard caught it enough to make a slice cut.

Look very carefully, it's sometimes hard to see where!

Cheers,
4ford

[Dave_Obsession]

Yeah I'm about to go grab a mallet from the parents...think I know when it may have happened now...yesterday arvo grrr!

Have already checked the tyre and it seems to be OK.

[Dauphin]

Happened to me all the time when turning over a large bump after I got bigger wheels.

I "rolled" my guards using a hairdryer to heat the section of paint so it didn't crack and then bashed it under inside the lip with a $2 rubber mallet. Has stopped happening.

[raised by monkeys]

might not be that low but are your shocks stiff or a soft ride

[Sox]

Originally Posted by Whoosha

Usally happens at full lock going up or down driveways or rough surface , get a block of wood or steel or better still a dolly wrapp it in a cloth and hold it firmly against the outer edge of the gaurd while gently tapping the lip back up from the inside with a hammer .. will be easyer if you take the wheel of first or the other option is to use a round pipe and roll it back into shape by twisting it between the tyer and gaurd

This bloke is on the money, particularly what I highlighted in bold.
It works well, I've done it to many AU's with the problem never repeating itself.

[Bushbasher]

When it happens to our cars I usually just get a hammer with a rubber handle grip and a block of wood and use the handle to persuade the lip back into place using the wood on the tyre as leverage. As long as you're not too heavy handed you should be able to get it back into shape without bending the outer profile of the guard.

Bushbasher

[mik]

lots of vids on youtube on how to roll the gaurd(some good some bad), not a fan of it myself as it weakens the gaurd or 1/4 panel, but if you have to you have to, here`s a nice little a nice little tool for the job.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqiTf...eature=related

[Day-mow]

someeebody's been driving to hard around corners....

its ok mine are like that to ;)

[Dave_Obsession]

Went and got a soft rubber mallet from SCA...used the tyre as a fulcrum and pushed the area back up to where it should be....much better now. Thanks everybody for the help

[GK]

Hi Dave,

Glad you fixed it up with the mallet.

I had this happening on my wagon, with believe it or not S2 Tickford 17s!

Interestingly enough, the S1 Tickford 17s never did it. Same suspension setup, same profile tyre, but different result.

My solution (after it happening a number of times) was to slightly raise the front with different springs. The Pedders items I had were a little too low, so I set the front to about XR height.

No problems since.

GK

[BillC]

It just happened to me. I changed my tyers with my FG. The FG was 245 17s and the AU was 235 17's. That 10 ml made the difference and I had the same effect you did

[Day-mow]

I might just roll mine. Save it happening again.