How hard is it to replace body panels on a corolla

[lipadj46]

So my wife hit some black ice and hit a tree at a low speed with our 2002 corolla. Her aim was perfect though and she took out the passenger side fender (front quarter), bumper cover and headlight assembly. I can get the parts myself but I have never done body work just engine, brakes suspension etc. How hard is to put on these panels? I assume they just bolt on? Or is the fender part of the unibody structure?

Also as far as paint goes do they get painted before or after they get put on?

 

[JHZR2]

Take a look under the hood. You should see fasteners. Take a look all around... you may have to remove trim to see them all, but if they are there and not part of a bigger structure, you should be able to discern all the fasteners.

 

[lipadj46]

Great thanks, I was hoping I was done with car repairs for the winter. Ah well such as life.

 

[duaneb9729]

and the Mrs. is ok?

 

[PT1]

I leave the body work to the body shop. Years ago body parts just bolted on and off easily.. but today you need to know what you are doing for sure as many parts are integrated into the unibody. Plus you need all the right tools.

 

[IndyIan]

Judging by the number of cars running around here with mismatched body panels, it doesn't seem too hard.
You may be able to get a fender from the wrecker the right colour already.
What is your long term plan for this car? If I was going to run it till death then I'd fix it myself. If I planned to sell it soon while its worth something then I'd get a pro to do it.
I put a big dent in my tracker front quarter panel a couple years ago. We didn't really want to spend the money on fixing it at the time and don't plan to sell it, so now its just my reminder not to be stupid again...

 

[eljefino]

I would get the part from a junkyard so it's had the same number of years of UV exposure... better than trying to paint match IMO. Of course luck would have to be on your side to get the right color anyway.

Sometimes the bottom of the fender has hidden fasteners under the rocker panel or some plastic cover. It's not really structural on this car; you'll see what is when you take it apart.

 

[Drew99GT]

If it's anything like my 94 Corolla, you could have the front fender off in 5 minutes with access to a Haynes manual. The engine compartment is very open and the fasteners are just large bolts and washers.

 

[lipadj46]

I think it is very similar to your '94. I am going to try to attempt it myself. I still have to call around to salvage yards to see if they can get the parts or I just may buy new from here:

https://www.toyotapartscenter.net/faq.html

And get it painted. I will have to buy a repair manual.

The back story is that this is a car owned by my parents that we were using and planning on buying. My step sister already bumped a biker with the car and he retained a sleezeball attorney and they are suing my parents so an insurance claim is not in the cards (we have our own insurance but the insurance goes to the car before the driver). I figure If I can do the head gaskets and suspension on my rover I can handle putting on some body parts and a headlight.

 

[PT1]

My condolences to your parents...

 

[kschachn]

I have done similar repairs many times and I'm no body shop expert. You may find that junkyards charge as much or more than a place that sells offshore parts, like this one:

http://www.certifit.com/

I've bought headlamps, fenders, hoods and radiator supports from them and although not quite up to the OEM standards, they have been very good. The parts I bought were for a Toyota, Nissan and Honda so it has been all Japanese cars. We have a local Certifit in Milwaukee and they have always had the parts in stock. The headlamps I bought were made by Depo and were perfect fit for the OEM.

I buy paint from my local Sherwin-Williams and it is their standard basecoat/clearcoat paint. I do have access to a paint booth and a former boss who can paint, but you could farm this part out if you wish. You will likely find that the cost of the paint equals the cost of the part, or exceeds it. You can paint removable parts like hoods and fenders before you install them on the car.

 

[kschachn]

Also on painting body panels - you don't need a paint booth to do it. The same guy who painted my panels for me in the paint booth, does it all the time in his garage. He puts up plastic sheets like curtains to keep overspray down and paints in his garage. Most of the paint will dry in the air before it hits a wall and can be vacuumed up later. He's done some great work this way. One of his "hobbies" is to buy lightly cracked up 944s and 928s and fix them, then sell them on eBay or elsewhere. None of those were painted anywhere but in his garage.

A decent paint gun isn't that expensive either, even some of the Harbor Freight ones will work just fine.

 

[lipadj46]

It is quite amazing the price difference between OEM and the chinese stuff. I can spend $550 for an OEM fender, bumper cover, headlight and signal assembly or under $100 from certfit. Decisions, Decisions.

 

[kschachn]

Just so you know, most of the stuff is Chinese but ROC, not PRC. Some is from Korea or Malaysia.

 

[kschachn]

Oh and about bumper covers. Is yours colored or black? If it is colored, then most of the Toyota ones are made from colored plastic and not painted. The ones from Certifit are black and require painting. This is an acceptable way to do it but you will need additives for the paint to properly paint the flexible plastic of a cover. Consider this when you are looking, if the OEM one of the correct color is not that much more expensive then it's worth it. Even if it is significantly more expensive it may still be worth it. Paint can chip from even a minor parking lot scuffle whereas the colored plastic one will be fine.

 

[lipadj46]

What I am thinking is to pay the $300 for the OEM bumper cover and fender and then buy the aftermarket headlight and signal assemblies and save $150 that way.

 

[kschachn]

That sounds like a plan, go for it. The only modification I would suggest is that you check out the Certifit fender, it may be better than you think (and a lot cheaper). They will let you look at/handle/taste any part you want before you buy it.

 

[lipadj46]

I just may check out certifit.