Buy Honda CRX Fender

Quick Summary

The front fender-also called a wing panel, wheel-arch panel, or mudguard section-on the 1988-1991 Honda CRX protects the engine bay, keeps road spray off the doors, and adds strength around the strut towers. Because the CRX is only about 66 inches wide, its fenders are compact, lightly curved, and share mounting holes with the corner lights.

What It Does

The steel fender shields the wheel well so dirt and rocks do not strike the door hinges or engine wiring. It also works like a shallow frame rail: when bolted to the radiator support, hood hinge bracket, and rocker, it spreads side impacts to keep the cabin straight. (hondacrx.co.uk)

Fit & Years

• Honda sold the second-generation CRX from model years 1988-1991. All four years share the same main bolt pattern, so any CRX fender will bolt up, but two details matter. (Wikipedia)
• Corner-light mounts:
  • 1988-1989 panels have two exposed screws that hold the marker lamp. (crxcommunity.com)
  • 1990-1991 panels use hidden plastic sliders; the screw holes are deleted. (Honda Tech)
• JDM SiR fenders include a factory side-marker hole; U.S. panels are smooth. A JDM panel fits a U.S. car once the marker clips swap over. (Encycarpedia)
• Civic hatchbacks of the same years look similar, but their fenders are longer at the lower rear edge and will not align with a CRX door. (hondaswap.com)

Specs & Dimensions

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Materials & Options

• Factory steel: stamped mild steel, e-coat primer, then body color. Light and easy to repair. (Wikipedia)
• Carbon fiber skins: aftermarket weave can cut weight by roughly 40-50 percent but may need extra bracing at the hood hinge. (Honda Tech)
• Fiberglass or ABS plastic: cheap, resists small dings, but cracks under hard loads.
• Wide-body add-ons: polyurethane flare kits extend the wheel arch about 4.5 in for larger tires. (crxcommunity.com)

Common Problems

• Rust pockets form where the fender meets the plastic splash liner; trapped mud keeps the seam wet. (mypearl.dds.nl)
• Salted-road cars often show bubbles along the wheel-arch lip and behind the marker lamp screw tabs. (crxcommunity.com, Reddit)
• Plastic clip mounts can crack with age, letting the wing panel vibrate and scratch paint. (Grassroots Motorsports)

Install Basics

1. Remove corner light and bumper end cap.
2. Unbolt seven 10 mm fasteners along the top rail, two at the door jamb, and three under the rocker. (YouTube)
3. Support the panel; slide forward to clear the tab near the A-pillar.
4. Clean threads, test-fit gaps, then snug bolts to 7-9 lb-ft; overtightening distorts the thin sheet. (Reddit, hondacrx.co.uk)
5. Re-install lamp, bumper, and splash shield.

Mods & Upgrades

• Plus-43 mm wheel offset with rolled lips gives clearance without add-on flares. (crxcommunity.com)
• Bolt-on flare sets let 15x8-inch wheels sit flush while staying street-legal in most states that require tire tread be covered.
• Side-marker swaps: Early-style fenders can be drilled for the smooth 90-91 marker, or filler plates hide the holes when fitting late fenders to an early car. (Honda Tech)
• Lightweight composite panels lower front-end mass, improving turn-in feel-handy for autocross builds. (Honda Tech)

Care & Protection

• Rinse the wheel arch after winter drives; salt is the main rust trigger. (crxcommunity.com)
• Keep the plastic splash liner intact; it blocks sand blasts that chip paint. (mypearl.dds.nl)
• Wax the base of the pillar twice a year; that seam traps debris.
• If you see bubbles, sand to bare metal, apply rust-converter, prime, and repaint soon before holes form. (Reddit)

Environmental Note

Steel fenders recycle at nearly 100 percent efficiency, so always send bent panels to a metal recycler instead of the landfill. (Steel's magnetic nature makes sorting simple at scrap yards.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does a Civic hatch fender fit my CRX?
A: No. Hatchback panels are longer at the door edge and leave a gap. CRX-specific panels fit best. (hondaswap.com)

Q: What's the biggest tire I can run without rubbing?
A: With stock steel fenders and rolled lips, 205/50R15 on a +43 mm, 7-inch-wide wheel clears at normal ride height. (crxcommunity.com)

Q: How can I spot a rusty fender before buying?
A: Push gently on the wheel-arch lip; crunching sounds or bubbling paint mean hidden rust. Check the backside too. (Grassroots Motorsports)

Q: Are 1988-1989 and 1990-1991 panels interchangeable?
A: Yes on bolt holes, but you must match the corner-light style or swap the lamp brackets. (crxcommunity.com, Honda Tech)

Q: Do I need special tools to swap the wing panel?
A: A 10 mm socket, Phillips screwdriver, and plastic-trim remover are enough for most jobs. (YouTube)

Q: What torque spec should I use on the small bolts?
A: Honda lists about 28-32 lb-ft for the larger reinforcement brackets, but the tiny M6 bolts only need 7-9 lb-ft. (Reddit, hondacrx.co.uk)

Q: Is carbon fiber street-legal?
A: Yes, as long as it covers the tire tread like the stock panel and has working lights. (Honda Tech)

Q: Can I add side-marker repeaters to meet JDM style?
A: Drill a 1-inch hole in the stamped flat near the rear of the arch, insert a rubber grommet, and wire into the turn-signal circuit. (Encycarpedia)

Q: Why do I hear rattling after a swap?
A: The splash liner clips may be missing, letting the panel shake. Replace the clips or add foam tape at contact points. (mypearl.dds.nl)

Q: How do I keep new paint safe?
A: Apply clear paint-protection film on the lower section; it absorbs rock chips without changing color.

Q: What primer should I use on bare steel?
A: A self-etching zinc primer sticks best to thin sheet metal and stops flash rust.

With these facts and practical tips, you have the knowledge to choose, fit, protect, and customize any Honda CRX fender for daily driving or show builds.