Buy Subaru Legacy Fender

The Subaru Legacy front fender-also called the side fender, wing, or mudguard panel-is the stamped-steel body piece that runs from the head-lamp back to the front door. It shields the wheel-well, keeps stones and water off the body, and forms part of the car's crash-energy path. Because all Legacy generations (1989-2025) share Subaru's unibody, bolt-on fender layout, replacement is straightforward: unbolt, swap, seal, and paint . Modern fenders are galvanized high-strength steel that's 25-30 % lighter than 1990s panels yet stronger .

• Location & Fit - The front wing bolts to the apron, bumper cover, A-pillar, and rocker. Mounting points changed little across seven Legacy generations, but each model year has unique shape lines; sedan and wagon/Outback share the same front fender for a given year .
• Materials - 2015-present panels use bake-hardened, high-strength steel; earlier cars use mild steel .
• Inner Protection - A plastic wheel-arch liner clips to the fender lip to guard wiring and the engine bay .

1. Debris Shield - Stops stones and spray from hitting the side doors or engine .
2. Aerodynamics - Shapes airflow around the wheel-house, improving fuel economy.
3. Crash Energy Path - Designed to crumple first, helping the passenger shell earn top IIHS safety scores .

• Low-speed hits in parking lots bend the leading edge.
• Road salt in snow states causes bubbling around the wheel arch after 5-8 winters .
• Tire blow-outs shred liners and can dent the lower mudguard section.

Legacy owners in salt belts often report rust at the lip seam where moisture sits . Washing the wheel-well and spraying wax oil inside the panel each fall slows corrosion. Small blisters can be wire-brushed, treated with rust converter, then primed .

1. Tools - 10 mm socket, clip puller, Phillips driver, plastic pry tool .
2. Remove bumper corner screws, splash-guard clips, A-pillar bolts, hood-rail bolts .
3. Test-fit new panel before paint; check door gap (3-5 mm) and hood gap (4-6 mm).
4. Seal seams with OEM seam sealer to keep water out.
5. Torque upper bolts to 7-9 N·m (hand-tight plus ¼ turn) .

• Find the three-digit Subaru paint code on the door-jamb or passenger strut-tower label .
• Sand with 400-grit, apply epoxy primer, then base-coat and clear.
• EPA refinishing rule 40 CFR 63.11180 requires HVLP spray guns and enclosed paint area to cut overspray .
• Allow 24 h cure before wash or wax.

• U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) §571.108 bans sharp exterior edges; replacement fenders must retain the rolled wheel-lip .
• Some U.S. states require the tire tread to be covered by the mudguard to prevent road spray-check local code if fitting wide wheels.
• Fender removal does not disturb Subaru EyeSight cameras (windshield-mounted), but check that side-marker lamps remain visible .

About 95 % of a steel fender is recyclable, and automotive steel already averages 25 % recycled content . Dropping a damaged panel at a metal recycler avoids landfill and saves roughly 1.3 kg of CO₂ versus virgin steel production .

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Rally teams use fiberglass or carbon-fiber wings that shed 4-6 lb per side and pop off quickly for service . Street cars can add vented "wide-body" fenders to fit larger tires; vents must include mesh to block debris.

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DIY Fender Replacement - LegacyGT forum (legacygt.com)
2010-14 Legacy Fender Removal Video (YouTube)
I-CAR body-construction article (I-CAR RTS)
Subaru Legacy 4th-gen dimensions (Wikipedia)
Subaru Legacy 5th-gen & Outback shared body (Wikipedia)
Inner Fender Liner install video (YouTube)
IIHS 2024 Legacy crash rating (IIHS Crash Testing)
Rust repair discussion - UltimateSubaru forum (Ultimate Subaru)
Paint-code location video (YouTube)
EPA refinishing guide (EPA NPDES)
NHTSA FMVSS overview (NHTSA)
Subaru blind-spot/marker video (YouTube)
Steel recycling facts - STI/SPFA (STI/SPFA)
Subaru Motorsports USA overview (Subaru of America)
Legacy 1st-gen specs (Wikipedia)
Legacy 7th-gen specs (Wikipedia)