Notice:James Arens (ProjectFocusFast), Rick Dring (teamfocus) nor any other member of this site nor the site itself are responsible for your actions. Any damages caused by you are your own responsibility! This is simply a guide for people competent enough to remove and / or install their own fenders. If you do not feel competent enough to do so, have a professional do it for you.
Notice:Fender removal / installation is kind of a pain in the ass. I reccomend that unless you have reason to take the fenders off, leave them on. There's nothing under there.
How to remove or install your Ford Focus' front fenders.
Thanks to JB for the (stolen) pic of his front fender.
Tools you'll NEED: 3/8" Drive ratchet
Short extention
Very long (12") extention
10mm socket
8mm socket
Torx bits
Medium-head phillips screwdriver
Small flat screwdriver
Tools you'll want but aren't necessary: Jack / stands
Lug wrench
Blanket (to lay on)
Empty bucket (to catch washer fluid) or small plugs
Needle-nose vise-grips
Sledge hammer for when you get frustrated (haha)
Step 1: If you brought your jack / stands and lug wrench, remove the wheel. This makes it a lot easier, but is not necessary. If you have aftermarkt wheels, remove all of them and send them to me (PM me for address ). Now, remove the rocker panel cover. This will require the 8mm socket, the phillips screwdriver and the torx bit (don't recall what #). After removing the rocker cover, remove the inner fenderwell. The bolt locations are circled.
Step 2 (driver's side only): Remove the washer fluid reservior. First, unclip the electrical connector (requires the flat screwdriver). Next, unplug the tubes that are connected to the tank. Remove the two 10mm bolts holding the tank in place (circled) If you removed the wheel, you can just let the tank hang (out of the way) by the filler tube. If not, you'll need to remove the filler (one 10mm bolt inside the engine bay, then pop it out).
Step 3: Here's where it gets tricky. Remove the bolts / clips that hold the fender to the front bumper (circled). Next, remove the bottom bolt (10mm) by the door. This was under the rocker cover, and is facing you. The long extention will let you get a good long stroke. Now, using the 10mm socket, remove the bolt inside the fender (middle circle by door). You'll have to get in the fenderwell for this. This bolt is hiding behind a small piece of foam. This foam is attatched at the bottom of the chassis, so just pull it out of the way. The long extention comes in handy here but is not necessary. Now, remove the upper bolt by the door. To do this, you need (again) your 10mm socket and you NEED the long extention. Open the door and there it is right where I circled it. Notice this bolt is only held on by a strip of metal. I didn't put this bolt back in when I put my fenders on because I lost the little strips of metal.
Step 4: Now, pop the hood and remove the final 3 bolts that hold the fender to the upper subframe. I save these for last because they are by far the easiest to get at, and it's easiest to hold the fender (so it doesn't fall) while removing these three 10mm bolts (circled).
Installation: I found the easiest way to install is just the opposite of removal- except I did the following:
I put in the forward-most bolt from step 4 in first, but did not tighten it all the way.
Then I put in the bottom bolt by the door, again not all the way tight.
Next I put in the inner fender bolt (middle bolt by door) and again did not tighten it all the way.
Then I did just the opposite of removal, lining up the fender before tightening any bolts down all the way. BE SURE of correct door operation before installing the inner fenderwell and / or washer tank.
Rick- if you could upload the images onto your site to make this more permanent?
). Now, remove the rocker panel cover. This will require the 8mm socket, the phillips screwdriver and the torx bit (don't recall what #). After removing the rocker cover, remove the inner fenderwell. The bolt locations are circled.
If I would have known you needed one of these, I would made it, I've removed my fender about 30 times now. But thanks James! Plus, I'm lazy....