C7 Front fender alignment
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
C7 Front fender alignment
Hello, i am new to the forum. I had the unfortunate pleasure of hitting a deer with my 2016 Z06. Just got the car back from the dealer. To make a long story short, the damage is fixed but the alignment of the drivers side fender could be better where the fender and bumper meet to the right of the headlight. I am not going to send this car back to the dealer for adjustment for many reasons. I feel i can adjust this alignment, satisfy my OCD, and prevent further dealer caused issues. I will post a pic of the problem area. It’s not a huge misalignment, but if i can adjust it then great. Any help from the community on what may be the best way to fix this will be a help. I work on my cars but i have never tackled body panel work, Thanks
Last edited by Michael Hazey; Jul 23, 2018 at 11:38 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,821
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Just take it back to the dealer. Their work is warrantied and if you take it back to them and it gets screwed up it is on them to fix. You screw it up and it is on you. Their body shop may be able to correct the problem while you wait. I had my GMC Terrain at a body shop for crash damage and when we went to pick up the car I saw that although the job was very well done there was one panel that was slightly out of line. I mentioned it to the person who brought the car out the shop and they called the body shop tech who worked on the car and it took him 15 minutes to get the panel aligned properly.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 1
Actually, i spent about an hour slowly fiddling with the bumper. For those that have the same issue and have not solved it.....
1. Remove bolts under hood on top of bumper
2. Remove bolts on inside front of wheel well.
3. Slowly pry bumper clips loose starting at wheel well then move to top of bumper nearest to bottom of headlight and pry slowly upward to release clips.
4. You will see a bracket screwed into the fender to the left and right of headlight. if you loosen these screws slightly, you can adjust the bracket in the direction needed to align the panels. I used a ratcheting screwdriver with a 7mm socket on it and a universal joint adapter cause the space is tight and i did not want to remove the entire bumper. It may take a couple trial and error adjustments to get the bracket just right. Once your OCD is satisfied replace the bolts and you are done. The dealer is not needed. And a word of wisdom.....always request the dealer does NOT wash your car after service. Especially if it is black.
1. Remove bolts under hood on top of bumper
2. Remove bolts on inside front of wheel well.
3. Slowly pry bumper clips loose starting at wheel well then move to top of bumper nearest to bottom of headlight and pry slowly upward to release clips.
4. You will see a bracket screwed into the fender to the left and right of headlight. if you loosen these screws slightly, you can adjust the bracket in the direction needed to align the panels. I used a ratcheting screwdriver with a 7mm socket on it and a universal joint adapter cause the space is tight and i did not want to remove the entire bumper. It may take a couple trial and error adjustments to get the bracket just right. Once your OCD is satisfied replace the bolts and you are done. The dealer is not needed. And a word of wisdom.....always request the dealer does NOT wash your car after service. Especially if it is black.
Last edited by Michael Hazey; Jul 24, 2018 at 11:35 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,762
Likes: 1,017
From: MOUNTAIN HOME Arkansas
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 25
Likes: 7
Actually, i spent about an hour slowly fiddling with the bumper. For those that have the same issue and have not solved it.....
1. Remove bolts under hood on top of bumper
2. Remove bolts on inside front of wheel well.
3. Slowly pry bumper clips loose starting at wheel well then move to top of bumper nearest to bottom of headlight and pry slowly upward to release clips.
4. You will see a bracket screwed into the fender to the left and right of headlight. if you loosen these screws slightly, you can adjust the bracket in the direction needed to align the panels. I used a ratcheting screwdriver with a 7mm socket on it and a universal joint adapter cause the space is tight and i did not want to remove the entire bumper. It may take a couple trial and error adjustments to get the bracket just right. Once your OCD is satisfied replace the bolts and you are done. The dealer is not needed. And a word of wisdom.....always request the dealer does NOT wash your car after service. Especially if it is black.
1. Remove bolts under hood on top of bumper
2. Remove bolts on inside front of wheel well.
3. Slowly pry bumper clips loose starting at wheel well then move to top of bumper nearest to bottom of headlight and pry slowly upward to release clips.
4. You will see a bracket screwed into the fender to the left and right of headlight. if you loosen these screws slightly, you can adjust the bracket in the direction needed to align the panels. I used a ratcheting screwdriver with a 7mm socket on it and a universal joint adapter cause the space is tight and i did not want to remove the entire bumper. It may take a couple trial and error adjustments to get the bracket just right. Once your OCD is satisfied replace the bolts and you are done. The dealer is not needed. And a word of wisdom.....always request the dealer does NOT wash your car after service. Especially if it is black.
Kind regards
Michael from Germany
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,487
Likes: 2,193
From: Loveland
If my car came back from the dealer all scratched up, I would be standing on the managers desk. Either they detail the paint or take it to a pro that can, and have them pay for it. I have a 2014 and have gone to great lengths to get the paint perfect. If the dealer scratched it up I would freak Fng OUT.
Last edited by kodpkd; Nov 26, 2023 at 11:26 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 5,487
Likes: 2,193
From: Loveland
This is the best polish I have ever found to remove small scratches. It's like a miracle. Use your hand or a random orbital. Deeper scratches will take a little longer. This stuff is a MUST. It takes out the scratches and leave a polished surface.
