Arch extensions (fenders) are not only an element of tuning that visually increases the silhouette of the car, but also an excellent protective tool for the lower part of the body. In addition, in off-road conditions, they are designed to minimize the ingress of dirt, water and stones on glass and the car body. Most often, expanders are installed on SUVs participating in the rally or used for hunting and traveling. To drive on mud or sand, tires with a wide profile are required, but if you put such rubber under the standard arches, it will protrude beyond the dimensions of the car. This will lead to the fact that everything under the wheels will fly onto the body, polluting the glass and paintwork. Some motorists, not being race car drivers or hunters, equip their cars with such elements in order to improve their appearance, adding some aggressiveness and power to the appearance of the vehicle.
Types of arch expanders
There are three main types of expanders in total:
- plastic;
- fiberglass;
- universal rubber.
Plastic and fiberglass extenders are manufactured for a specific car model and are sold complete with fasteners, so you should not try to install fenders from UAZ on the Niva.
Design and installation features
These security elements can be round or square, and also have different offset widths. Round expanders are more practical and are used directly for protection, while square expanders are more likely to have a decorative function. In addition to them, mudguards are additionally required. Plastic expanders are installed on the entire plane of the arch and are attached to the body using a threaded connection. Sometimes when installing them, it becomes necessary to trim the arches themselves, increasing their radius. This is done in order to be able to install larger wheels. Fiberglass fenders are most often used on sports cars, as they are much stronger than plastic ones. All plastic expanders are beautifully painted, which makes it possible to give them a body color or, conversely, create a contrast with it.
Rubber expanders, given their diversity in shape and width, can be used on any model. They are made in the form of a continuous tape of durable frost-resistant rubber and are sold complete with fasteners. Such fenders are much cheaper than plastic ones, and their installation does not require any additional work. It is enough to choose the necessary profile, measure the desired length and fix it using self-tapping screws.
The use of arch extensions on domestic cars
Most often, fenders are installed on SUVs, although sometimes you can find these elements on tuned cars. Of the representatives of the Russian automobile industry, the most common car that undergoes this kind of refinement is the VAZ-2121 Niva, as well as the VAZ-2123 Niva and Niva-Chevrolet. Having a unique cross-country ability and reliability, these models have gained wide popularity among fans of hunting, fishing and just travelers. In addition, these cars are easily amenable to any type of tuning. They are equipped with a variety of body kits, kenguryatniki, winches, extra headlights , etc.
Arch extensions were no exception. Niva-Chevrolet, for example, looks much prettier with plastic fenders painted in body color. An aesthetic and non-aggressive look will not distinguish such a car from others in the city, and plastic protection will protect the arches from the harmful effects of road reagents in the winter. Large wheels with studded tires in combination with rubber expanders, contrasting with the color of the body, on the contrary, will add aggression and brutality to the SUV.
How to choose arch extensions on the Niva
Plastic and fiberglass fenders, given their cost and installation complexity, are best installed in special services. There, experts will pre-treat the arches with an anticorrosive composition, and only then will they proceed to the installation itself.
Universal arch expanders on the Niva can be installed independently, without the help of specialists. Their installation is not difficult, and only a screwdriver is needed from the tools. When purchasing rubber arch extensions on the Niva, you should consider the model of the car in order to choose the necessary width, which varies from 1.5 to 4 inches. For Niva-Chevrolet, the best solution would be expanders with a width of no more than 2 inches, but arch expanders "Niva" (2121 and 2123) should have a width of about 3 inches.
Installation of universal expanders on the "Niva"
Rubber arch extensions on the Niva are a set of profiled rubber bands designed for the circumference of 4 arches, aluminum plates with holes and self-tapping screws. To fix the rubber profile, you must first measure its required length, determine the width of the departure for the body, and then use the plates to press it to the surface of the arch and fix it with screws. Such a simple operation will allow any "Niva" to find a finished look, and in addition, protect the body from dirt and stones.