97 Honda Front Fender Buckling?

[Golferdude]

I have a 97 Honda and it looks like the front fender on both sides is getting some buckling dents. Could it be something is locked up on the suspension and when it hits a dip or something, the fender is taking the hit? Below is a picture of it. Any ideas?

Thanks...

[jeffcoslacker]

You are kidding, right?

Somebody did that on purpose. Those are impact dents, not stress. Stress travels in straight lines along weak points in panels (i.e. it would buckle at the top of the wheel opening, top to bottom). Someone is vandalizing your car...

[Golferdude]

No I wasn't kidding....

The drivers side happened about a year ago, while my daughter was in high school. The passenger side happened about 6 months ago while she was at college.

If someone is doing this on purpose, wouldn't the paint crack? How would they dent the panels like this and not mess the paint up? Could they be sitting on the car right there?

Any ideas would be great.

[jeffcoslacker]

Hitting a car with anything that has any padding at all (like a shoe) will dent without breaking paint. Hail never breaks paint either...all depends on the shape and the hardness of the object hitting it.

The large ones almost look like what you get when someone next to you hits it as they back out and turn from the next parking space over (or you do the same to them), except that usually produces a line pefectly paralell to the ground that gets deeper the farther back it goes...the smaller one in the top picture has an impression just above it that looks exactly like the heel of your fist makes on sheet metal...

[00accord44]

I think the fact that the damage only seems to happen when your daughter has it away at school should make this picture a little clearer. Either she needs serious car care lessons or college kids are partying on top of your car... literally

I remember we were being dumb when I had my dad's car in high school and as a result I brought it back to the house with a huge dent in the hood. I made up a lie that I was rather imressed with and he was left confused.

[n8zdogg]

This is vandalism or carelessness on someone's part. Some animal encounters like deer hits can cause dents with no scratches, but on a car this low in the front I would expect the damage to be higher up on the hood. Stock tires are DEFINITELY NOT hitting the fenders in these areas. Is the front bumper damaged at all?

[Golferdude]

No...just on the fenders where I am showing them.

On the bigger dents, especially the passenger side, there is a pretty straight line in the bottom of the dent. So maybe it was someone backing out of a space with her backed in her parking space and their front end clipped hers.

I will have to ask her how she normally parks, front end into the space or with her front end sticking out.

[n8zdogg]

This something soft that is not leaving any paint damage, car to car swipes like you're describing would surely leave scratches along with the dents. The front fenders on these cars are merely skins, they are very thin by design and dent very easy, I've dented mine just by leaning too hard on while changing the timing belt. At any rate your quickest bet is new fenders, and they're a strictly bolt on deal, you could even have the shop paint them first and put them on in a day. or if you don't really care, this not affecting the operation of the car like the suspension concern you had, just leave it.....My suspicion is your daughter is not telling you the whole story, I know the play dumb defense works great for me !

[Golferdude]

They wouldn't do that would they, play dumb...nahhhh.

At least I feel better knowing it isn't the suspension...and it might be good to leave it as is....maybe she will be more aware of it and say something.

Thanks..

[StealthSonic]

Those looks like someone backed up into it or slammed by a door. Looks like an SUV/pickup type of car. I have similar dents on the rear side, people on my block always back out of thiere garage and hit my car accross the street.... people are just careless.