Fender flares look like a simple bolt-on upgrade, and for a lot of Bronco builds they are. But there are a handful of mistakes that show up constantly, and most of them cost real money to fix after the fact. Here are 7 fender flare mistakes that cost Ford Bronco owners money.
1. Buying Flares Before Deciding on Tire Size
Fender flares are built around a specific tire size range. Buy the flares first and pick your tires later, and you risk ending up with coverage that's either too narrow for the tires you actually want or unnecessarily wide for tires you never buy. Decide your target tire size before you shop flares, not after.
2. Confusing a Fender Delete With Fender Flares
These solve opposite problems and a lot of buyers mix them up. Fender flares add coverage outward to protect the body from mud, rocks, and water when you run larger tires. A fender delete removes material instead, cutting back the wheel well opening so a larger tire has room to flex and articulate without rubbing during hard suspension travel. If your actual problem is rubbing at full articulation, flares won't fix it. That's a clearance problem, and only a delete addresses clearance.
3. Not Checking Sasquatch vs Non-Sasquatch Fitment
Sasquatch-equipped Broncos already run 35-inch tires and wider fenders from the factory. A flare kit designed for a non-Sasquatch Bronco running smaller stock tires does not automatically fit a Sasquatch build, and the reverse is also true. Confirm your specific configuration before ordering, not just your model year and trim.
4. Choosing Painted Flares Without Budgeting for Paint Matching
Painted flares that don't match your exact factory color code stand out immediately, and factory paint codes vary by production batch as well as by color name. Getting a painted flare color-matched properly usually means a body shop, not a DIY job, and that cost is separate from the flare itself. Textured black flares skip this problem entirely and are the simpler, cheaper route for most builds.
5. Installing Flares That Require Trimming Without Knowing It's Permanent
Some flare kits are bolt-on and fully reversible. Others require trimming the factory fender, which cannot be undone. If keeping the option to return to stock matters to you, whether for resale or just changing your mind later, read the install instructions before you buy, not after you've already cut into the fender.
6. Ignoring Raptor-Specific Fitment
The Bronco Raptor's wider body and fenders are not interchangeable with standard Bronco fender flares. A flare kit built for a standard-width Bronco, Sasquatch included, generally does not fit the Raptor's already-flared body. If you're shopping fenders for a Raptor, confirm Raptor-specific fitment explicitly rather than assuming a Sasquatch-compatible kit will work.
7. Not Checking Whether Factory Fog Lights or Sensors Are Affected
Some fender flare kits cover or interfere with factory fog light housings and side marker lights depending on where they mount relative to the body. This isn't universal, but it's common enough to check before you order rather than discover it during install. Confirm the flare kit explicitly addresses your factory lighting setup if you want to keep it functional.
Flares or Delete: Which One Do You Actually Need?
If your tires fit fine but stick out past the body without coverage, you need flares. If your tires are rubbing the fender liner at full articulation regardless of coverage, you need a delete, and flares alone won't solve it. Some builds running larger tires need both: a delete for clearance and flares to keep the wider stance covered.
Ready to shop? Check out fender flares and fender delete options for Ford Bronco to see what fits your specific setup.
Ford Bronco Fender Flare FAQ
Do I need fender flares if I have the Sasquatch Package?
Sasquatch already includes wider factory flares sized for 35-inch tires. You only need aftermarket flares if you're running tires larger than what Sasquatch was built around.
What's the difference between fender flares and a fender delete?
Flares add outward coverage to protect the body from larger tires. A delete removes material to create clearance so larger tires can articulate without rubbing. They solve different problems and some builds need both.
Do Ford Bronco fender flares fit the Bronco Raptor?
Generally no. The Raptor's wider body requires Raptor-specific fender flares. Standard-width Bronco flares, including Sasquatch-compatible kits, typically do not fit the Raptor.
Are painted fender flares worth the extra cost?
Only if you budget for proper color matching, which usually requires a body shop. A mismatched painted flare looks worse than a textured black one that isn't trying to match at all.
Is installing fender flares permanent?
Depends on the kit. Some are fully bolt-on and reversible. Others require trimming the factory fender, which cannot be undone. Check the install instructions before ordering if reversibility matters to you.
About This Quick Read
This was put together by the team at Bronco Forge. Our founder spent time as a Ford salesman before launching Bronco Forge, giving us firsthand knowledge of how Broncos are sold, what buyers get wrong, and what dealers don't always tell you. We sell aftermarket parts exclusively for the Ford Bronco and spend time in Bronco owner communities tracking what owners actually experience. Questions about fitment or anything Bronco-related? Reach out at contact@broncoforge.com or (909) 772-8050.
