Are fenders and wheel arches the same?
2 Answers
Fenders and wheel arches are the same; fenders are also known as wheel arches. Below is relevant information about fenders: 1. A fender is a body panel that covers the wheel, named for its resemblance to a bird's wing in older vehicle designs. Based on their installation position, they are divided into front fenders and rear fenders. The front fender is installed near the front wheel and must accommodate the maximum space required for the wheel's rotation and movement. Therefore, designers use a "wheel travel diagram" based on the selected tire model and size to verify if the fender's design dimensions are appropriate. 2. The function of the fender is to prevent sand, gravel, and mud kicked up by the wheels from splashing onto the underbody of the vehicle during driving. As such, the materials used must be resistant to weather aging and have good formability. Some vehicles' front fenders are made of a certain elastic plastic material, which provides cushioning and enhances safety.
The fender and the wing panel are actually the same thing—don't get confused by the names! When I was an apprentice at the auto repair shop, I heard the mechanics using both terms interchangeably. Later, I learned that these are just regional naming habits. In mainland China, it's mostly called 'yì zǐ bǎn' (fender), describing how it covers the wheel like a wing, while 'yè zǐ bǎn' (leaf panel) is the common term used in Taiwan. Whether it's an original metal part or an aftermarket modification, both refer to the curved protective panel above the wheel, mainly designed to prevent mud, sand, and stones kicked up by the tires from damaging the car's paint. I remember last year when helping a customer replace the right front fender, he insisted that auto parts stores didn't list 'leaf panel' parts—but it was actually the same part number. Nowadays, online shopping platforms uniformly label them as fenders. However, mud flaps are different—those are additional rubber accessories installed separately.
