Rear Fender Support Brackets

[WaltH]

I had the rear fender support brackets replaced today under the warranty. Both were broken off. There is a lot of vibration stress on on these brackets where they do the 90 degree thing. This seems to be a common problem on high mileage Spyders, which means more owners will have the problem eventually.

On my first Spyder the brackets broke some time after 30,000 miles. I don't know just when. Once I noticed the damage, it seems to go fast. The Spyder burned before I could get the brackets replaced. On this Spyder the brackets broke some time after 50,000 miles. I am not sure how long they were damaged before I became aware of it. BRP has not changed part numbers yet.

[Firefly]

Same here -- and mine went at 15,000 miles or less. Pulled the whole fender stuff off and it won't be going back on. I'll get the new replacement pieces --- as they should cover it under warranty--- but I won't be using them anytime soon. I really like the looks of the no-fender rear and it's much easier to clean and work on things back there.

[Pogo]

I had the rear fender support brackets replaced today under the warranty. Both were broken off. There is a lot of vibration stress on on these brackets where they do the 90 degree thing. This seems to be a common problem on high mileage Spyders, which means more owners will have the problem eventually... BRP has not changed part numbers yet.

I noticed last week that the brackets on my '08 are cracked again. The first set were replaced at 15000km, these will be at 25000. After that I'll be out of warranty.

This is going to become an issue. The brackets have a faulty design, it should have been rectified by now. Has anyone had any success strengthening the brackets?

[j45p3r]

Both of mine just cracked this weekend. ~9250 miles. Dealer is shipping a couple up to me to replace them so I don't have to drive all the way down there for such a quick fix.

[groundeffect]

I hope that all that have found them broken are replaced under warranty, and that seems to be the case, so far .


Does anyone have any pictures to share of where they crack, or already cracked brackets?

thanks

[SpyderGirl]

Ours also went at about 15K - 16K miles.... while on our cross-country trip. Lost our license plate (second one) because of it. They were replaced under warranty as was the swing arm.

[groundeffect]

Ours also went at about 15K - 16K miles.... while on our cross-country trip. Lost our license plate (second one) because of it. They were replaced under warranty as was the swing arm.

What happened to your swing arm?

[SpyderGirl]

What happened to your swing arm?

That is where the bracket on the right side failed... the tab that is welded to the swingarm that is used to secure the lower part of the rear fender brace broke clean off of the swing arm.

[groundeffect]

That is where the bracket on the right side failed... the tab that is welded to the swingarm that is used to secure the lower part of the rear fender brace broke clean off of the swing arm.

Ah, ok, now I got it.


Thanks, Spydergirl!

[SpyderGirl]

Ah, ok, now I got it.

Thanks, Spydergirl!

No prob. Hopefully this won't happen to yours. Just keep an eye on your license plate fasteners, these seem to like to work their way loose. I am on my third license plate in about 2 years.

[boborgera]

No prob. Hopefully this won't happen to yours. Just keep an eye on your license plate fasteners, these seem to like to work their way loose. I am on my third license plate in about 2 years.

Have you tryed Nylock nut's on the fasteners? I put them on my plate over two years ago,Tight as a clams If i wanted to remove the plate i would have to cut them off.

[SpyderGirl]

Have you tryed Nylock nut's on the fasteners? I put them on my plate over two years ago,Tight as a clams If i wanted to remove the plate i would have to cut them off.

Yup, sure did on the second one... I guess the fender being broken caused an excess of vibration that they worked their way loose. I have to say though, the second one was on there for about a year and a half before it worked it's way off.

[bjt]

I just got done fixing dltang's rear fender brackets for the third time. No new swing arm and I didn't take it back to the dealer as they wire welded a couple of flat washers to the broken off tabs on the swing arm and those only lasted a few months. This time I made two angle brackets that I drilled and tapped onto the top of the swing arm to hold the fender brackets. If those angle brackets break, I just re-bend two more and screw them into the swing arm.








The only other issue is that the fender brackets have started cracking up by the fender mount so they will have to be replaced eventually.

[SpyderGirl]

I just got done fixing dltang's rear fender brackets for the third time. No new swing arm and I didn't take it back to the dealer as they wire welded a couple of flat washers to the broken off tabs on the swing arm and those only lasted a few months. This time I made two angle brackets that I drilled and tapped onto the top of the swing arm to hold the fender brackets. If those angle brackets break, I just re-bend two more and screw them into the swing arm.


The only other issue is that the fender brackets have started cracking up by the fender mount so they will have to be replaced eventually.

Ridiculous that we have to go through this. The next time mine break it won't be fixed under warranty and I'll probably just do what you did Brian. I may have to take the welding class at the community college after all.

[Firefly]

The more I ryde without the rear fender - the more I like it. Looks really sharp and is much easier to clean and work on.

Bad design on the fender brackets for sure.

[SpyderGirl]

The more I ryde without the rear fender - the more I like it. Looks really sharp and is much easier to clean and work on.

Bad design on the fender brackets for sure.

Agreed. I love the way my Spyder looks without the rear fender, but it's a MUST when it's raining. Ask me how I know.

[bjt]

Ridiculous that we have to go through this. The next time mine break it won't be fixed under warranty and I'll probably just do what you did Brian. I may have to take the welding class at the community college after all.

I wouldn't bother welding them. I did that the first time and they still broke (Plus I was really nervous putting welds on the swing arm). The next time we took it to the dealer and he welded on the steel flat washers, they broke a lot quicker. I think drilling and tapping two holes in the top of the swing arm right in the area of where the original tabs were welded and then making a small angle bracket is the way to go. I tapped 10-24 holes and used stainless 10-24 button head screws to hold the bracket to the swing arm. The other part of the angle bracket is held onto the fender bracket by the existing bolts and nuts.

[SpyderGirl]

I wouldn't bother welding them. I did that the first time and they still broke (Plus I was really nervous putting welds on the swing arm). The next time we took it to the dealer and he welded on the steel flat washers, they broke a lot quicker. I think drilling and tapping two holes in the top of the swing arm right in the area of where the original tabs were welded and then making a small angle bracket is the way to go. I tapped 10-24 holes and used stainless 10-24 button head screws to hold the bracket to the swing arm. The other part of the angle bracket is held onto the fender bracket by the existing bolts and nuts.

Ah, good to know. Hopefully mine will hold together for a while. I should go home and check it. It's been about 10K miles since the last time it broke.

[bjt]

Ah, good to know. Hopefully mine will hold together for a while. I should go home and check it. It's been about 10K miles since the last time it broke.

And, I forgot to add to my last post, it is ridiculous that we have to go through things like this

[bjt]

The more I ryde without the rear fender - the more I like it. Looks really sharp and is much easier to clean and work on.

Bad design on the fender brackets for sure.

+1. When my brackets cracked the first time, I removed them and went sans fender. The only problem was keeping a license plate on the Spyder.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...6&postcount=19

[docdoru]

+1. When my brackets cracked the first time, I removed them and went sans fender. The only problem was keeping a license plate on the Spyder.

+2 Replaced brackets @ 44K; lost 3 licence plates...

[DeeKay53]

Found this on another site.www.spyderryders.net.au/tips.html May be an answer to you problems!!!!

[ataDude]

Found this on another site.www.spyderryders.net.au/tips.html May be an answer to you problems!!!!

You've got the "2thumbs" smiley embedded in your link... no workee. Remove it along with the leading and trailing ":"s and it will work.

.

[DeeKay53]

Sorry about that. www.spyderryders.net.au/tips.html

[Firefly]

Fixed link: http://www.spyderryders.net.au/tips.html


I don't find the rain to be an issue without the fender installed--- but I cannot speak for whoever is behind me----