Quake LED HDX Fender Chop kit

[rforbes]

Hello! So I did an install of these on my jeep this week. Overall, happy with them. A couple small quirks. First, they could stand to be a bit brighter. Maybe that isn't possible but I find them a touch dim. Second, for some reason when in HDX mode you lose the amber side lights. They are there when in non HDX mode and the blinkers are amber so there doesn't really seem to be a reason that they didn't make the ends amber. I guess just a choice on their part.

But I do like them. I didn't do a full inside fender delete as I wanted to keep my XR fender extensions. I like the way it looks for sure.

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[rohdawg]

Hello! So I did an install of these on my jeep this week. Overall, happy with them. A couple small quirks. First, they could stand to be a bit brighter. Maybe that isn't possible but I find them a touch dim. Second, for some reason when in HDX mode you lose the amber side lights. They are there when in non HDX mode and the blinkers are amber so there doesn't really seem to be a reason that they didn't make the ends amber. I guess just a choice on their part.

But I do like them. I didn't do a full inside fender delete as I wanted to keep my XR fender extensions. I like the way it looks for sure.

I’m about to do the AAL version of this. What did you do to keep the extensions? Have you kept the fender liner and bottom of the fender intact?

It looks like you have aftermarket fender liners but I’m not sure. Just wondering if/where/how you trimmed away the fender liner to keep the extensions.

 

[rforbes]

I’m about to do the AAL version of this. What did you do to keep the extensions? Have you kept the fender liner and bottom of the fender intact?

It looks like you have aftermarket fender liners but I’m not sure. Just wondering if/where/how you trimmed away the fender liner to keep the extensions.

I do have aftermarket inner fender liners. Mine are from DV8 Offroad. When you install those you remove a good chunk of plastic but you still have the plastic reinforcements in the fender itself. I wanted to keep all that as I wanted to keep my extensions.

The fender, as you are probably aware, is essentially 2 portions. The top part and the underneath part. On a painted fender only the top part is actually painted. The DRL is attached to the bottom part. Typically, you rip out all the bottom part and leave just the top part of the fender. This means you are left with just a small shell as a fender. It is very unstable but the replacement DRLs basically have brackets to provide support. You then drill a whole on the side of your fender and screw the bracket and fender together.

I didn't want to do most of that. Essentially what I did was went through the process of pulling the DRLs out of the fender. I then used a dremel to chop off the bottom plastic, that part that is under the DRL. There was a bit inside I had to get rid of; a tab and a couple other small things but wasn't too bad. I actually took the fender off to do this, I found it made the process much easier. By doing that I was able to keep my fender extensions AND I didn't need to drill a whole in the fender. I just bolted the fender to the two tabs that are on the body of the jeep. I know the purpose of a fender chop is for additional tire clearance, but I have found with the 37" tires and the 3.5" lift I have plenty of clearance and no rubbing. I just wanted to cool RGB lights and the more open look to show off the inner fender liners.

Overall, super happy with it all. I am a bit nervous how it will handle a decent water crossing, but that won't happen for a while.

 

[Terrymo]

I’m about to do the AAL version of this. What did you do to keep the extensions? Have you kept the fender liner and bottom of the fender intact?

It looks like you have aftermarket fender liners but I’m not sure. Just wondering if/where/how you trimmed away the fender liner to keep the extensions.

Here’s a good video by @ExpeditionBuilds

 

[rforbes]

Here’s a good video by @ExpeditionBuilds

That is super interesting. I had no idea that video existed when I did mine. I would say what he did is very similar to what I did other than I didn't want to keep my inner fender liners.

A couple of thoughts....

I think it is much easier to pull the fender off the body to do the work. It also meant using the light for a guide where to cut was easier.

His logic on why he chose the rugged ridge is interesting. Essentially, the RR, the Quake, and the AAV all work the same and go in essentially the same way. I mean, nothing wrong with the RR ones but nothing special about them that allows you to keep your inner fender liners.

I think it is a great opportunity to throw a couple bolts to hold the fenders to the body a bit better. You can see the metal tabs that are there.

Overall, great video. Definitely could help if somebody wanted to do what I did.

Another piece I forgot to mention. An additional step for the Quake HDX is where to mount the HDX controller, giving it power, and running the wires from it to the lights. I ended upusing aux switch 3 to provide power to the HDX controller and the wire to the driver side essentially over the radiator cover.

Maybe I should have recorded this....

 

[rohdawg]

I do have aftermarket inner fender liners. Mine are from DV8 Offroad. When you install those you remove a good chunk of plastic but you still have the plastic reinforcements in the fender itself. I wanted to keep all that as I wanted to keep my extensions.

The fender, as you are probably aware, is essentially 2 portions. The top part and the underneath part. On a painted fender only the top part is actually painted. The DRL is attached to the bottom part. Typically, you rip out all the bottom part and leave just the top part of the fender. This means you are left with just a small shell as a fender. It is very unstable but the replacement DRLs basically have brackets to provide support. You then drill a whole on the side of your fender and screw the bracket and fender together.

I didn't want to do most of that. Essentially what I did was went through the process of pulling the DRLs out of the fender. I then used a dremel to chop off the bottom plastic, that part that is under the DRL. There was a bit inside I had to get rid of; a tab and a couple other small things but wasn't too bad. I actually took the fender off to do this, I found it made the process much easier. By doing that I was able to keep my fender extensions AND I didn't need to drill a whole in the fender. I just bolted the fender to the two tabs that are on the body of the jeep. I know the purpose of a fender chop is for additional tire clearance, but I have found with the 37" tires and the 3.5" lift I have plenty of clearance and no rubbing. I just wanted to cool RGB lights and the more open look to show off the inner fender liners.

Overall, super happy with it all. I am a bit nervous how it will handle a decent water crossing, but that won't happen for a while.

I appreciate your write up. Thank you!

I picked up the AAL fender reinforcement hardware to go along with the rest of it so I’m not too worried about floppy fenders, just curious how you went about keeping the extensions.

I’ve done complete chops on two other JLs but the XR extensions were never a consideration.

@Terrymo Thanks for the video! Amazingly that one never came up in all the searching I’ve done.

 

[Halxen]

I appreciate your write up. Thank you!

I picked up the AAL fender reinforcement hardware to go along with the rest of it so I’m not too worried about floppy fenders, just curious how you went about keeping the extensions.

I’ve done complete chops on two other JLs but the XR extensions were never a consideration.

@Terrymo Thanks for the video! Amazingly that one never came up in all the searching I’ve done.

Rob from Quadratec also has a pretty decent video with pretty much the same install with a pre-production model of the light.



@rforbes if you have any close up shots of the fender, especially where you made the cut on the outer edge where the light meets that trim I'd love to see 'em. I'm interested in picking up a pair of these or the AAL ones for my new Rubicon X when it arrives but like you I want to retain that rigidity to the fender and also want to retain the fender extensions and that finished looking edge. I don't like how they look on the ones who've gutted the underside fender liner.

The only one I kinda like which did that is the guys from epic adventure who did that to all 4 fenders and then sent the top plastic shell to be fully spray coated inside & out with color matched spray-in "bed liner". That ended up looking pretty good but still doesn't have the same rigidity as stock.

 

[rohdawg]

Rob from Quadratec also has a pretty decent video with pretty much the same install with a pre-production model of the light.

Thank you

 

[rforbes]

Rob from Quadratec also has a pretty decent video with pretty much the same install with a pre-production model of the light.



@rforbes if you have any close up shots of the fender, especially where you made the cut on the outer edge where the light meets that trim I'd love to see 'em. I'm interested in picking up a pair of these or the AAL ones for my new Rubicon X when it arrives but like you I want to retain that rigidity to the fender and also want to retain the fender extensions and that finished looking edge. I don't lik

e how they look on the ones who've gutted the underside fender liner.

The only one I kinda like which did that is the guys from epic adventure who did that to all 4 fenders and then sent the top plastic shell to be fully spray coated inside & out with color matched spray-in "bed liner". That ended up looking pretty good but still doesn't have the same rigidity as stock.

ok, let's see if this works....

there is a video I took. Please ignore the crappy wiring. This weekend will be cleaning up wiring and where I cut. Let me know if you want a picture of something specific.

 

[rforbes]

Watched the quadratec video for the rugged ridge install. Again, I am not exactly sure I understand why he is calling out that the RR doesn't require you to pull all the inside of the fender out. the Quake LED and the AAV work exactly the same way.

I love the bracket on the RR. That is super nice. But, damn, that AAV next gen light is just super nice. If I wasn't looking for the rave-y RGB lights I would have probably gone with that.

 

[Grayhound]

When I installed my quake fender chop kit I kept my inner fender liners intact.

I also pulled the passenger fender, but kept the driver side on the jeep. I found the driver side to be easier still on the jeep.

 

[Balmung44]

Anyone can put a demo video out so we can see how the hdx looks and performs?

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