VW T4 Wheel Arches, Wings & Side Panels

Got rust or damage to sort on your T4? You'll find replacement wings, wheel arches, side panels and repair sections here to help get the bodywork back into shape.

We stock panels for different areas of the VW T4, including front wings, lower wing repairs, wheel arches, sills and side-panel sections.

Before ordering, have a good look at your T4 and check exactly which area you're repairing. Depending on the panel, you'll need to know things like the year, nearside or offside, front or rear position and whether your van is SWB (Short Wheel Base) or LWB (Long Wheel Base).

Some panels are complete replacement panels, while others are smaller repair sections designed to replace a damaged or corroded part of the original panel.

Body-panel terminology can get a little confusing, especially when you're trying to work out exactly which bit of your T4 needs replacing.

Here's a quick guide.

The wing is the exterior body panel around the front wheel area.

If you're repairing damage or corrosion around the front of your T4, you might need a complete front wing or just a smaller lower-wing repair section.

It's worth checking whether the product is a complete wing or a repair panel before ordering – they aren't the same thing. You'll also need to check whether the panel is for the nearside (left) or offside (right) of the van and whether any other T4 body specification is stated on the product.

The wheel arch is the curved section of bodywork around the wheel opening.

These are common areas to inspect for corrosion, particularly around the lip of the arch and where different sections of the bodywork meet. Our T4 range includes wheel-arch and surrounding repair panels for different positions on the van.

Make sure you check whether you're working on a front or rear arch, which side of the van you're repairing and whether the panel is intended for your T4's wheelbase.

Side panels cover the larger areas of bodywork along the side of your T4.

Depending on where the repair is needed, you may find complete panel sections as well as smaller repair panels for areas which are particularly prone to damage or corrosion.
The correct panel can depend on the side of the van, its position and the vehicle's body configuration.

TThis catches people out more often than you might think.

When you're looking forward from the driver's seat:

• Nearside (NS) = left-hand side
• Offside (OS) = right-hand side

You'll often see both terms used in product names and descriptions.

Don't choose the panel simply from a product photo. Check whether the listing says Nearside (Left) or Offside (Right) before ordering. This is especially important with wings, arches, doorstep repairs, sills and side panels, where the two sides aren't necessarily interchangeable.

You'll also see panels described as front or rear.

This refers to their position on the vehicle rather than the direction you're looking at the panel from. A front wing, for example, sits around the front wheel area.

A rear wheel-arch repair panel deals with the bodywork around the rear wheel opening. It sounds obvious, but once you start looking at lower wings, arch repairs, sills and side panels together, it's worth double-checking the stated position before adding anything to your basket.

Your T4's wheelbase can make a big difference when you're ordering body panels.

• SWB means Short Wheelbase.
• LWB means Long Wheelbase.

The longer body on an LWB T4 means some side and rear bodywork sections are different to those fitted to an SWB van. If a panel is listed specifically for SWB or LWB, make sure it matches your van.

Don't assume a panel will fit both unless the individual product information says that it does.

This is another important distinction when you're planning a T4 bodywork job.

A repair section is a smaller piece of bodywork intended to replace a particular damaged or corroded area.

These can be useful when the rest of the original panel is sound and only one section needs attention. Examples include lower-wing repairs, arch repairs, sill sections and other localised bodywork panels.

The damaged metal generally needs to be removed and the repair section fitted into the existing bodywork, so preparation and fabrication may be required.

A full panel replaces a much larger section of the original bodywork.

Depending on the part, this could mean a complete wing or a larger side-panel section rather than just the area around the rust or damage. Don't assume that “full panel” means it replaces every surrounding section of bodywork. Check the product photos, description and dimensions, so you know exactly what you're getting.

The right choice will depend on how much of the original panel is damaged and how you're planning to carry out the repair.

Bought the panels but don't fancy getting the welder out yourself?

The JK Garage Finder can help you find garages and workshops around the UK which work on Volkswagens and campervans. You can search specifically for Body Repair or Restoration, select VW T4 as your vehicle and use your postcode to find specialists in your area.

It's a handy option if your T4 needs welding, fabrication, panel replacement, paintwork or a larger restoration, and you'd rather leave the job to someone with the right equipment and experience.

This page covers wheel arches, wings and side panels, but you'll find more T4 bodywork parts in the main body-panel range.

Use the main body-panel category when you're working on several different areas of your van or aren't sure which panel section you need.

Body panels aren't always the easiest parts to identify from a photo, especially if you're dealing with an old repair or a section that's already been cut up.

Start by checking:

• T4 model year
• SWB or LWB
• Nearside or offside
• Front or rear
• Short-nose or long-nose where relevant
• The exact area being repaired
• Whether you need a repair section or a larger panel

Then compare those details with the individual product description.

Still not sure? Get in touch with the JK team, and we'll help you work out which panel you need.