Got Mudflaps? Word Of Warning!

[dark]

If you've got flaps......

STI Bugeye, MY02, 45k miles, Genuine Subaru mudflaps fitted from new:

Behind the plastic wheelarch liner was absolutely full of mud. Almost up to the level of the mudflap screws. I assume it's supposed to drain out of the slot at the bottom but this was completely choked. Not helped by the piece of foam insulation added by Subaru which seems to just retain moisture!

You can just make out in the photo where the metal is split by the bolt hole. Don't know if this happened when the mudflaps were fitted or after it started to corrode.

The two OEM mudflap bolts on the edge of the wheel arch had to be cut free, the clip nuts on the inside were completely corroded and broken. The two lower self tapping screws on the inner wheelarch were fine.

Interestingly the passenger side was also completely choked but no corrosion visible. This might be helped by the lack of foam insulation on that side. Strange!

Car is booked into the bodyshop next week for repair and I've bought a set of new stainless steel fasteners to reattach the mudflaps. Not sure I'll be putting the piece of foam back in though. Local parts dept were very helpful supplying replacement clip nuts & plastic rivets.

Would be very interested to know if anyone else has had this problem.

Cheers, Mark

[bigbird]

Mine has the prodrive stlye flaps fitted (from new) and yes, i've noticed that mud and crap does gather between the flap and the body. I try and wash most of it out weekly, but i'll maybe take the flaps off and have a good look......

[colzo]

Ouch. I have the Prodrive ones too but take them off once a year to give them and the arches a good clean.

[C_WRX]

Could folk post up pics of the mudflaps they have on their cars and where they got them from, considering looking in to a new set for my car as the OEM Subaru ones are looking a bit tired.

I have a newage which will likely make a difference

[scoobyit]

a word of warning, this can happen to the rear arches on newages, if you tuck your hand in under the arch and run your hand along the inside (against the body pannel)you can feel a groove/ledge that in the winter gets full of mud and salt... you want to clean this out every week

[man-with-men]

Best thing would be to leave them on if your selling the car and never give it another thought.

Or you could buy a Yugo and ghosty it into your nans front room

[thefastone]

Hmmm My gran lives on first floor.... I think that I may need a ramp...

In other news, I have Flaps, and Ive never even given it a secont thought, although, to be fair, I DO EXPECT crap to collect in there... so I might get around to cleaning it out at some point... no immediate drama though...