Here's what's annoying me about the whole thing.

1. They didn't read the envelope.

2. I'm going to now have two extra holes in my truck somewhere.

3. Someone would be so stupid to think to drill into the truck first, insead of into a little piece of plastic.

I will retract all of this if he did it right. But I just have a bad feeling about it from the lack of them knowing what I was talking about when I mentioned it.

Maybe if they screwed it up they won't charge me for the installation? Buuuuuuuuut I think we all know how that'll end up.

 

While we are on the subject of mudguards-do they really work well and don't they just greatly diminish your ground clearance?

 

Guigster,

Sorry to hear that the dealer install may not have gone as planned. Hopefully, they straighten things out for you.

To be honest, I wouldn't be too worried if they did drill the two holes. If I would have had the wheels off and had the truck up on blocks or a lift, I could have drilled the lip of the wheelwell, I just chose not too. As long as they drilled carefully, it shouldn't be a big deal. The wheel lip molding and the guards themselves will cover the extra hole.

If they didn't follow the directions, or use the guards you provided, I would try and get a free oil-change or something out of them.

Wattman1

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by TUFF FORD
I installed mine with no trouble. The hardest one was the first one, but once you figure out what goes where, it's a breeze.
-----snip-----------

Tuff,
You are right, the first one was the hardest - after the "practice run", they were fairly easy.

Wattman1

 

Recurve,

I think I lost some ground clearance, but I think it won't matter unless you are really "Off-roading". In that case the truck is probably lifted and splashguards would never get on it anyway.

Personally, I got a 4x4 for fall hunting trips and in case I move back north (PA) someday. Hey, it was a good excuse to justify the 4x4 to the wife!!

One of my buddies at work gave me hell for putting the step-rails on (loss of ground clearance), but my kids can't get in otherwise. I HAVE to lift the 1-year old, I am not lifting my 11-year old daughter in and out of the truck.

As far as efficiency, I noticed that after washing my truck (Blazing Yellow & Dark Shadow Grey) that the DSG right behind the wheels got very dirty after hitting one little puddle. I haven't washed the truck since I put them on, but I am hoping it stays a little cleaner.

Wattman1

 

Allow me to retract what I said about the tech. It appears he was smart enough to drill the splash guard and not the truck. Thank goodness. Still annoyed that they didn't read anything I provided, but since they're installed right, I'll live.

One thing I did notice though after the installation, is that there's different spacing between the guards and tubular running boards on each side of the front. About 1cm on the right side and 3cm on the left. And the reason for that is that the tubular board on the right was installed more towards the front of the truck than the one on the left. This was done at the factory and I never noticed it until yesterday.

 

Guigster,

Glad to hear the tech used some common sense and didn't drill your ride!

Now that you mention it, the spacing between my guards and my Ford 5" tubular step rails (not factory - they were after purchase add-on) looks different too. I didn't have a chance to measure it tonight, but there appears to be a slight difference. I will try to measure the difference this weekend.

 

I installed my own two days ago...it was easy!

1. First, I removed the wheels.
2. I pulled the bottom plastic pin out.
3. Held the mud guards up and drilled the holes through the lip moulding.
4. Removed the two screws behind the moulding.
5. Used the two new screws that came with the mud guard to screw the mud guards on through the holes that I drilled and into the holes where the two screws came out.
6. Inserted the plastic pin that came with the mud guards. Put the wheel back on the truck.
7. Repeated this process 3 more times.

Mine came out perfect. Also, I got mine for $25 on ebay. To solve the problem of the step rails being different distances from the mud guard, simply loosen up the 4 bolts that hold the step bar on the truck. The holes that the step bars mount on are larger than the bolts. Once the bolts are loosened, you should be able to move the step bar in the direction it needs to go. You may have to adjust both sides to get them the same. Just push the one that is closer back and the one that is further forward.

 

Interesting. I was not aware of that. I bent down and took a peek under, but didn't get far enough under to look at the holes. Looks like I have a weekend project to do. Thanks for the tip.

And to answer Recurve several replies back...It does diminish the ground clearance somewhat. But I, like I'm sure many others, got the FX4 not for it's offroading, but for it's damn cool looks.

So since I don't off road, it was more preferable for me to install the guards and lose a few inches of ground clearance, so I don't have to clean mud off of my door handle and driver's side windows anymore.

 

Not that easy. See new thread.

 

Went and bought mine today. Hope to put them on tomorrow. Dealer in Alaska wanted 80 dollars to install them. And I paid a little more for mine than you did.. lol

 

I bought the Husky molded guards (quite similar to the Ford guards I believe). I had a local body shop paint them to match the Arizona Biege for $50 and they turned out quite well. Installed them myself and I did take the back wheels off, no biggee..

 

Bad99pony, I like the matching color you did your flaps in. I just installed my Ford mud flaps. Didn't have to take the tires off.. Took a little extra time but I wasn't in a hurry.

 

After reading this thread I went out and installed all four splash gaurds in just less than an hour...no rushing, no tire removal. The rear gaurds did have to have the bottom hole drilled...just a matter of drilling down thru the original factory hole into the gaurd. Very easy! Some more good info here...THANKS!

 

I dont know why you guys are having problems. If holes dont line up it is because parts sold you the wrong splash gaurds. There is like 6 different part numbers for these, and all the factors matter. For instance, 2wd or 4wd, styleside or flareside, with or without wheel lip moldings and I think thats it. Some dealers will sell you the 2wd if they dont have the 4wd just to make a sale. I am and authorized Ford Accessory Installer, and am licensed through Ford to put these on, and never had to drill holes in the splash gaurd. I dont take the tires off either. On the front its easy, take the bottom push pin out, pull on the wheel lip molding a little to explse the two 5.5mm bolts and remove them. Put the splash gaurd up to the truck and put your pushpin in, and if you have the right gd it just shoot the two longer screws into the wholes. Works everytime, and they will line up if you hold them on there right. On the backs, get you a skewdriver form lowes, it is a piece that goes in your drill that you can put a bit in it at a 90 degree angle. Take the bottom pushpin out, and on a wheel lip molding truck remove the top esposed pushpin. Put the clip on the metal and hand thread the screw, then put your bottom pushpin in. Now take your second screw with your skewdriver, and screw it in the bottom hole. You will hit metal on that and the screw will self tap. No removing the wheels and works for me everytime. If you guys have anymore accessory questions I can answer them for ya. Just pm me, this stuff is way easier than you all are making it.


BTW, for all you overhead rail guys, Ford has released the overhead DVD to purchase as an accessory now, and I got them in stock!! I will let you know how the install goes!!