So the holes on my front mud flaps are not lining up. I'm even having second thoughts about them all together. Anyone know if they will really cut down on scratching up the paint job and by keeping rocks from flying up and chipping it the paint on the truck?

Also are they that much of a help in the winter? We get a lot of snow and crud up here, so I'm debating the neccessity of it.

The mud flaps say 2004 F150 4x4 syleside. I have an 05 4x4 supercrew...is that syleside???

There arn't even any holes for the front mud flaps on the truck. Just one wayyy up there.

Help please!!!!!

 

I have never been a big fan of mud-flaps. Just keep the area clean and waxed. Hopefully you won't get any damage, but I would risk it not to have to look at those flaps everyday.

Mud-plaps remind me of small Toyota trucks.

 

Yeah, but with the long winters up here and all the snow and ice it's almost a neccessity.

 

Anybody know how to install these? The instructions absolutely stink.

 

It looks like you will have to drill into the fender flare area. Did they come with screws or something to secure them to the metal?

 

Yeah screws. Looks like I'll need to drill. In the mean time, the 150 sandpaper isn't taking off the orange peel feel of the plastic....off to HD to go to 80 grit....really tough to get them smooth enough to paint.

 

What are you going to do when the paint on your mud-flaps gets chipped up? I guess you can re-paint those easier than you can your fenders and such.

 

Yes, they will. You will get used to the sound of stones hitting the plastic instead of the metal

Yes, that is the best effect. Drive in wet conditions, and the areas of your rocker panels and doors behind each wheel will be the only clean/dry area of your truck, instead of the wetest/saltiest.

as long as it is not a flareside, it is a styleside. If you have fit issues, it is usually due to not buying the right part; there are flaps for with factory fender trim and without it. They are shaped differently, if they are obviously not a snug fit, you have the wrong ones

grab drill, insert bit, drill hole, insert and drive sheet metal screw.

 

I didn't drill a matching hole in the fender - I made a matching hole in the mudflap. I took out the fender trim fastener that ended up behind the mudflap, mounted the mudflap in place, then I locked a bent finish nail into a pair of visegrips, heated it red-hot in a propane torch, and melted a matching hole through the mudflap by sticking the hot nail through the fender-lip hole from the back side. Then I put the fender trim fastener back in.

Wow - that's a lot more words than actually doing it. Hope I got the point across. I've had no problem with them. Melting the hole with the mudflap in place makes sure it lines up, and leaves a nice smooth hole.

 

Yeah the only hole i have on the front is way up there. so it looks like ill need to drill holes bc of the wheel molding.

the paint shouldn't chip that much. talked to a bunch of guys who haven't had problems.

the problem now is sanding them smooth. just don't think it's gonna happen.

 

A co-worker of mine did this exact install. Like you, he didn't want to drill the flare either.

Works like a charm!

RP

 

Mud flaps can look good if you pick the right set. My experience though is that they give one more place for all the sand and salt to get trapped. This of course will speed up the rusting process. Living in Canada I deal with snow almost 7 months of the year. I'd prefer to live without the flaps rather then do something that may cause rust to start sooner then it would otherwise. Just my 2 cents.

 

I guess I'm stuck though with drilling into the fender because the holes are covered up with the fender flare.

 

I installed the exact same set onto mine (2004 SCrew FX4)

I had to drill through the plastic flare, but holes are already in the metal underneath. If I remember right there were speed nuts that you slipped over the edge of the metal.

The flaps for the bed did NOT fit right. I ended up drilling a different hole in the mudflap to get it to line up with the holes present in the metal.

The part number on mine was correct for the application; it was just a bad part.

-Fatz

edit: I remember I didn't have to disassemble the fender flare as far as the instructions wanted. I held up the mudflap and marked where I needed to drill with a pen. I undid the bottom most plug and pulled the flare away from the metal and drilled it. Easy.

 

I Installed the same mud flaps on my 2004 screw You have to pull 2 plugs that hold the molding on Then you pull it back and you will see 2 screws Take those off and put molding back in place Then you will align the holes that are on the mud flap to the molding and then you drill through the molding It should match the 2 screws that you have taken out Any questions e mail me F150