DIY Rally Armor Mudflaps

[phobos512]

So I looked for a DIY for the Rally Armor mudflaps and couldn't find one so I decided to do my own. A few things first - one, I tried to be clever and use my panel removal tools to pop out the plastic rivets. They didn't help; too flexible. Two, if you are hand with a jack, take the rear wheels off. I have average to large hands and it was not very fun getting the screws tight, particularly on the left side (I am left handed).

I used a small flathead screwdriver, a small Philips screwdriver and an offset screwdriver to do this, along with the parts that came in the kit.





I did the fronts starting with the left, and then did the rears starting with the right. I started the car and crank the wheel all the way left to give myself room to work. I left the car running for the fronts as it was cold and I didn't want to start it and stop it twice.

For the fronts you remove the top three screw pop rivets and two rivets underneath the wheel well on either side of the pinch weld.





The top rivets unscrew about half a turn and can then be pried out (the head is flimsy but they're not reused so you can just yank them out).



The rivets underneath just get the center pried up and then they pop out.





Once all the rivets are out the black clips get placed over the white fender plastic underneath the liner. I took the opportunity to clean that area since it was accessible.







Once the clips are in place you can take the bracket and put it in place.



It mounts underneath the fender across the pinch weld with the two pop rivets. The other mounting hole face down and to the inside of the wheel well.





Place another black clip on the mounting hole on the bracket in the wheel well.



With the bracket done take three long screws, one short screw, four washers and the mudflap and mount it up. The short screw and a washer go on the inside mounting hole and the long screws with a washer each go on the upper holes.





Tighten them up most of the way, make sure the mudflap is straight and finish tightening them. It might help before tightening the inside screw to crank the wheel back over to the right, which will enable tightening with a full size screwdriver.



Repeat for the other side.

On the left side of the car the mudflaps will tend to go outward when tightening, and inward on the right side. Keep this in mind when you are doing the other ones to line everything up.

For the rears, there's less to take apart and fewer things to add, but less room to do it in. Unless, like I said, you're handy with a jack and you take the wheels off. I did not.

The first thing on the rears is to pull out the first pop rivet underneath the fender right at the back of the wheel well, which joins the fender to the wheel well liner. This pop rivet is larger than the others and harder to remove, but it'll come out with some work. Whatever tool you use to pop the rivet, make sure you don't mar the fender.





With the pop rivet out (and after cleaning the area) slide the bracket in place between the black wheel well liner and the fender.





Then pop the rivet back into place through the fender, bracket and liner. Make sure you get the rivet through all three before popping the rivet closed (twisting helps).



With the bracket in place, pop three black clips into place. The top one goes on the fender plastic only; the middle goes across the fender and the bracket, and the bottom just goes on the bracket. Next, two large screws and one small screw, all with washers. Top and middle get long screws, bottom gets a short screw. Use the offset screwdriver to tighten them down.



Repeat on the other side making sure they're lined up as close to the same as possible. Put your tools away and enjoy.

[SciOnDrifTtSlIdeR]

nice little project for a Sunday afternoon

[LucidMomentum]

Originally Posted by SciOnDrifTtSlIdeR

nice little project for a Sunday afternoon

Yep! I didn't have my wheels off and it took me about an hour. Totally worth it but a small warning - if you drive in the rain, prepare for the flaps to throw all kinds of dirty water at the side panels :/

[Chanpion]

Originally Posted by LucidMomentum

Yep! I didn't have my wheels off and it took me about an hour. Totally worth it but a small warning - if you drive in the rain, prepare for the flaps to throw all kinds of dirty water at the side panels :/

Isn't that what mudflaps are supposed to stop, this and flinging dirt at other cars?
Actual question though, do the Rally Amours keep the panels behind it clean or do you think a st of mud guards/ splash guards would do a better job? Trying to go function over form, event though the red mud flaps look amazing.

[LucidMomentum]

Originally Posted by Chanpion

Isn't that what mudflaps are supposed to stop, this and flinging dirt at other cars?
Actual question though, do the Rally Amours keep the panels behind it clean or do you think a st of mud guards/ splash guards would do a better job? Trying to go function over form, event though the red mud flaps look amazing.

Oh they work, no worries there. I drive in the oil fields so there are days when the roads have tons of rocks and mud on them. When I was my car there's always a large amount of mud and dirt coming off the flaps. Much more than what is on the car :p

However in the rain, due to the heigt of the car there's not a lot of space for water to go and when it hits the flaps some of it hits the side panels. Especially if you like to drift a bit in the rain It's not going to save you from having to wash the car, but it'll save you from rocks and heavy mud buildup on the side panels.

I got these guards because they're flexible, since I drive over a lot of rocks.

[kberkel]

Nice tut. I was going to install the rears, but didn't have a ratchet like yours.

I've grown to like having the fronts only. They look great year around.

Interesting exhaust cutout plug. Are you going to blend it?

[phobos512]

Originally Posted by LucidMomentum

Oh they work, no worries there. I drive in the oil fields so there are days when the roads have tons of rocks and mud on them. When I was my car there's always a large amount of mud and dirt coming off the flaps. Much more than what is on the car :p

However in the rain, due to the heigt of the car there's not a lot of space for water to go and when it hits the flaps some of it hits the side panels. Especially if you like to drift a bit in the rain It's not going to save you from having to wash the car, but it'll save you from rocks and heavy mud buildup on the side panels.

I got these guards because they're flexible, since I drive over a lot of rocks.

Well rain is rain. Car's going to get wet in rain. You don't buy mudflaps to keep you car dry, you buy them to keep debris kicked up by the tires from schwacking your fenders, which is what these will help with as @LucidMomentum noted.

[phobos512]

Originally Posted by kberkel

Nice tut. I was going to install the rears, but didn't have a ratchet like yours.

I've grown to like having the fronts only. They look great year around.

Interesting exhaust cutout plug. Are you going to blend it?

You can get an offset screwdriver at any hardware and some autoparts stores for under $10. You can also use a magnetic screwdriver or drill bit in a socket wrench to accomplish the same thing in a pinch (might not fit here though).

As far as the delete panel...well, it's carbon fiber - it's supposed to stand out

http://www.innovateddynamics.com/pro...e-frs-brz-gt86

[JCE17]

Thanks for posting this. I received these as a Christmas present and plan on putting them on this weekend.

[phobos512]

Originally Posted by JCE17

Thanks for posting this. I received these as a Christmas present and plan on putting them on this weekend.

No problem. They were a present for me as well. If anything comes up feel free to shoot a PM, but I think now having done it it's all pretty straight forward.

[Timmy_Jones]

Do you rally your car often? Are you going to install the lift springs along with this kit? What kind of tires do you run, for offroad?

[phobos512]

Originally Posted by Timmy_Jones

Do you rally your car often? Are you going to install the lift springs along with this kit? What kind of tires do you run, for offroad?

Don't be a douche in my thread.

[FRSfan111]

Originally Posted by Timmy_Jones

Do you rally your car often? Are you going to install the lift springs along with this kit? What kind of tires do you run, for offroad?

Bro, do you even troll?

[Timmy_Jones]

Originally Posted by phobos512

Don't be a douche in my thread.

I was just curious, there is a rally racing course up in New Hampshire. Otherwise, why would you install these?