How useful is the mud flap and how does it look?
 

It seems to be an easy job to install OEM mud flap. But I really do not know whether it is a good idea to install such a utilitarian accessory on a sports car. So any suggestions would be great. I know how to do it, so this is not a DIY or cosmetic modification question. Please help me understand the pros and cons of mud flap on BRZ, so that I can decide whether it is good for me. Thanks a lot for the help.

BTW, is there a smart phone app for this forum. I'd like to check things out lying on the bed, not sitting in front of a computer :wub:

For the first question, I didn't use the Scion mudguards on my BRZ - although they should fit fine. Instead I went with the Rally Armor mudflaps and I think they look a lot cooler and protect a lot better than the OEM ones.

Pic installed on my car (I have a DGM/Asphalt car and I went with the dark gray lettering on black flaps):

http://i.imgur.com/WqRyr8E.jpg

These offer an incredible amount of protection. After a drive in the rain the front of the flaps are absolutely COVERED in road grime and leaves - grime that would otherwise be on the side of the car.

For your second question, if you're on Android you can use the Tapatalk forum app and just search for FT86Club.

Personally, I think the Rally Armor flaps look like something from J. C. Whitney and are quite overpriced for a hunk of flat rubber. I also don't like the 'advertising' with their name printed across the flaps. But I will say they offer the most protection in all driving conditions. The OEM Scion ones look much nicer (again, just my opinion) and don't detract from the lines of the car. But they will not give anywhere near as much protection as the Rally Armor.

I have the oem version on my car and have noticed a significant decrease in the amount of dirty water splashed up onto the doors and most especially the rear bumper sides. I think they look fine and don't detract from the sportiness of the car. The black color matches the rest of the black trim on the BRZ. Plus they cover and utilize the open holes in the rear bumper. Highly recommend. (Note that they will not work with side skirts or rear spats, but those two things shouldn't go together anyway. IMHO)

If you live where you get snow then fit a set because they will protect your car and keep snow and ice off the doors.

If you live where it rains frequently fit a set to keep the car cleaner for longer.

In your location I wouldn't bother. The bodywork is shaped correctly to work fine for occasional rain in a dry climate.

Having said that the factory flaps ("splash guards" according to Scion) are very nicely shaped and unobtrusive when installed. The more aggressive Rally Armour flaps are suitable for rugged winter conditions. I would not and did not fit them only because they are too big unless you feel you really need the extra protection.

Thanks a lot for all your help. I checked out the OEM one and the RA one. $66 vs. $143 total cost. That is some serious amount of money for 4 pieces of plastics. Let me think over it. But your help is great and I did install the android app.

Thanks for your suggestion w.r.t. my location. This is my 2nd car, and I probably wont use it under heavy rain anyway. Also SF, CA does not rain at all from April to November. Maybe the OEM is fine.

Terminology wise, on Scion's website, it is called mudguards. In the installation manual, it is called mud flaps. Part number is PU060-18013-P1.

I have a brand new set of rally armor, never used Black with gray lettering like the pic above. I'll sell to you 100 shipped

And if you mount left to right the lettering faces inside the wheel well if you don't like that logo.

:threadjacked: :D

Sorry. Too late. I just bought the OEM ones from ebay. 49 dollars total.

I recommend using them if you regularly drive past construction or on any kind of road that might have gravel or pebbles.

Over the course of its ~16,000mi life, my car has gotten a ton of small paint chips before the back fender as depicted in the picture. If I had mudflaps....I probably would not have any of these chips which are caused by the front wheels kicking up debris.

My Cayman actually has (from the factory) a clear plastic film covering the paint in that area, probably for exactly that reason.

I have the OEM ones (bought on ebay for the Scion FRS) and fits my BRZ perfectly. I personally like the look. Nice and clean form with the body of the car. I'll take a picture when I get home tonight of a close up.

They work as well. There are a lot of gravelly roads I need to drive on so I didn't want to take that chance.

Installation was easy. It took me about an hour and one screwdriver.

That is strange. Don't u need a drill, a jack, and some jack stands?

I generally don't like OEM mudflaps because they sit directly on the bodywork and are prone to scratching or leaving marks if you ever want to remove them.

I got the RallyArmor flaps because my front wheels stick out a little (+35 offset) so it sends all sorts of stuff, including tire chunks (during track days), up the side of my car, and the mudflaps allow adjustability so I can cover up where the wheel sticks out. Has worked great so far.

Yes, you need to drill if you want to install it correctly.

I have the rally armor mudflaps. Here's a picture of my car on the road leading to my house. I think it's obvious from the picture why I wanted bigger mudflaps :lol: They do a good job of protecting against rocks and dirt getting on the side of your car, they will also help prevent rust in the future as you won't have rocks constantly chipping the paint off.

I think the biggest thing they do for the car is aesthetics though. Obviously, they're very noticable. I've always loved rally racing as a kid so I think it looks cool, but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.

http://i.imgur.com/6peBS0O.jpg

And to answer your other question, there is the Tapatalk app for reading forums which I know many people on here use.

Everytime I hear rocks and pebbles hit the OEM guards, I'm glad I got them. That's one less possible paint chip per hit.

I got mine for 115.... :\ I personally love the RAs, wish they came in an STI pink.

It is pretty easy to remove the RA flaps right? I want to pick up a set for just winter and remove them in the summer months.

OEM flaps were the easiest purchase I made. Picked 'em up for $40 from someone that sold their twin. They're molded to fit tight against the body, and have very little flex when mounted, so I'm not worried about scratches - and for how small they seem, I'm surprised at how much they catch.

Also, the Rally Armor flaps are a utility+cosmetic mod, the OEMs are just utility. OEM flaps have pretty much zero visual presence - very little of it is visible when installed, plus the black plastic itself matches other plastic parts on the car, so they don't stand out.

Front ones are fine without drilling, and you can install them just by turning your wheels. Back guards don't do as well without drilling, but it's just making a little hole in plastic, so people have been able to install them without a jack - I've seen people say they popped out the wheel well liner so they can drill it proper, and others that just used a right angle drill or heated drill bit to do it directly.

I like the form and fuction they provide lol, not very Aero, but I love the royal look it gives my car.

Yes. I have them and was planning on doing the same. Now that they are on, I am planning on keeping them on year round after seeing how much crap is stuck to them. I also think they look good (now).


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Yea they are a quick install and removal, Im looking to sell mine if you want, they are Red.

This may sound weird, but has anyone tried both?

Rather, mount the OEM's then mount the RA ones on top of them?

I have the RA flaps. Very happy with them. Travel this road on occasions, and last time was covered in lots of newly spread very loose gravel. After washing, only a few chips on the very lowest part of the sill. If i did not have i think the front side of the rear wheel arch would have looked very nasty. I don't believe the OEM flaps would do nearly the same job. And i like the looks.

You can for 'extra' support but I felt like the holes that were already there made the thing secure enough. I've had them on for about 10 months and it went through last winter so I think it's fine not drilling holes.

This is correct. The front flaps protect your car while the rear flaps protect cars following you from some stone damage, its polite to fit them.

This same protection effect also significantly reduces ice and snow accumulations on both front doors, especially if you drive aggressively in winter using lots of steering lock.

This is also correct. The RA flaps give serious protection and should be used if you thrash your BRZ over gravel roads.

Factory flaps are fine for paved roads.

Check out the aero slots in the rear flaps! These must add significant downforce at speed.

Not sure how or why you would. The RA mounting system uses metal brackets that secure under the body panels of the car to hold the flaps in place - this is necessary because they hang down so far.

The RA flaps also cover more surface area than the OEM ones so you wouldn't really be gaining any protection.

OEM Scion= inconspicuous and effective

Rally Armour= look like they belong on a rally raced WRX, tasteless on the twins.

I am a huge personal fan of Rally Armor and their product. I had flaps on both of my WRXs. However, they just didn't seem to fit with the BRZ. I bought the OEM Scion mud guards and they are awesome. Fit perfect and have a nice low profile while still offering protection.

Wait, people drill holes in their brand new cars so that they don't have to temporarily jack the rear end of the car up?

Drilling is required either way, whether you jack the car up or not. It isn't actually any of the body, just the fender liner.

Drilling is part of the installation instructions - you need an extra hole for one of the pushpins on each mud guard. That one pushpin is pretty important on the back guards, because the existing holes are pretty much in a straight vertical line down the edge of the wheel well, so it'd be easy to rip the guard off.

It's easy to do the drilling with the car jacked and the wheels taken off, I'm just saying it's not necessary to go through all the effort if you don't already have the car jacked for another reason.

One of the great things about the Rally Armor flaps is NO drilling of your new car!!!!

Newbie BRZ owner here. Does Subaru offer OEM mud flaps or do you have to get them from Scion? If Subaru has them does anyone know the part number ?

You can only get them from Scion, but they come in Toyota boxes.:D

What he said; go to any Toyota dealer. They are ~$50 or so.

And you can install them without removing the wheels rather easily (this includes drilling for the rear mud flap/guard).