Mudflap Install

[Cosmo22]

Know where I’m coming from with this post, it may be a really simple thing to you. My dad and brother were their own mechanics. Both were Harley riders and engineers. From them, I know only enough to be dangerous to fix things. My bro was a Ford engineer. I have great loyalty to Ford for how they treated him and how they treated his wife when he died. With dad and bro both gone, I don’t have a teacher and I want to learn. Here we go….

I’m trying to install mudflaps that don’t have to be drilled. Those screw-things in the sound dampening fabric in the fender wells, I could only get one out when I tried to install my mudflap. It’s like they are all stripped and turn and turn. And, I can’t get to them from the underside. I’m scared I’ll break a piece off and I’ll have a forever-rattle as I drive if I put some force into them. I was thinking I may have to pop or drill them out and just buy new ones. Again, I’m worried about not being able to get to all of the pieces. Any advice?

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[FleshTuxedo]

They don't twist out. You turn them, then gently pry them out.

 

[F-Spot]

For those plastic screws in the fender liner, turn with very light pressure to get them to back out.

 

[John Auer]

I’ve seen YouTube videos that show using a pair of scissors behind the fastener to keep tension as you unscrew it. I cheated, I had the dealer install my Mabett mud flaps before I picked it up.

 

[John Auer]

Know where I’m coming from with this post, it may be a really simple thing to you. My dad and brother were their own mechanics. Both were Harley riders and engineers. From them, I know only enough to be dangerous to fix things. My bro was a Ford engineer. I have great loyalty to Ford for how they treated him and how they treated his wife when he died. With dad and bro both gone, I don’t have a teacher and I want to learn. Here we go….

I’m trying to install mudflaps that don’t have to be drilled. Those screw-things in the sound dampening fabric in the fender wells, I could only get one out when I tried to install my mudflap. It’s like they are all stripped and turn and turn. And, I can’t get to them from the underside. I’m scared I’ll break a piece off and I’ll have a forever-rattle as I drive if I put some force into them. I was thinking I may have to pop or drill them out and just buy new ones. Again, I’m worried about not being able to get to all of the pieces. Any advice?

There’s also a special trim tool that looks like miniature nail puller. Once you back the the fastener out slightly, you keep pressure on it so you can unscrew to a certain point, then pop it out. Again, mine were installed for me. I’m all thumbs .

 

[TNTim]

What kind did you buy?

I bought these and installed them today:
Mabett Mud Flaps Splash Guards for Ford Bronco Accessories 2021 2022 2023 4-Door No Punching Required Front Only 2PCS https://a.co/d/0iYor75

Having just installed grill lights in an hour to aux switch I would have thought these would have been 30min…

Spent 90 mins on just the one side because of the fastener tabs and trying to line the screw perfectly to not de-thread the fasteners.

Spent 20 min on the opposite side after I swapped out the stupid provided allen wrench with a socket allen wrench.

and those stupid screw tension tabs for the fender wall… I created new swear words in the process.

Used this tool to stab the underside of the screw to pull it out enough to get needle nose pliers around it and the unscrewed by turning the pliers. Good news is you only need one of the 3 you remove still in good condition as the screws provided by the bracket will replace the other two.

 

[dgorsett]

Yep, put a little out pressure with a thin blade under the screw part and unscrew, then pop out. If that doesn't work grab with needle nose and Angrily rip out and go to Autozone and get a better replacement. These things suck.

 

[John Auer]

What kind did you buy?

I bought these and installed them today:
Mabett Mud Flaps Splash Guards for Ford Bronco Accessories 2021 2022 2023 4-Door No Punching Required Front Only 2PCS https://a.co/d/0iYor75

Having just installed grill lights on in an hour to aux switch I would have thought these would have been 30min…

Spent 90 mins on just the one side because of the fastener tabs and trying to line the screw perfectly to not de-thread the fasteners.

Spent 20 min on the opposite side after I swapped out the stupid provided allen wrench with a socket allen wrench.

and those stupid screw tension tabs for the fender wall… I created new swear words in the process.

I’ve got the Mabett’s also, but have them on all 4 wheels. They’re barely noticeable and do their job well.

 

[Cosmo22]

I’ve seen YouTube videos that show using a pair of scissors behind the fastener to keep tension as you unscrew it. I cheated, I had the dealer install my Mabett mud flaps before I picked it up.

Yes, I watched those, too. Even holding the bottom part of the screw, the top part just turned and turned. Only one screw actually worked like a screw.

 

[Cosmo22]

Yep, put a little out pressure with a thin blade under the screw part and unscrew, then pop out. If that doesn't work grab with needle nose and Angrily rip out and go to Autozone and get a better replacement. These things suck.

That’s what I’m about to do - the angrily part! Those screws are so defeating!

 

[Cosmo22]

What kind did you buy?

I bought these and installed them today:
Mabett Mud Flaps Splash Guards for Ford Bronco Accessories 2021 2022 2023 4-Door No Punching Required Front Only 2PCS https://a.co/d/0iYor75

Having just installed grill lights in an hour to aux switch I would have thought these would have been 30min…

Spent 90 mins on just the one side because of the fastener tabs and trying to line the screw perfectly to not de-thread the fasteners.

Spent 20 min on the opposite side after I swapped out the stupid provided allen wrench with a socket allen wrench.

and those stupid screw tension tabs for the fender wall… I created new swear words in the process.

Used this tool to stab the underside of the screw to pull it out enough to get needle nose pliers around it and the unscrewed by turning the pliers. Good news is you only need one of the 3 you remove still in good condition as the screws provided by the bracket will replace the other two.

I have the IAG mudflaps. They are very similar to the Mabetts, no drill. What do you mean by “stab the underside of the screw”? The actual screw head, the part of the screw you would use a screw driver on, the male end of the fastener? Or, were you able to see the screws on the backside Of the frame? I looked and didn’t see them on the back side. I was going to try to punch them out that way.

 

[TNTim]

I have the IAG mudflaps. They are very similar to the Mabetts, no drill. What do you mean by “stab the underside of the screw”? The actual screw head, the part of the screw you would use a screw driver on, the male end of the fastener? Or, were you able to see the screws on the backside Of the frame? I looked and didn’t see them on the back side. I was going to try to punch them out that way.

The actual screw head. Prying it forward/ away from the fastener. Unscrewing them didn’t actually cause the screw to come out, it would just spin within the fastener.

 

[SWLABRONCO]

Great. I have some REK GEN mud flaps on a FedEx truck headed to my house today. I sure hope the installation goes well. If it doesn't though, it'll be a good excuse to take a break, calm down, and drink a beer or 2. Lol.

 

[Cosmo22]

There’s also a special trim tool that looks like miniature nail puller. Once you back the the fastener out slightly, you keep pressure on it so you can unscrew to a certain point, then pop it out. Again, mine were installed for me. I’m all thumbs .

Ooooh! A trim tool! That would keep me from poking the trim because I’m pretty clumsy and thumbsy! I thought about taking it to the dealer, but, I hate their maintenance team and will now drive to another dealer rather than go back. And, I should be able to do this myself. The weather will be great today and tomorrow. When I took delivery, my steering wheel‘s center point sat at 340 degrees rather than 360. It didn’t pull. “That’s normal after delivery. It will work out.“ I was told that by 3 people at the dealer. Blinkers weren’t even working right because of it. With two treating me like I was dumb, I had to be persistent about alignment and the final part of alignment, the steering wheel. When I picked it up, which is a whole different failure story, the maintenance guy who did the work came out and had no clue about what I had been told by the advisors said, “The didn’t finish the alignment by checking the steering wheel and setting it. It’s the last step. It’s all good now. Here’s the computer readings for it.” Amazing.

Thank you for the tool tip!

 

[Fly]

I had luck using my fingernail to hold the outer casing still while I gently unscrewed the center part. When the center part popped up just a bit I grabbed it with my fingers and pulled up.

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