Do mud flaps 'help' keep the salt&muck of the car?
12-04-2001, 06:10 PM
#1
New Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do mud flaps 'help' keep the salt&muck of the car?
Obviously nothing will keep it clean but do the mud flaps help at all or will they just uglify the car?
I was thinking of using them for the winter at least to keep the salt&crap off the sides of the car.
I was thinking of using them for the winter at least to keep the salt&crap off the sides of the car.
12-04-2001, 06:28 PM
#4
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 4,514
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was kinda wondering how effective they are.
I wouldn't think the rear ones would do much since I never see much snow behind the rear wheels, but I always see tons of snow, dirt, spray, etc behind the front wheels. Not every noticeable from the pictures I have seen of them, so I don't think the looks would bother me...As long as they're actually functional.
12-04-2001, 06:30 PM
#5
New Member
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Washing won't solve abrasion damage....
I've noticed the area right behind the rear wheels getting a tad rough.
It's like the sand and grit from the road are sandblasting that section.
I would imagine the flaps would help protect against this type of damage
It's like the sand and grit from the road are sandblasting that section.
I would imagine the flaps would help protect against this type of damage
12-04-2001, 06:32 PM
#6
Anything you can do to.....>>>
Keep the abrasive sandblasting effect off your paint is a positive. We all know how soft this paint is. If I lived in a harsher climate, I'd do the fronts too.....
12-04-2001, 06:45 PM
#7
Member
Join Date: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,008
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Same same on the C5 with rolled lips on the rear of the wheel openings. They look sand blasted...
and at 63K those areas need repainting badly.
But the aero penalty (a couple of .01s of drag coefficient easy...that's 4-7% on the Vette) and the fact that I just don't like the look at all makes the painting worthwhile, IMO. I don't like bras either, and I drive it until it won't go in the snow. It's my daily ride.
My $.02.
But the aero penalty (a couple of .01s of drag coefficient easy...that's 4-7% on the Vette) and the fact that I just don't like the look at all makes the painting worthwhile, IMO. I don't like bras either, and I drive it until it won't go in the snow. It's my daily ride.
My $.02.
Trending Topics
12-04-2001, 07:32 PM
#8
Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,077
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
my vote is don't bother ...
I bought a set in Feb when I bought the car, and mulled them over.
The looks aren't bad, but the car does look nicer without them.
And I don't see they are likely to be that useful.
I looked at the spray patterns that occur without the flaps (very noticeable
on BB!). It looks like a lot of the spray comes from areas of the tire that the
flaps can't or don't protect. The flaps don't stick out much at all - mostly
just down a bit. The way I see it, they'll help trap more snow and mud in
the wheel wells (making it a pain to clear out periodically) and they won't
do very much for protecting the car. The rear ones are almost useless
because there's hardly any car behind the flaps to get sprayed. The front ones
probably offer some benefit, but I can't imagine very much.
Anyway, I decided it wasn't worth the bother. I might be able to live with the
looks for winter use only, but I didn't want to be taking them off in spring and
reinstalling again in winter. Bad enough I have to deal with snow tires and
winter mats! :-)
So, if anyone's interested, I still have a set of brand new flaps for front and rear
that I might entertain offers for. Clair Parts sells them for $110 for all 4;
I'll consider reasonable offers but don't want to give them away.
The looks aren't bad, but the car does look nicer without them.
And I don't see they are likely to be that useful.
I looked at the spray patterns that occur without the flaps (very noticeable
on BB!). It looks like a lot of the spray comes from areas of the tire that the
flaps can't or don't protect. The flaps don't stick out much at all - mostly
just down a bit. The way I see it, they'll help trap more snow and mud in
the wheel wells (making it a pain to clear out periodically) and they won't
do very much for protecting the car. The rear ones are almost useless
because there's hardly any car behind the flaps to get sprayed. The front ones
probably offer some benefit, but I can't imagine very much.
Anyway, I decided it wasn't worth the bother. I might be able to live with the
looks for winter use only, but I didn't want to be taking them off in spring and
reinstalling again in winter. Bad enough I have to deal with snow tires and
winter mats! :-)
So, if anyone's interested, I still have a set of brand new flaps for front and rear
that I might entertain offers for. Clair Parts sells them for $110 for all 4;
I'll consider reasonable offers but don't want to give them away.
12-05-2001, 01:52 AM
#9
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,018
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, they do...
After a drive through the snow/slush, I shudder at the thought of the sheer amount of crap built up on the flaps having been flung down the sides of the car...
12-05-2001, 01:55 AM
#10
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Aug 2000
Posts: 5,018
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I second that...
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/8890/ttdbdge.jpg"></center><p>They're hard to pick out and work pretty well. Sure you'll still get spray down the side of your car, that's unavoidable, but an awful lot of crud sticks to the flaps that would otherwise get blasted down fenders...
