1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Mudguards good or bad idea?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by auart, Aug 23, 2006.

  1. auart

    auart Junior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    74
    1
    0
    I got my mudguards in the mail today from a dealer in Florida, got a good price.
    After looking at them I am wondering if its a good idea. Does anyone have these? Any problems with them scraping when you pass over a speed bump or anything? There isn't much ground clearance with these.
    They are Toyota Parts.
     
    #1 auart, Aug 23, 2006
  2. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2005
    10,339
    14
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, CA
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    Great idea. No problem with clearances. And they will protect your car from splashes and mud...within reason. I noticed I didn't have those fans of mud behind my front tires after I installed them.

    Do drill a hole and put a third screw on the very inside corner of the back flaps.
     
    #2 Godiva, Aug 23, 2006
  3. Bob Allen

    Bob Allen Captainbaba

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2004
    1,273
    11
    0
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Vehicle:
    2004 Prius
    They're a good idea. As you drive, minute particles of road grit are being spewed upwards along the sides of the car and after a few thousand miles, you will begin to notice the paint being worn. Stiff flaps will prevent this. Contrary to what you might hear, there is no measurable mileage penalty for installling them. Make sure you get good ones that are stiff. Mine look like factory installs. I got mine from Toyotatown in Langely, British Columbia. At the time, they weren't readily available in the US. Had the dealer install them at the tire rotation at 5000 miles. Only drawback is if you go over curbs; you can crack them. I installed single wire curb feelers to the bottoms of the flaps and have not scraped a curb since.
    Bob
     
    #3 Bob Allen, Aug 23, 2006
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,809
    16,051
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    They're installed as standard equipment in Canada. They help keep leaves, mud and other stuff off the paint. Just remember to clean out the mudguards regularly.
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Aug 24, 2006
  5. brasche

    brasche Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2006
    156
    1
    0
    Location:
    Orlando, FL
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Give some thought to the installation. Drilling a hole (thus perforating the coatings) is a good way to start rust. Using a stainless screw and sealing the area is an absolute must!
     
    #5 brasche, Aug 24, 2006
  6. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

    Joined:
    May 3, 2005
    4,096
    81
    13
    Location:
    USA | Oregon | Portland area | 97004 |
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brasche @ Aug 23 2006, 10:06 PM) [snapback]308700[/snapback]</div>
    The hole is drilled into plastic. No new holes are made in any metal or perforate any coating. Stainless screws are a good idea.
     
    #6 Bill Merchant, Aug 24, 2006
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)