Mopar Rubber Mud Guards and spats...

78Staff · Aug 17, 2018

So was at dealer getting wheels/tires road force balanced to solve a pesky vibration at 65mph... anyway I had bought the Mopar Rubber Splash Guards there also so they offered to install them while they had the tires off anyway. Turns out they ordered the wrong set for the front, but did go ahead and put the rear set on. But, for some reason I was thinking the spats needed to be removed? Or is that only with the molded splash guards?

Dealer left the spats on... created a bit of gap at the top. I removed one side to compare, have a few pics below. There is still a bit of gap on top, but not as much as with the spat. The Instructions don't really help here - even though these are for NON Fender Flares, the instructions are somewhat generic and appear to use a Fender Flare illustration as an example it seems

.

EDIT - actually, looking at the matching front flaps, it appears they want you to leave the spat in place.

front instructions: https://moparonlineparts.com/docs/82212288.pdf
rear instructions: https://moparonlineparts.com/docs/82212290.pdf

With Spat...

Other side, I removed the spat:

grizzstang · Aug 17, 2018

I believe they only have to be removed for the molded mud flaps but I would take them off.

It looks better without them IMO and they are unnecessary with your new mud flaps.

BrianandChrissy · Aug 17, 2018

78Staff said:
So was at dealer getting wheels/tires road force balanced to solve a pesky vibration at 65mph... anyway I had bought the Mopar Rubber Splash Guards there also so they offered to install them while they had the tires off anyway. Turns out they ordered the wrong set for the front, but did go ahead and put the rear set on. But, for some reason I was thinking the spats needed to be removed? Or is that only with the molded splash guards?

Dealer left the spats on... created a bit of gap at the top. I removed one side to compare, have a few pics below. There is still a bit of gap on top, but not as much as with the spat. The Instructions don't really help here - even though these are for NON Fender Flares, the instructions are somewhat generic and appear to use a Fender Flare illustration as an example it seems .

EDIT - actually, looking at the matching front flaps, it appears they want you to leave the spat in place.

front instructions: https://moparonlineparts.com/docs/82212288.pdf
rear instructions: https://moparonlineparts.com/docs/82212290.pdf

With Spat...

Other side, I removed the spat:

Firestone destinations? I hope they get them sorted out for you. I've heard horror stories about them...

Sent from my LGMP450 using Tapatalk

78Staff · Aug 17, 2018

BrianandChrissy said:
Firestone destinations? I hope they get them sorted out for you. I've heard horror stories about them...

Sent from my LGMP450 using Tapatalk

lol well crap

. Actually they had already (spin) balanced them once, but I still had the vibration around 60-65... this time they road force balanced them and they seem to better. But, when I replace them I plan to go to another tire regardless. The Firestone's are just what was on the truck when I bought it a few weeks ago. Not sure if the are original to the truck though, I thought Goodyear was the stock tire?

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/2016-big-horn-mod-build-thread.124800/

grizzstang · Aug 17, 2018

I have had the Firestone Destination AT's on 3 different vehicles over the years and I love them. They take very little weight and I have never had a vibration. I may end up with a set on my Ram before winter hits as I didn't really love driving the stock Goodyear SRA's in the snow last year.

You have the Le 2's which is their street tire. You may have a bad one. I would get a second opinion from an actual tire shop. Dealers do tires but don't specialize in them and as a result are not the best place to go if you are having an issue.

TatertotScott · Aug 17, 2018

The Destination issues I have heard about were the AT from nearly 20 years ago...tread separation. My 1999 f350 had 5 of them within 100 miles in Arizona heat, all replaced free of charge. I swore off Firestone for 15 years because of that.

Then, about 5 years ago, I had no options within reason except Fireston Destination ATs....I drove them for 45,000 miles, gave them to my parents for another 20,000 miles....never a single issue.

They seem to have fixed qhatever plagued them 20 years ago.

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78Staff · Aug 17, 2018

I'm not having any actual issues with the tires - just going to change when they wear out for a more aggressive AT style pattern.

Just trying to get the spat issue determined, really.

tidefan1967 · Aug 18, 2018

Remove the spats! Also make sure you put some kind of protective film on the painted area underneath the flaps or they will eventually rub holes through your paint.

78Staff · Aug 18, 2018

yep, thanks all I removed the other side this morning... at like 6am before heading to out play some golf...

Georgiasport · Aug 18, 2018

Remove the spats. Cleaner look and the spats won't be needed as that area will be protected by the mud guard.

Rado · Aug 18, 2018

My rubber Mud guards have a cutout for the front hump on the Spats.. If you leave it off it will packed in crap! Why the did not just make the mud guards solid rubber to cover the hole . I have no clue lol To help plug the cutouts and improve the profile a bit. (Not Perfect ) I went with the older spats which are shorter so you do not have the big gap !
https://www.cdjrmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-guard-55372926ad/?c=aT1UTTA5MTE1NSZyPWxheWVyXzU=
https://www.cdjrmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-guard-55372927ad/?c=aT1UTTA5MTE1NSZyPWxheWVyXzU=

iaminsider · Sep 24, 2018

Rado said:
My rubber Mud guards have a cutout for the front hump on the Spats.. If you leave it off it will packed in crap! Why the did not just make the mud guards solid rubber to cover the hole . I have no clue lol To help plug the cutouts and improve the profile a bit. (Not Perfect ) I went with the older spats which are shorter so you do not have the big gap !
https://www.cdjrmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-guard-55372926ad/?c=aT1UTTA5MTE1NSZyPWxheWVyXzU=
https://www.cdjrmoparparts.com/oem-parts/mopar-guard-55372927ad/?c=aT1UTTA5MTE1NSZyPWxheWVyXzU=

Any chance you can post a few photos of your setup with the older spats?

Rado · Sep 25, 2018

iaminsider said:
Any chance you can post a few photos of your setup with the older spats?

I will try tomorrow as it is raining cats and dogs lol.. But the older Spats are just short spats,, They do not extend up the wheel well like the new style does,, So the flap have less gap.. I suck at explaining lol If it stops raining I ll post again tomorrow

Rado · Sep 27, 2018

iaminsider said:
Any chance you can post a few photos of your setup with the older spats?

I tried sending pic s in a PM but could not find out how to :O Yes Im Tech Tarded :O SO Ill post here the pic of the older model spats . Yes my RAM is dirty bene raing all day and night lol

78Staff · Sep 27, 2018

I changed to the molded versions (with 3m film), since the front rubber ones aren't available. But, I'm thinking about switching back. It seems like the front ones flap around, for lack of a better description, at high speed. I can hear them flapping, at least I think that's what the noise is.

I'm going to dig into it a bit more but I might throw the rubber ones back on.

Rado · Sep 28, 2018

I never noticed the flopping noise but you make sense! The rubber does wiggle when moving! I also have the OEM Plastic ones but had a issue with the front hitting my running boards ! So went to the rubber one's . What I find weird is the cut out on the rubber flaps and the bump on the spats that covers the cut out in the body ! Having a place to collect crud does not make sense to me ! But it is theree so I'll keep it covered

78Staff · Oct 7, 2018

So it was not the splash guards causing the flapping noise, it was the wheel well liner - the front section was over the lip of the fender/bumper, instead of under, which allowed it to catch wind at higher speeds and flap a bit. Likely not put back correctly by the 4WP guys who installed my Bilsteins I reckon, but quick and easy fix.

Georgiasport · Oct 7, 2018

I did notice the front wheel well liners are rather flimsy and not secured fully. I could see how they may flap around at high speeds.

Rado · Oct 7, 2018

78Staff said:
So it was not the splash guards causing the flapping noise, it was the wheel well liner - the front section was over the lip of the fender/bumper, instead of under, which allowed it to catch wind at higher speeds and flap a bit. Likely not put back correctly by the 4WP guys who installed my Bilsteins I reckon, but quick and easy fix.

Thanks for the update.. That may help someone else

Mopar Rubber Mud Guards and spats...

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