My duty of care to you.

[Limeybastard]

Hey fella's, just a heads up and warning. I installed my fender flares about a week ago without the supplied rubber gasket. A couple of days ago I removed the flares and attached the rubber gasket seal in place.

Today I removed one fender flare ( rear bedside one ) to make adjustments and noticed the rubber gasket had already within 2 days ( approx 230 miles) started to chew through the clearcoat of the truck. Irony was without the rubber gasket there was no issues, with the seal total skullduggery. Same principle as what the Ram corner spats do to the paint.

I had to cut pieces of clear tape film protection and apply after I marked the area with a china pencil.

If you dont care, leave it. If you do, remove those offending parts ASAP.

 

[ohengineering]

How the heck did it already start getting through the clear coat? Vibration abrasion or material incompatibility?

 

[smoothee]

That was fast! But yeah, I unfortunately found out the hard way.

 

[bigolayne]

Same thing happened on my factory mud guards. I did what Limey is doing due to the harsh winters up here

 

[Limeybastard]

How the heck did it already start getting through the clear coat? Vibration abrasion or material incompatibility?

Shaking and vibration, coupled with the fact I live in Florida and sand all over I guess. Now I know why the stock OEM ones do not use rubber gaskets, instead uses 3m tape to almost make the point of contact not rub against the paint at all.

I did some research and most guys that have any fender flares with rubber gaskets have this issue, some the paint has gone through to the metal! Man, I tell you the pics dont show the damage that was already done to mine as bad as it really is. Nail catches the scratches I didnt even bother buffing it out. Just cleaned and put clear film there.

Without the gasket there was a minute gap all around hence no issues. But I needed the gasket to make (especially )the front flares fit as they had huge gaps in the area towards the front bumper cover region. Else I would have left it off. Took me ages applying this clear film, now I am paranoid that I may have missed an area or gone too narrow or wide LOL. Its a ***** removing the flares especially the backs with those long ass screws used.

I wish I could find compatible plastic / nylon fastners. Two reason, one easier to remove and apply and secondly if the screw is not perfectly lined up it dont take a piece of the paint off around the hole in the fender, resulting in rust LOL, so all in all we do all this ******** ( well I do ) yet secretely I am actually doing more effin harm to the truck ) FML

 

[jknappen]

I've had the factory plastic molded splash guards now for almost 2 years and have had zero issues.

 

[bigolayne]

I wish I could say the same. With the road salt and sand from the winter all it takes is just a little bit and scratch city. Oh well, I caught it and hopefully fixed it.
Limey, we are looking at relocating in the next year to FL but more up towards Pensacola area; long distance from near you...

 

[Limeybastard]

I've had the factory plastic molded splash guards now for almost 2 years and have had zero issues.

Problem is as I mentioned earlier for those flares that use the rubber gasket seal OEM uses 3m tape to stick down. RAM got this one right.

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[Limeybastard]

I wish I could say the same. With the road salt and sand from the winter all it takes is just a little bit and scratch city. Oh well, I caught it and hopefully fixed it.
Limey, we are looking at relocating in the next year to FL but more up towards Pensacola area; long distance from near you...

Pensacola, yeah that's way up "Norf" init ? I'm in Hernando county, I'm sure our paths may cross sometime. Would be great to see you .

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[R/T_Fire]

Does the OEM units use the gasket similar to the Bushwacker units? I've install 6 or 7 sets of these never without issue. But I also had zero gap and where I did I modified the flare where it mounted to the inner fender to have a perfect tight fitment. My truck spent 5 years in the rice fields and rough farm roads and never a mark... The owner off my truck now took them off and you cant even tell the were there...

I'm curious if they weren't tight enough against the body to not vibrate? Not picking on your install or even know how you installed them but might be why this occured.

 

[Limeybastard]

Does the OEM units use the gasket similar to the Bushwacker units? I've install 6 or 7 sets of these never without issue. But I also had zero gap and where I did I modified the flare where it mounted to the inner fender to have a perfect tight fitment. My truck spent 5 years in the rice fields and rough farm roads and never a mark... The owner off my truck now took them off and you cant even tell the were there...

I'm curious if they weren't tight enough against the body to not vibrate? Not picking on your install or even know how you installed them but might be why this occured.

The top part where the rubber seal meets the fender is as close as it can get. EG tight. There are no other adjustments apart from lining the fender flares holes to fender and up down / height adjustment. Reason why OEM one don't do this is the seal that touches the body is stuck to the body thus preventing movement/ oscillation . I'm glad I pulled them off after 200 miles to check. Else by this time next year no paint on truck. Clear film sorted it. I always tend to use clear film when two areas come in contact.

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[Sir John]

Yeah, I added the clear protective tape underneath my OEM molded mud flaps for the same reason. If left alone, then it would rub the paint down to bare metal. I saw lots of pics on the internet where that happened. When I took mine off to put the clear protective tape on, I already had permanent rub marks and that was only about 500 miles of driving. You can see the tape I added in the pic below.

 

[Limeybastard]

Yeah, I added the clear protective tape underneath my OEM molded mud flaps for the same reason. If left alone, then it would rub the paint down to bare metal. I saw lots of pics on the internet where that happened. When I took mine off to put the clear protective tape on, I already had permanent rub marks and that was only about 500 miles of driving. You can see the tape I added in the pic below.

Yes, the front ones on mine have left a permanent mark, only a few thousand miles and its already damaged the paint. I blame all the sandy soils around here that makes matters worse.