Mud flaps

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Introduction

Consider installing mud flaps, especially if you intend to use wheel spacers or offset wheels - you will spend less money on washing the car (or maybe you like to be dirty).

Mud flaps also appeal to certain people.

Mud flaps are not suitable for really hard core off roading, because there is a high risk of them getting tangled or folded by obstructions, and then caught by the spinning wheel. That results in a mud flap ripping off the body panels and possibly damaging the panel as well.

Types of mud flaps

Suzuki makes two types of genuine mud flaps:

• Made of flexible rubber (always black)
• Made of hard plastic (available in several colors, or paintable)

• 

  Flexible rubber OEM mud flap

• 

  Hard plastic OEM mud flap

It is recommended to use flexible rubber type, as there is much less chance of damaging them (and the connected body panel) off road if they catch on something.

This forum topic provides all the necessary details, like part numbers, scanned installation manual, experiences, etc.

There are also cheaper aftermarket-made mud flaps on the market, but experiences with them are mixed.

Potential issues with front mud flaps

If you intend to use larger tyres in size 205/75/15, you will have to trim front mud flaps' plastic spacers (between the mud flap and the wheel arch). The procedure is rather trivial.

If you intend to use tyre sizes 195/80/R15 or 215/75/R15, the plastic spacers behind the front mud flaps might have to be significantly trimmed, or even mud flaps removed with chunky MT or retreaded tyres.

If you intend to use even larger tyres (or use tyres 195/80/R15 or 215/75/R15 together with wheel spacers or offset wheels), front mud flaps will have to be removed.

The position in which a front wheel is the closest to contacting a front mud flap is one full steering wheel turn from a straight position ("half lock").

Issues with rear mud flaps

If you install rear mud flaps, it is advised to drill two holes (fi=30 mm) in the bottom of the rear bumper, behind each mud flap (two holes per each side).

That will enable the mud and grit, which regularly accumulates in the rear bumper behind the mud flaps, to drain off or be flushed out when power washing the vehicle. Otherwise, it is almost impossible to flush out.

• 

  Drain holes behind left rear wheel

• 

  Drain holes behind right rear wheel

The holes will be invisible to the general public.

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Page last edited on 17/01/2018 by user Bosanek