Suggestions for material to make mud flaps / wheel arch extenders

[CompoSimmonite]

I have a Smart Fortwo that was fitted with aftermarket wheels when I bought it. I've fitted Brabus trims to stay within the law by ensuring no tread outside the body width but suffer with mud constantly being thrown along the body sides. This is due to the shape of the rear wheel arches and whilst the alloys and wider tyres make things worse I suspect even standard wheels and tyres would be the same.
I need to fit some thin, triangular shaped, material to stop the problem but can't think of a suitable material to use. Think of traditional mudflaps but taller and fitted to the front of the wheel arch
I was considering some stainless sheet with Titanfast edging but that would be difficult to attach to the vehicle (don't want to drill holes in bodywork)
Basically I'm after something like black plastic that is around 3mm or more thick and soft / rubbery but still rigid enough to not need any reinforcement that I can attach with some sort of spring clips.
Any suggestions for a source of suitable material ?

Cheers.

Paul H
.

 

[Rig Pig]

My wife's forfour has the same mucky hobby! A Landrover mudflap from the scrapyard would cut down.

 

[CRB]

?How about flexible PVC curtain? Black is certainly available, but you might find it difficult to obtain small amounts.

We used it for fabricating flexible fan connections to PVC ductwork.

I know I have a thin strip, 50 wide x 3, but not sure about anything larger.

 

[steveo3002]

old splash gaurd /wheel arch liner from a scrap car ? already rounded shape

 

[eSCHEn]

Floor scraping blade for cow muck. Bit thicker than 3mm, probably closer to 5mm but cheap and readily available from agricultural merchants.

Like these ones but usually they're black rubber not posh polyurethene.

 

[500e]

Rally cars have to have mud flaps try this different colors available
T 01278451465
AC services, ask for Andy, delivery no problem

 

[rtbcomp]

Bit of old conveyor belt?

 

[normspanners]

Rally cars have to have mud flaps try this different colors available
T 01278451465
AC services, ask for Andy, delivery no problem

or ebay just an example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-of-2...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item460c14a263
we just buy the rectangles and cut to shape.
then just cable tie them to ally brackets ,you can buy for buttons ready made, that are riveted on car.

 

[500e]

Dislike Ebay like to talk to people

 

[CompoSimmonite]

or ebay just an example http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-of-2...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item460c14a263
we just buy the rectangles and cut to shape.
then just cable tie them to ally brackets ,you can buy for buttons ready made, that are riveted on car.

Thanks.
The rally car material seems ideal.
What are the buttons though ?

 

[Robotstar5]

Thanks.
The rally car material seems ideal.
What are the buttons though ?

Something like these any good?

 

[normspanners]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lightweig...hicles_Automobila_ET&var=&hash=item565c0c9dd0
these fasten to the body with pop rivets, and you can either cable tie or use these type of buttons, this so the flaps can be further away from the tyres because,
the thing to be careful of is mounting low mud flaps too close to the tyres if you reverse up a kerb or some-such you can leave all four mud flaps neatly ontop of oneanother on the kerb side ( ask me how I know) people fit support wire /chain

to lift them

 

[outofthefire]

I've fitted Brabus trims to stay within the law by ensuring no tread outside the body width but suffer with mud constantly being thrown along the body sides.
.

I always thought this was the case, but hot and rat rods pass mots with the hole wheel exposed, as for the mud flap we use these on small wagons and can be easily cut to shape. We don't buy them from ebay but for a one off its where i'd look first. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-Lor...CommercialVehicleParts_SM&hash=item2c6567d16f

 

[skotl]

Dunno about the flaps, but a guy on the 4x4 forum I'm on (l200forum.com) made his own wheel arch extenders in fibreglass. Made up wooden forms first, then cast the fibre glass over it - came out looking good.

 

[Big Pete]

pound shop rubber door mats work reasonably well.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Had a pair of Grayston black 4mm rally car mudflaps delivered yesterday - £12.99 a pair (incl P&P) 50cm x 30cm off eBay. Exactly the material I require. Now just need to make template out of cardboard and work out a way of attaching to the car that looks neat / OE

 

[MattF]

I always thought this was the case, but hot and rat rods pass mots with the hole wheel exposed,

If I recall correctly, the protruding tyre thing is construction and use related, not MOT. Last time I checked, I think the reg was a maximum protrusion beyond the original body plan of 30mm being allowable before shielding/covering was required.

 

[normspanners]

Had a pair of Grayston black 4mm rally car mudflaps delivered yesterday - £12.99 a pair (incl P&P) 50cm x 30cm off eBay. Exactly the material I require. Now just need to make template out of cardboard and work out a way of attaching to the car that looks neat / OE

It is obvious of course but with careful planning and the design 'spooning' the flaps together (nothing sexually going on here folks) it is possible to get two reasonable size flaps out of each piece, I have done that for 'road' cars before.
they can look nice with a stainless strip cut to go down the wing lip to help support the material coz it can 'bunch up' a little between fasteners.
whereas the strip holds it flat to the lip I think you can get knock on clips http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-F...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a32417739 to go over the material and lip.

 

[anto44]

I've used the side out of a 5 gallon oil drums to make mudflaps for trailers before. Its nice flexible plastic and any garage will give you them for free in a range of colours and different shape cans round,square,rectangular