Log in

View Full Version : Reason to pop open wheel inner guards



CraigE
8th March 2020, 12:37 PM
Well, fitting a snorkel (what an abortion of a design, but thats another story). Popped the inner guard and removed the mudflap and found it full of leaves that obviously come down from the windscreen area. Potentially a very likely rust spot. Poor design. Now to do the other side.
158481

PerthDisco
8th March 2020, 02:10 PM
Yes it’s a gum tree leaf trap because the inlet above is so huge on both sides. The leaves go from the windscreen into the drains. You could maybe add some mesh as a blocker. Even some very porous foam cut to size??

You can also just release some screws underneath and pull apart the bottom end of the guard enough to get fingers in and get the leaf matter out. Because it drains so well it stays dry enough to not cause a soggy rust inducing mess.

A fire risk more likely!

DiscoJeffster
8th March 2020, 03:02 PM
A fire risk more likely!

It’s a Disco. It’s par for the course.

BigJon
8th March 2020, 04:54 PM
Potentially a very likely rust spot.


I would be very surprised if you had rust, especially in Australia.

CraigE
8th March 2020, 09:31 PM
Yeah maybe, was msotly dry but some thick dirt in there also that could trap moisture, will be looking at some mesh of some type.


Yes it’s a gum tree leaf trap because the inlet above is so huge on both sides. The leaves go from the windscreen into the drains. You could maybe add some mesh as a blocker. Even some very porous foam cut to size??

You can also just release some screws underneath and pull apart the bottom end of the guard enough to get fingers in and get the leaf matter out. Because it drains so well it stays dry enough to not cause a soggy rust inducing mess.

A fire risk more likely!

Eric SDV6SE
9th March 2020, 07:29 PM
Known issue, on mine it rusted out the support brackets for the mudflaps. These arent really required, fitted a new set without them and you can't tell.
Body etc is fine.

DazzaTD5
10th March 2020, 02:59 PM
*Yes everytime I do a body off, that spot is full of at a minimum dry leaves, but also mud dirt etc.
*Rust is almost a thing of the past with alloy steels and dipping by manufacturers.

BUT I would still reckon in horrible places (wet, salt on roads etc) such as the U.K there might be a few that have rust in that spot.

PerthDisco
10th March 2020, 03:28 PM
*Yes everytime I do a body off, that spot is full of at a minimum dry leaves, but also mud dirt etc.
*Rust is almost a thing of the past with alloy steels and dipping by manufacturers.

BUT I would still reckon in horrible places (wet, salt on roads etc) such as the U.K there might be a few that have rust in that spot.

The UK videos are phenomenal. The car itself looks perfect but when they go underneath to do anything there is rarely a bolt that comes apart without shearing the head off or needing the gas axe or grinder. Brake and AC lines are corroding out within 10 years.

INter674
11th March 2020, 06:04 AM
I remember as a kid my old man getting steel welded into the sub frame and floor section of his not that old back then morry minor 1000!!

The MOT system seemed to allow such patching privided it was done by an approved repairer. It's a miracle that any older cars survived..and some eg Lancias did not.

I had an ex UK Jag XJ6 which continued to rust itself to death despite coming to Aus at a very young age. It was everywhere underneath...guards. sills..sub frames..suspension..brakes etc😐

DiscoJeffster
11th March 2020, 10:03 AM
I saw an article on D3UK where the D3 had rusted in the body under the covers where the bottom seatbelt mounting was. Car was declared a write off.