Mud flaps don't like mud?

[BlueWagon]

My rear left mud flap on a 2009 Puma came loose in mud and for some reason it is attached to the rear wing by a slot and not a hole??? Any slack in the nut holding it to the wing means that the flap mount will slide out from under the nut. Road vibration will then cause it to twist on the sole remaining mount and if loaded with mud I would imagine the arm will break after not many kms. Luckily, I noticed mine hanging after only 10kms but the arm had already started to twist with only a light mud load.

What have others done??

If I take it to the dealer I suspect they will just screw it back on as it was which means it will happen again.

Why is there a slot and not a hole in the arm?? If there was a hole then the whole bolt would have to rattle out before the arm came off.

I have an OL aux fuel tank on the driver's side rear and the mud flap that side is VERY securely attached. My Puma didn't come with front mud flaps so it's only the rear left causing a problem.

Cheers
Mark

[dmdigital]

My 08 Puma has the same bracket but it is bolted to the side panel lip. I suspect you have lost the nut and bolt. There should be a hole on the panel lip.

[BlueWagon]

My 08 Puma has the same bracket but it is bolted to the side panel lip. I suspect you have lost the nut and bolt. There should be a hole on the panel lip.

Yes it was bolted to the side panel lip. The bolt and nut are still there although the panel lip is a little bent. However any looseness in the nut will cause the mudflap mount to slide out because it has a slot in the arm and not a hole??

[nice1guv]

Get a couple of nyloc nuts to fit the bolt and put them on, shouldn't come off again then. :)

Or some loctite on the original nuts. :)

[one_iota]

Nothing to add to the above ...just good to see the flaps living up to their name.

Just got back from a few days on some wet tracks myself. :D

[Xtreme]

Yes it was bolted to the side panel lip. The bolt and nut are still there although the panel lip is a little bent. However any looseness in the nut will cause the mudflap mount to slide out because it has a slot in the arm and not a hole??

To strengthen the panel a little I've pop riveted a length of angle aluminium to the inside of the panel lip. Rivet up from underneath so that they are not visible and coat the mating surfaces liberally with silicone or sikaflex to eliminate mud and rubbish getting between the angle and the panel.

You could also rivet a piece of flat (or angle) aluminium to the mudflap bracket to covet the slot and then drill a hole - however, the slot may be there so that if the mudflap gets caught then it pulls out instead of bending the side panel too much.