Rokblokz rear mud guards bracket and rust

[Chugiakguy]

For anyone who has had the Rokblokz rear mud guards installed for a good while, I was just wondering if anyone has been seeing much rusting happening to the bracket mounted to the mud guard, or to the permanently mounted metal piece into which the bracket on the mud guard is inserted?

I've already installed the front Rokblokz mud guards, and have the rears as well, but have not installed those yet. But in looking at them in-hand, I notice that the metal on them is powder-coated steel. Now, like many of us, I've had bad problems in the past with rusting on aftermarket powder-coated steel accessories. And given that these metal brackets on the mud guards will be located directly behind the rear tires, I can just see them taking a huge beating from rocks and road debris; it's pretty much guaranteed, in fact.

So I'd be curious to know what anyone's observations have been of these rear mud guards' metal brackets over time. Do they rust out quickly and badly? Or maybe only slightly? Not at all? Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks!

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[Slowregal]

The bracket that mounts to the frame is painted steel. And yes it will rust over time. Not necessarily quickly but it will.

Have had mine on for 3 months and I also rust-proofed them with some CRC6026 (equivalent to a Fluid film anti-rust can). They obv. do not have rust yet but frequent rust-proof will keep them rust free for a longer time.

It is a good idea to use some rust inhibitor on the rear brackets, especially if you live in a cold place where roads are salted.

 

[dcmdon]

I'd just sell the rears.

I did fronts only and since the rear tires throw crud only on the rear bumper mostly, I've got no desire to do the rears.

The other thing is that the fronts cost $70k, protect the entire side of the truck, and take 10 minutes to install.

The rears cost $160, protect a tiny sliver of truck behind the rear wheel, and take an hour plus to install.

costs are estimates based on my terrible memory. But you get my point.

 

[Chugiakguy]

My main thought in possibly putting on the rear ones is for when I am towing my small cargo trailer with the Jeep --- I could see potentially kicking up a lot of crap onto the front of the trailer from the Jeep's rear tires.

 

[RAMSTEEL]

I put the rears on to protect the drivers behind me. These bigger tires on a lifted jeep tend to throw things. It does keep the rear cleaner and the bracket is super easy to install and remove if you need to repaint.

I changed the installation by cutting a small box on the plastic part they recommend removing (just where the two bolts would go in), flipping the bracket, and reinstalling everything. Keeps the mud and junk out of everything and looks cleaner.

 

[Grayhound]

Mine haven’t been through a full winter yet, but so far I’ve not noticed any rust on the bracket. I think it keeps my rear window cleaner as well.

 

[Chugiakguy]

Mine haven’t been through a full winter yet, but so far I’ve not noticed any rust on the bracket. I think it keeps my rear window cleaner as well.

Interesting point, Grayhound, and useful to know!

 

[Chugiakguy]

I changed the installation by cutting a small box on the plastic part they recommend removing (just where the two bolts would go in), flipping the bracket, and reinstalling everything. Keeps the mud and junk out of everything and looks cleaner.

Johnsonrd, can you explain why you "flipped the bracket" on your install here?

Your pics are great, but as I haven't installed the rear mud guards yet, I'm not familiar with the exact details of how everything fits together back there. And I also like the idea of not ditching that smaller piece of fender liner, but cutting it to allow the bracket to be installed in conjunction with it.

 

[RAMSTEEL]

It's really just installing forwards. If you look at their instructions and see the orientation, the L shape of the bracket is rear facing where I put it forward facing. Their installation is the long edge is on the backside or rear-facing and I just flip the basket forward so the long edge is pointing forwards. Once you have the bracket in hand, it will make sense.

PS Keep in mind that the bracket that holds the fender liner is removed and thus the mud flap bracket would flip that space. In mine, it stays so you can reinstall that part.

 

[Chugiakguy]

It's really just installing forwards. If you look at their instructions and see the orientation, the L shape of the bracket is rear facing where I put it forward facing. There install is the long edge is on the backside or rear-facing and I just flip the basket forward so the long edge is pointing forwards. Once you have the bracket in hand, it will make sense.

OK, thanks! In looking at your photo, I believe I understand you on that.

Can you tell me why you chose to mount the bracket flipped, though? I'm not challenging or questioning your positioning of it, just curious as to why you chose to do it that way.

 

[RAMSTEEL]

OK, thanks! In looking at your photo, I believe I understand you on that.

Can you tell me why you chose to mount the bracket flipped, though? I'm not challenging or questioning your positioning of it, just curious as to why you chose to do it that way.

Without the fender liner and regardless of the mudflap, you're going to get a lot of debris thrown behind the remaining liner and the top of the mudflap. I really didn't want that area to be constantly getting mud, water, etc. I figured it was an easy adjustment, retained all the parts, and provided the most coverage. Honestly, the setup is perfect and I only get a bit of stuff on the tail end edge of the bumper. When you remove the lower fender liner, you'll see how big that space appears suddenly.

I'm running 37" tires on that setup and there's plenty of room.

 

[Chugiakguy]

Without the fender liner and regardless of the mudflap, you're going to get a lot of debris thrown behind the remaining liner and the top of the mudflap. I really didn't want that area to be constantly getting mud, water, etc. I figured it was an easy adjustment, retained all the parts, and provided the most coverage. Honestly, the setup is perfect and I only get a bit of stuff on the tail end edge of the bumper. When you remove the lower fender liner, you'll see how big that space appears suddenly.

OK, maybe I'm a bit confused here.

You say that without the fender liner (I assume you mean the piece that Rokblokz instructs us to remove), a lot of debris will get thrown behind the remaining liner and the top of the mudflap.

But from your photos, and from what you've said earlier, it appears that you did replace that piece of fender liner, after cutting it in some way to allow the mud flap bracket to be installed with it still in place.

So are you saying that even with having replaced that piece of fender liner, you would still be getting stuff thrown up over the mud flap, and behind the fender liner, without positioning the bracket as you did?

 

[RAMSTEEL]

No, you cannot retain the lower fender liner portion if installed according to their instructions. You ask why so my reasoning was the desire to retain that part which maintains complete coverage of the wheel well.

 

[Grayhound]

to

I trimmed that part of the fender liner so I could reinstall it. I didn’t think to flip the bracket!

 

[AFD]

There's a few different ways the lower rear fender liner can be cut to allow it to be re-used without flipping the bracket, though that's also an interesting option..

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/mudflaps-recommendation.92216/page-4#post-2111288

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