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Chinese Mud Flaps Installed and Jacking Up Your Cruze

29624 Views 42 Replies 17 Participants Last post by  99_XC600
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Finally had some time to install the $16.00 Mud Flaps today. This thread will cover 2 items.


1.Installation of the flaps
2.Jacking up the car and having it on stands for all 4 wheels.




First thing. When I ordered them, I really couldn't tell from the pictures how big they were. I had concerns that they may be too big and look like something from a 18 wheeler. Luckily that thought went by the wayside. They aren't too big or too small. The finished product looks great


Overall I'm very happy with the fitment and quality of the parts. For $16.00 you really can't go wrong.


















To make things as easy as possible. I decided to remove all 4 wheels since i was going to rotate them anyway.


What makes the ECO a great gas saver is also kinda of a PIA when it comes to jacking the car up. Since most of the unibody structure is covered up by the Aero panels. After looking at it for about 15 minutes I came up with a pretty good solution to getting it up in the air.


I didn't use any area of the pinch welds as a jacking or support point. I also had zero derformation of any body structure as well.


Front of car.


Place your jack under the bolt and plate that holds the front cross member. Makes sure it's centered on the bolt and not on any part of the corresponding plate that goes off to the body of the car.





Jack the wheel up so it leaves the ground. Put your jack stand under the unibody structure closest to the pinch weld. This part of the unibody is very strong. Locate the jack away from the center and the hole in the assembly.





Rear of the car


Put your jack under the torsion bar assemnly were it meets the spring perch and jack up the car.





Put the stand on the inside of the pinch weld. This section is very strong as well.





Repeat the steps on the other side of the car unti the car is in the air and on the stands










Time to install the flaps.


Overall it was pretty straight foward. The rear flaps use one of the exising body screws to fasten. I also used a sheet metal screw in the lower sections to add some additional lateral support.


Some tips. Make sure you predrill everything and take your time especially when doing the front. The landing area for the fronts goes into the fender lip is very narrow and you could easily do something bad if you're not paying attention.


Once I was done, I took some plastip dip and coated all of the fasteners to prevent rust.


Drivers Rear





Front Driver





Front Passenger - Used a plastic zip fastener





Rear Passenger - Used a plastic zip fastener and a sheet metal screw as well.





Drivers Side













Passenger Side








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It looks like the same, but it's hard to say by the pictures. And I paid 16.88 for mine from the OP's link 2 weeks ago. So the price just went up.

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Actually that's the same price I pad as well.
Is this the same set?

2009 10 11 12 Chevrolet Cruze Mudguard Splash Guards Mud Flaps 4pcs Set | eBay

Seems like the best price I have found thus far. Says they are in the US as well. There was another set for like 40 cents cheaper but they were in China. FYI - the link that the OP provided was like $21 something.
Appears to the the same set.
You need a larger jack, and a hockey puck to prevent marring the paint.

Also, HF sells red rubber jackstand pads with a center rib for the pinch welds. They work like a charm, even if they are on the pricey side.
You need a larger jack, and a hockey puck to prevent marring the paint.

Also, HF sells red rubber jackstand pads with a center rib for the pinch welds. They work like a charm, even if they are on the pricey side.
Yes on both.

I need to break down and get one of the aluminum racing jacks. My current one is ok on the Cruze but it's just about at it's limit when working on my Jeep. It doesn't have enough lift to deal with the suspension and getting the front end up in the air.

Funny you mention the pads, I was in there a couple of weeks ago and I meant to grab them and I forgot all about them. I still don't like using the pinch welds as a support for the stands though. I tried using the designated points on my Grand Prix and the spots deformed as soon as I put the car down.
The pads work well since they convert the jackstand from one that grabs frame rails to one that can be safely used on the pinch welds. They have a cutout to not smash the welds while they support them.

For a jack, I'd get the low-profile steel jack instead of aluminum. Unless you need the portability, the HF low-profile steel jacks are beefy things that fit under the Cruze just fine while having enough lift to get high up into the air. I've had one that goes from 2.5" to 20" for 3 years now, and it's been a nice jack. They have one that goes from 2.5" to 23" which might be just what you need.
Thanks for this post about jack points. Worked like a charm.
Excellent - glad it worked out for you.
The pads work well since they convert the jackstand from one that grabs frame rails to one that can be safely used on the pinch welds. They have a cutout to not smash the welds while they support them.

For a jack, I'd get the low-profile steel jack instead of aluminum. Unless you need the portability, the HF low-profile steel jacks are beefy things that fit under the Cruze just fine while having enough lift to get high up into the air. I've had one that goes from 2.5" to 20" for 3 years now, and it's been a nice jack. They have one that goes from 2.5" to 23" which might be just what you need.
You just gave me a great idea. My 11th wedding anniversary is coming up and the theme is "Steel". Looks like I just found a great gift idea...lol
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Grrrr, want RS splash guards. :disgust (1):
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Grrrr, want RS splash guards. :disgust (1):
Agreed. I think GM's thought process on the lack of guards for the RS models is the fact that the body kit is shaped in such a way that it's already acting as a "Quasi" mud flap. (Especially on the front.) Along with the lowered body line, anything added to the RS would probably be dragging on the ground.
The red RS Cruze in the magnaflow twin tip YouTube video for muffler options has Rally Armors on. It kinda fit in but I have to see how high up they mounted them.

http://youtu.be/dq7pZX-_w2Y


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99-xc600. I suppose the link you posted on where you got them will also fit a 2014 eco. Nothing has changed on the body, right?? Because their site says it wont fit a 2014 eco, not sure why.
99-xc600. I suppose the link you posted on where you got them will also fit a 2014 eco. Nothing has changed on the body, right?? Because their site says it wont fit a 2014 eco, not sure why.
Yes they will fit with no issues. Not sure why the site fitment guide is like that.
Just purchased a set. Judging from the pictures (which is not a good way to judge but w/e), the set I bought appear to be a hair higher quality. All the edges seem a bit more defined, etc. Seems like it was almost a different manufacturing process to make these. Cost a few more dollars than the really cheap ones, I will let everyone know when they come in/are installed.

Mud Flaps Splash Guard Mudguard Fenders | eBay
I purchased mine back on the 19th of this month. Got them off Ebay from China.
Mud Flaps Splash Guard 4 Pieces for 2009 2013 Chevrolet Cruze | eBay
I'll post pictures when i get them and get them put on. Looks like I paid a lot more than most other people.
Anytime - thanks for bringing the thread back to the top. :)
Do these have anything around the edges to protect the paint where they touch the bumper?
I had some on my black eco and tore one off by accident, so I took them all off so the car looked the same all the way around till I got more.
Found out that they left a line all the way around the outside edge of them where they wore through the paint down to the sealer.
Anybody else have this issue?
If I get them for the new cruze I will be putting 3M clear protective film under them.
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OK well I got a cheep set state side. just hate getting stuff from china, so I paid some one in texas an extra $9. Im sure they are a china made model. Anyway, I am going to put them on this weekend. Have a couple of outside the box ideas for mounting. Once they are on Ill report. Aloha
well I quess the 2014 mud guards from YBM Warehouse in Dalles ..........
DONT fit the 2015 :+((((
Maybe I should have got the china ones?
so; these go back and Im shop n again.
Used RoadSport Pro-Fit Splash Guards - Model #4 on my Cruze, ten bucks a pair at my Fleet farm store. Much larger than yours and certainly a heck of a lot larger than OE's.

So Chevy is selling vehicles that require splash shields and not included, most vehicles I had over the years had flared fenders, didn't need these things. And splash shields it what they call them more like stone guards.

Ha, why jack stands? Only time I used these when I have to replace the car, one wheel is enough for me at a time. Also have a block of wood covered with carpet, just enough clearance is the hydraulics do fail, not hitting the ground no way. Also took the time to anti-seize the wheel studs, hubs where the wheel fits on. Ha, while others are talking about loose lug nuts, around here, rust so bad either can't remove the wheel or break off the studs.

Removed the push pins from the fender wells and used those again for the shields. Purchased a pack of Dorman push pins drilling 1/4 inches for the remainder, would never expect and laid the shield on top of the wheel wells to maintain that seal to the fenders. Can't expect those screws to hold in that very thin plastic wheel well.

If you want to discuss longevity, did exactly the same thing to my 04 Cavalier using the same exact splash shield. Except on the Cavalier, the rears fit flat, had to trim the rears on the Cruze so they would. After 11 years, shields are still rock solid, the the rest of the car is falling apart.
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