How to Fit Rally Style Mudflaps: General Guide

Fitting PolyWard rally style mudflaps is a job most people with basic DIY skills and the right tools can complete in a couple of hours. Each set comes with vehicle-specific instructions covering the exact bracket configuration, drilling requirements, and fitting sequence for your car. This page covers preparation, tools, and what to expect before you open the vehicle-specific guide.

What’s in the package

Every PolyWard rally style mudflap kit contains:

• Four mudflaps; two front, two rear – shaped and pre-drilled for your specific vehicle
• Vehicle-specific brackets and hardware. The exact contents vary by vehicle, but typically include a combination of fir tree plastic plugs, stainless anodised hex bolts, self-tapping screws, spacers, metal U clips, and double-sided adhesive tape
• Alcohol wipes for cleaning surfaces before adhesive tape application
• A printed instruction sheet specific to your vehicle

Check the contents against the instruction sheet before starting. The hardware is sorted and supplied for your specific vehicle – don’t substitute parts from other kits as the sizing is vehicle-specific.

Tools you’ll need

• A jack and axle stands (or a trolley jack) to lift the car safely and remove the wheels. Working with the wheels on is possible, but significantly harder. The instructions recommend removing wheels for all vehicles.
• A 6mm or 7mm drill bit – some vehicles require at least some holes to be drilled in the inner arch liner plastic. The specific drill size is in your vehicle’s instruction sheet.
• A cordless drill
• A plastic trim removal tool or a flat screwdriver for removing arch liner clips on some vehicles
• A Phillips and a flathead screwdriver
• Pliers for some fitting removal
• Allen keys / hex bits for the new bolts
• A marker pen or masking tape for marking hole positions before drilling

Before you start

Read the vehicle-specific instructions first. The fitting sequence matters – on some vehicles, the rear brackets need to be bent to shape before fitting, and this can only be done once. On the Focus Mk3 and Fiesta ST180 specifically, the rear brackets need to be bent as a mirror pair. Bending both the same way is a common mistake that requires starting over. Read through the instructions fully before touching the car.

Identify your front flaps from your rear flaps. Front flaps are typically smaller and have fewer holes. Rear flaps are larger. Your instruction sheet will confirm which is which for your vehicle.

Take your time on hole positions. Most fitting issues come from drilling in the wrong position. Mark up with a marker pen or masking tape before drilling. Double-check the position from behind the arch liner before committing to the hole.

The fittings are difficult to remove once secured. Plastic plugs grip the arch liner firmly by design. Once pushed in, they don’t come out cleanly. Get the position right before securing anything permanently.

The general fitting sequence

While the specific steps vary by vehicle, the general sequence is consistent across all PolyWard rally style mudflap kits:

1. Jack up and remove the wheel. Working space is tight with the wheel on. Most arch liner mounting points are only accessible with the wheel removed. Use axle stands rather than leaving the car on a trolley jack while you work.

2. Start with the front flaps. Front arch access is generally simpler. Getting the front flaps fitted and positioned correctly first gives you a reference for how the rear should look.

3. Establish the top fixing point first. On all vehicles, the process starts with the highest fixing point on the flap. This anchors the flap and lets you hang it straight before adding the lower fixings. Take time to get this right – the lower fixings then follow naturally.

4. Check that the flap hangs straight before drilling further holes. Once the top fixing is in place, step back and check the flap is vertical and sitting correctly against the arch profile. On the front flaps, especially, the protrusion from the side of the car should be roughly equal on both sides. A second person to check the position from a distance is useful here.

5. Add lower fixings once the position is confirmed. The number and type of lower fixings vary by vehicle – your instructions cover this. Work from the inside of the arch outward.

6. Repeat for all four corners. Front left, front right, rear left, rear right. The rear fitting process is typically more involved than the front, so allow more time.

7. Check all fixings are secure before lowering the car. Give each flap a firm tug to confirm the fixings are holding. Fir tree plugs should feel solid. Any movement at this point means the fixing hasn’t seated correctly.

After fitting

Once all four flaps are fitted and the car is back on the ground, do a final check by walking around the car and confirming each flap sits correctly against the arch – no protrusion at the top, no catching on the tyre, and sitting roughly level.

Take care reversing over kerbs, particularly at speed. The mudflaps extend beyond the standard arch profile and can catch on high kerbs. This is especially relevant for the rear flaps, which are the lowest point of the car when reversing.

Vehicle-specific instructions

The general principles above apply across all PolyWard rally style mudflap kits. For the specific bracket configuration, drilling template, hardware details, and fitting sequence for your vehicle, refer to the instruction sheet included with your kit or download the PDF for your model:

View all vehicle-specific instruction PDFs

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to drill holes to fit rally style mudflaps?

It depends on the vehicle. For the Ford Focus Mk2, Focus RS Mk2, Ford Fiesta Mk7 and Mk7.5, and Ford Focus Mk3 and ST250, no drilling into the car’s arch liner is required – the kits use existing mounting points. You may need to make a hole in the mudflap itself to achieve your preferred alignment, but that’s a quick job with a drill or a sharp punch.

For the Fiat 500, Abarth 595 and 695, and Seat Ibiza FR 6J, some holes will need to be made in the inner arch liner plastic. The drill size and positions are specified in the vehicle-specific instruction sheet included with the kit.

Can I fit rally style mudflaps on a lowered car?

Yes, with some considerations. For a modest drop of 10-20mm, no adjustment to the mudflaps is needed – the standard kit fits and sits correctly. If the car is significantly lowered or slammed, we offer a free trimming service. Let us know how much your car is lowered by when you order, and we’ll trim a small amount from the bottom edge of all four flaps before dispatch so they clear the road correctly. Just mention it in the order notes or drop us a message before it ships.

How long does fitting take?

It depends on the vehicle. The Ford Focus Mk2 and Seat Ibiza FR kits typically take one to two hours for a first-time fit. This is because the mounting points are straightforward and the hardware is minimal. The Ford Fiesta Mk7 and Ford Focus Mk3 kits involve more mounting points, and the rear bracket configuration takes a bit more time – allow two to three hours if it’s your first time. Having done it once, a repeat fit on the same vehicle is significantly faster.

What spare fixings are included?

Every kit includes a few extra screws and clips beyond what’s needed for the fit, so if you drop one into the wheel arch or find one missing, you’re covered without needing to order anything extra.

If you need additional fir tree clips or other hardware beyond what’s in the kit, we stock a range of sizes in the mudflap fittings section of the store. The correct size for your vehicle is specified in the instruction sheet.

Is it worth getting a second pair of hands?

For the front flaps, a second person to check the flap is hanging straight while you mark the position is genuinely useful; it’s easy to misjudge vertical alignment when you’re crouched next to the wheel arch. For the rear flaps on the Focus Mk3, a second pair of hands makes bracket alignment significantly easier. It’s not essential, but it can save time.

Should I take care of anything after fitting?

One thing worth knowing: the fir tree clips and plastic plugs grip the arch liner firmly once seated and are difficult to remove cleanly. Get the position right before pushing them home. Also, take care reversing over high kerbs; the mudflaps extend beyond the standard arch profile, and a sharp kerb at speed can stress the fittings and the arch liner around them.