DIY mud flap bracket restoration

[ollie8820]

Came home one day from an adventure with my 2015 Land Rover Defender and noticed a mud flap came loose and took part of the body with it. I made a bracket for the other side years ago and have a design ready to cut steel versions with a laser, but aluminum ones will need to be handmade. Was thinking, i'll attach it with a couple of rivets, aiming to tuck it inside the body lip, though the other side's is outside. Since there's a piggyback tank nearby, I might reinforce it with a riv nut or something. Thoughts?

 

[TorqueVeteran]

@ollie8820 not just strength, remember to think about access if you ever need to remove the tank or flap again. Rivnuts provide that.
also, given it's a mud flap area, make sure you're sealing behind your rivets (like with marine sealant or RTV) to prevent water ingress into the body, especially since some bodywork came with it. That'll help prevent future rust issues

 

[Rickyboy80]

What about laser cut steel? Sure, you'll need to protect it, but wouldn't it be the best option?

 

[ollie8820]

@ollie8820 not just strength, remember to think about access if you ever need to remove the tank or flap again. Rivnuts provide that.
also, given it's a mud flap area, make sure you're sealing behind your rivets (like with marine sealant or RTV) to prevent water ingress into the body, especially since some bodywork came with it. That'll help prevent future rust issues

Yeah great points, access is definitely something i hadn't fully considered, so rivnuts sound like a smart choice for easier removal later on. I'll also make sure to seal behind the rivets to keep water out and avoid rust. Do you have a preferred sealant brand or type that works best for this kind of application? thanks

@Rickyboy80
Ill take note of this, thanks