The RA mudflap install did not go smoothly on my 2005 STI so posting this to help save some headaches for others.
Summary: the upper 2 plastic clips for front mudflap install do not fit behind the fender liner as they "hope" will happen in the instructions. I substituted pop rivets for the top 2 screws and taped the backing washers to the inside of the fender to hold them in place during installation. Suspect a lot of shops/individual installers just lag-screw into the fender hole which will work but will promote rusting.
Pic1: so here's the 4 mount points for the front flaps, 3 along the fender and one recessed on the inside
Pic2: here's how the clips come out, basic stuff. They mostly break when pulled out but you don't need to re-use them with the mudflaps
Pic3: multiple clips under the side skirt. RA instructions say take the first 2 out, I say take 5 out so the skirt hangs completely out of the way and you can clean the incredible amount of itshay that collects in there over the years.
Pic4: fender liner pulled back and sideskirt hanging
Pic5: pulling the fender liner away from the fender. It's going to rip easily be very careful with it. Heat the plastic so it's pliable if you dont' have the luxury of heated garage/shop.
Pic6: THE PROBLEM!!!!!!! According to RA these clips should fit nicely behind the fender liner and provide a pad for the self tapping screws to bite into. I beg to differ on the fitment!! The clips are way too wide to fit behind the fender liner!! My solution was use pop rivets for the top 2 mounting points, see next pics..
Pic7: Pop rivets instead of clips. Backing washers stuck on tape with the hole cut out so the rivet sticks through easily during assembly
Pic8: bad photo but I'm showing the pop rivet backing plates held on with tape behind the top 2 fender holes
Pic9: the inner fender hole needs this insert jammed in there so the screw can bite. It's tight hammer helps.
Pic10: here you can see the top 2 holes waiting for pop rivets, underneath it the 3rd hole with the plastic clip as RA intended, inner hole with the insert pounded in
Pic11: mudflap installed showing pop rivets on top and normal screws on bottom holes. The 1" spacer goes on the inner hole between mudflap and fender liner. Oh and the level to help get things straight. Obviously once you pull the rivets you can't re-align without doing everything over again.
Pic12: finished installation. Took pic from the passenger side as it looks a little neater
