Splash Guards
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 31
From: Myrtle Beach, SC
Splash Guards
Anyone bought splash guards for a 2016-2017 Maxima? The ones Nissan offers look pretty small and I'm wondering if they are of any use? If there are any good aftermarket ones, I haven't found them yet.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
I bought and mounted the Nissan 8th gen splash guards, and they are essentially decorative, not functional. At some point, I usually buy generic black mud flaps from Pep Boys, etc, and trim them down to fit my Maxima. I screw them into the rear of the wheel well shell, cutting and mounting them so that the outer edge of the flaps barely catch the moisture being thrown off the outside edge of the tread face (not the sidewall, which is not throwing road moisture, dirt, etc up on the side of the car).
This usually takes a bit of work, as it can be troublesome screwing things into the rear of the wheel shell liners, as the wheel/tires are often in the way.
p.s. This method worked well on all generations before the 8th gen, but this method will be a little more difficult on the 8th gen, as the design of the rear portion of the wheel wells actually curves back around and a little underneath the tires, meaning the bottom portion of any flap we add will be slanted back toward the front of the car, which does not look quite as 'natural' or functional as the traditional straight down or slightly rearward slant of mud flaps.
This usually takes a bit of work, as it can be troublesome screwing things into the rear of the wheel shell liners, as the wheel/tires are often in the way.
p.s. This method worked well on all generations before the 8th gen, but this method will be a little more difficult on the 8th gen, as the design of the rear portion of the wheel wells actually curves back around and a little underneath the tires, meaning the bottom portion of any flap we add will be slanted back toward the front of the car, which does not look quite as 'natural' or functional as the traditional straight down or slightly rearward slant of mud flaps.
Last edited by lightonthehill; Oct 26, 2017 at 03:48 PM.
Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 104
From: MN
I bought and mounted the Nissan 8th gen splash guards, and they are essentially decorative, not functional. At some point, I usually buy generic black mud flaps from Pep Boys, etc, and trim them down to fit my Maxima. I screw them into the rear of the wheel well shell, cutting and mounting them so that the outer edge of the flaps barely catch the moisture being thrown off the outside edge of the tread face (not the sidewall, which is not throwing road moisture, dirt, etc up on the side of the car).
This usually takes a bit of work, as it can be troublesome screwing things into the rear of the wheel shell liners, as the wheel/tires are often in the way.
p.s. This method worked well on all generations before the 8th gen, but this method will be a little more difficult on the 8th gen, as the design of the rear portion of the wheel wells actually curves back around and a little underneath the tires, meaning the bottom portion of any flap we add will be slanted back toward the front of the car, which does not look quite as 'natural' or functional as the traditional straight down or slightly rearward slant of mud flaps.
This usually takes a bit of work, as it can be troublesome screwing things into the rear of the wheel shell liners, as the wheel/tires are often in the way.
p.s. This method worked well on all generations before the 8th gen, but this method will be a little more difficult on the 8th gen, as the design of the rear portion of the wheel wells actually curves back around and a little underneath the tires, meaning the bottom portion of any flap we add will be slanted back toward the front of the car, which does not look quite as 'natural' or functional as the traditional straight down or slightly rearward slant of mud flaps.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,130
My '17 has many interstate miles now and the OEM splash guards have protected the front and rear quarter panels just fine. No marks to be seen. Panels look like new. Now, oversize tires could make a difference but the stock width tires are within the confines of the OEM splash guards. I won't go wider for quarter panel protection reason.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
Haven't put them on my 2016 yet because of:
1 - The wheel wells circling back a little underneath the tires, meaning the flaps would be slanted toward the front instead of slanting toward the rear, as flaps traditionally do. I am having to think about that.
2 - A lass from Virginia lost control on the downtown connector I-75/I-85 in Atlanta the morning of October 7th, spun in circles across three lanes and broadsided the driver's door of our 2016 Platinum. The car has been in the body shop for several weeks, while we try to get the insurance company of the Virginia lass to get a claims adjuster to the body shop.
3 - The driver's door will not open or close, and there is a four inch high gap running the full length of the top of the driver's door open to the sky. Same thing the full length of the bottom of the driver's door. Nobody was hurt, but I am very disappointed to see my perfect Maxima in such condition.
Somewhere on this site, I posted photos of my 7th gen 2009 with mud flaps added to all four wheel wells. They turned out very nicely. The secret is to not having them stick out to the side too far or reach down further than the normal path of water being thrown off the tires. We don't want them noticed; just have them keep the worst road slush and grime off the side of the car.
1 - The wheel wells circling back a little underneath the tires, meaning the flaps would be slanted toward the front instead of slanting toward the rear, as flaps traditionally do. I am having to think about that.
2 - A lass from Virginia lost control on the downtown connector I-75/I-85 in Atlanta the morning of October 7th, spun in circles across three lanes and broadsided the driver's door of our 2016 Platinum. The car has been in the body shop for several weeks, while we try to get the insurance company of the Virginia lass to get a claims adjuster to the body shop.
3 - The driver's door will not open or close, and there is a four inch high gap running the full length of the top of the driver's door open to the sky. Same thing the full length of the bottom of the driver's door. Nobody was hurt, but I am very disappointed to see my perfect Maxima in such condition.
Somewhere on this site, I posted photos of my 7th gen 2009 with mud flaps added to all four wheel wells. They turned out very nicely. The secret is to not having them stick out to the side too far or reach down further than the normal path of water being thrown off the tires. We don't want them noticed; just have them keep the worst road slush and grime off the side of the car.