Mud guards harmed paint

[obbop]

Wanting to protect the paint from rocks thrown by the tires I had a local aftermarket truck parts place install four made-to-fit plastic mud guards.

I removed them to wax the small area of paint they cover and saw that the guards had dug into the paint, down to bare metal in a few spots and obvious grooves in the paint in others. The lingest groove was a couple inches long.

And, where the screws entered the sheetmetal (holes were drilled for the screws) I already see rust forming inside the holes!!!!

I will get a couple estimates from body shops to fix the damage and present them to the firm. I will be pleasent but firm but am certain the business will refuse to fix the damage their product created.

Any tips or hints on how to approach that firm? I paid for a product that was supposed to protect the paint but actually harmed it!!!!! I did not reinstall the mud guards but will keep them for evidence if I go to small claims court.

The truck has only 4,000 miles on it!!!!!

Does anyone have experience with this type of affair? I am in Nebraska where the legal climate is extremely pro-business and maximum anti-consumer. Even if I did go to small claims court I believe the odds are against me.

Any advice, opinions, etc. appreciated!!!!

 

[W.T.McGlynn]

Small Claims Court:
The odds will be with you.
Trust me.......
Do it.

 

[seotaji]

my factory mud guards do the same thing.

the only thing i can think of is to clean them really well and get a sheet of xpel and apply that to the area instead of mud/stone guards.

 

[michaelc80]

I'd be surprised if you got anywhere in small claims court. I have to suspect that anything you add to the vehicle and put it up against the paint it will leave rub marks. I would put some rust converter on it, coat it with something to help prevent the rust, and put them back on. Maybe take them off once a year to clean under them. I doubt that you'll see that rust go much of anywhere.

 

[White 03]

I have two vechicles with factory mud guards on them and they also wear the paint. I have tried slicone sealer without much success. My last attempt I put on a 3M clear tape on the paint under the mud guards; I guess I will see.