Installed Mud Flaps (part # J101SFN400) on a 2024 Crosstrek today. It was easier than expected. Wheels did not have to be removed.
Here's an image of the car before it was driven on the local dirt roads (no mud flaps):
![Image]()
Installation instructions can be found here:
ixi 2022-0601 Crosstrek Mud Flaps V02.pdf (subaru.com)
The bag of hardware to install the flaps has a separate part #: J101SFN430 (but is included with J101SFN400).
Installation requires drilling, BUT it can be accomplished with no drill- only the drill bit is necessary because the holes (1 for each flap) are drilled into very soft plastic. Merely turning the bit by hand worked well.
When installing right front flap, turn the steering wheel all the way to the right to gain some clearance; for left front flap, turn wheel all the way to the left.
To install front flaps:
1) Remove the 2 plastic fasteners from the fender liner holes by unscrewing with a phillips screwdriver and pulling out of the hole. If the entire fastener turns when you try to turn-out just the middle part of the fastener, hold the outer part still while turning inner part with screwdriver. Once the inner part pops out, the entire fastener can be removed (pulled straight out). A regular screwdriver can be used to carefully pry them out if necessary.
2) Place the mud flap in position. Insert the new fasteners (to line up the holes) BUT do not install them by pressing the protrusion on the top. Hold them (flap plus fasteners) in place with one hand and mark the center of the hole to be drilled by inserting a small drill bit into the 3rd hole on the mud flap and turning. A paint pen would also work.
3) Remove the flap and drill the hole, using the mark as the guide. As mentioned above, simply turn the 9/32 drill bit by hand a few times to make the hole. No need to press hard- let the drill bit do the work.
4) Once the hole is drilled, install mud flap using proper fasteners (the instruction document is clear on this). Press fastener all the way into the hole, then push the protrusion into the fastener to lock it in place.
Here's an image of the right front flap installed with the 3 plastic fasteners:
![Image]()
The rear flaps are slightly more challenging, but not difficult.
A problem was encountered: the fender liner holes (which were not filled by fasteners on the new Crosstrek) were slightly too small to accept the specified fasteners. Worse, the tire prevents easy access to the holes. For the upper hole, a 1/4-inch (slightly smaller than specified 9/32) bit was inserted and turned by hand. For the bottom hole, one blade of a small pair of medical scissors was used to ream (enlarge) the hole a bit. Others may find it easier to simply remove the wheel and use the 9/32 bit to enlarge the holes.
To install rear flaps:
1) Affix the stainless steel bracket to the mud flap using the specified hardware (metal bolt affixed by plastic clip with captured nut slid over end of bracket). Do not fully tighten- allow a bit of play.
2) Install the flap into position using the 2 plastic fasteners on the fender liner.
3) Get a good visual of the underside, where the bracket is installed. Slide the bracket into position. One of the holes to fasten the bracket is filled with a plastic fastener. Remove it by popping the middle out with a regular screwdriver, then pulling the entire fastener out of the car.
4) Now, 2 of the 3 holes to install the bracket are clearly visible. Install the specified fasteners into those holes. Note that one of the holes requires a metal clip. The clip slides over the plastic bumper at the hole. Install clip with flat side down.
5) The 3rd hole must be drilled. But since the bracket is installed, it's easy- simply turn a 5/16 drill bit by hand at the hole in the bracket.
6) Install final fastener in newly drilled hole.
7) Tighten metal bolts to specified torque.
Here's an image of the installed bracket (passenger side rear):
![Image]()
Notice the placement of the "nut clips"- one on the bracket (left-most in image) and one along the bottom edge of bumper (top right in image). The other 2 are simple plastic fasteners. The 2nd fastener from the left requires the hole to be drilled.
The mud flaps were installed on the car after driving a few miles on local dirt roads. For this reason, a hose was used to clean the installation areas before installing. Here's an image of the car with flaps installed:
![Image]()
Here's an image of the car before it was driven on the local dirt roads (no mud flaps):
Installation instructions can be found here:
ixi 2022-0601 Crosstrek Mud Flaps V02.pdf (subaru.com)
The bag of hardware to install the flaps has a separate part #: J101SFN430 (but is included with J101SFN400).
Installation requires drilling, BUT it can be accomplished with no drill- only the drill bit is necessary because the holes (1 for each flap) are drilled into very soft plastic. Merely turning the bit by hand worked well.
When installing right front flap, turn the steering wheel all the way to the right to gain some clearance; for left front flap, turn wheel all the way to the left.
To install front flaps:
1) Remove the 2 plastic fasteners from the fender liner holes by unscrewing with a phillips screwdriver and pulling out of the hole. If the entire fastener turns when you try to turn-out just the middle part of the fastener, hold the outer part still while turning inner part with screwdriver. Once the inner part pops out, the entire fastener can be removed (pulled straight out). A regular screwdriver can be used to carefully pry them out if necessary.
2) Place the mud flap in position. Insert the new fasteners (to line up the holes) BUT do not install them by pressing the protrusion on the top. Hold them (flap plus fasteners) in place with one hand and mark the center of the hole to be drilled by inserting a small drill bit into the 3rd hole on the mud flap and turning. A paint pen would also work.
3) Remove the flap and drill the hole, using the mark as the guide. As mentioned above, simply turn the 9/32 drill bit by hand a few times to make the hole. No need to press hard- let the drill bit do the work.
4) Once the hole is drilled, install mud flap using proper fasteners (the instruction document is clear on this). Press fastener all the way into the hole, then push the protrusion into the fastener to lock it in place.
Here's an image of the right front flap installed with the 3 plastic fasteners:
The rear flaps are slightly more challenging, but not difficult.
A problem was encountered: the fender liner holes (which were not filled by fasteners on the new Crosstrek) were slightly too small to accept the specified fasteners. Worse, the tire prevents easy access to the holes. For the upper hole, a 1/4-inch (slightly smaller than specified 9/32) bit was inserted and turned by hand. For the bottom hole, one blade of a small pair of medical scissors was used to ream (enlarge) the hole a bit. Others may find it easier to simply remove the wheel and use the 9/32 bit to enlarge the holes.
To install rear flaps:
1) Affix the stainless steel bracket to the mud flap using the specified hardware (metal bolt affixed by plastic clip with captured nut slid over end of bracket). Do not fully tighten- allow a bit of play.
2) Install the flap into position using the 2 plastic fasteners on the fender liner.
3) Get a good visual of the underside, where the bracket is installed. Slide the bracket into position. One of the holes to fasten the bracket is filled with a plastic fastener. Remove it by popping the middle out with a regular screwdriver, then pulling the entire fastener out of the car.
4) Now, 2 of the 3 holes to install the bracket are clearly visible. Install the specified fasteners into those holes. Note that one of the holes requires a metal clip. The clip slides over the plastic bumper at the hole. Install clip with flat side down.
5) The 3rd hole must be drilled. But since the bracket is installed, it's easy- simply turn a 5/16 drill bit by hand at the hole in the bracket.
6) Install final fastener in newly drilled hole.
7) Tighten metal bolts to specified torque.
Here's an image of the installed bracket (passenger side rear):
Notice the placement of the "nut clips"- one on the bracket (left-most in image) and one along the bottom edge of bumper (top right in image). The other 2 are simple plastic fasteners. The 2nd fastener from the left requires the hole to be drilled.
The mud flaps were installed on the car after driving a few miles on local dirt roads. For this reason, a hose was used to clean the installation areas before installing. Here's an image of the car with flaps installed:
