Flaps

i need new flaps!!
Went to replace a mud flap today and as I undid the 8mm bolts that hold the bracket on they I did a bit then just seemed to spin!
Couldn’t see how to get at the nuts tho?? Are they suppose to be captive or wellnuts or is there a trick to getting at the nuts??

They are usualy rivnuts,cut off the head, knock out the rest and replace.

It's an absolute mare to replace the captive nuts. It's best done with the proper gun if you want to fork out for one, or there are a few DIY options you can try on the Tube. But, a bit of a mare. Chances are the holes in the cross member are corroded over size and the nuts will struggle to grip anyway. I used stainless bolts. All you need is a length of single core wire. You can get away with multi-core, but its more awkward cos it's flexible. Put a washer on the bolt and wrap the end of the wire around the bolt just once, holding the washer against the bolt head. Slide the bolt along the inside of the cross member by pushing the wire. Wiggle the wire to drop the end of the bolt through the cross-member, put the mudflap bracket on and put a nut on a few turns. Pull the wire off the bolt and repeat. Worked a treat for me and got both sides bolted on in 10 mins. They're not going to drop off either!

Well worth the effort of putting the bolts from the inside of the xmember pointng downwards spinning on a nut and locking it up then the flap brkt then a nut that way theres a gap between brkt and the xmember so no rot can form there.

Edit just noticed the end of Al1203 reply above saying much the same!

Cut off with a gronder & replace with riv nuts.
If its justhe flap u could drill the rivets out where the flap attatches offer up new flap and attatch either nut & bolt or rivets.