Will mud-guards reduce the amount of rust as the car gets old?

[Carzzz]

any idea?

[ralfp]

If you install them incorrectly (maybe even correctly), I'd guess that you'd get more rust where the guards cover the metal body. Otherwise I dunno.

[jackfrost1031]

it's probably keep salt and road grime from damaging the rocker panels and such, but my gen-2 has mudflaps and has a fist sized hole in the drivers side fender right behind the fender, so go figure.

[98CamryLE]

I don't really know. I have the mudguards... but I remove them whenever I wax the car, just so the metal underneath doesn't rust. I figure a good waxing 2 times a year is good enough.