Thoughts on removing the rubber/plastic lip under nose?
08-21-2013, 04:17 PM
#21
Safety Car
It is designed to wear and is not unusual for it to rub. I have replaced two of them since I bought the car new 1/07. The function is to get air into the radiator and to smooth out the flow of air under the car so there is less turbulence under the vehicle.
08-21-2013, 05:03 PM
#22
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I remember going for a ride in a 67 and the front wheels would come off the ground at high speeds.
08-21-2013, 07:31 PM
#24
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A lot of people remove them, and it does make it seem like it has a lot more clearance. But that is the point of the thing too to warn you of clearance. It takes the damage and is cheap to replace. Others do as they have told you, trim it off etc.
08-21-2013, 08:08 PM
#25
Melting Slicks
08-21-2013, 08:17 PM
#26
The man is correct , it's there to direct air to radiator.. I wouldn't remove it. Maybe trim an inch. Mine scrapes also on my driveway just go real slow. Replace when it's cracked or worn. Real easy to change
QUOTE=Turbo6TA;1584726657]I don't think that flimsy 3-piece rubbeair dam is going to keep anything from "lifting".
I believe it is there to help direct air up into the radiator, and is needed for cooling.
If it scrapes all the time, I guess you could shave maybe in inch off it so it would not set so low. Removing it is a bad idea.[/QUOTE]
QUOTE=Turbo6TA;1584726657]I don't think that flimsy 3-piece rubbeair dam is going to keep anything from "lifting".
I believe it is there to help direct air up into the radiator, and is needed for cooling.
If it scrapes all the time, I guess you could shave maybe in inch off it so it would not set so low. Removing it is a bad idea.[/QUOTE]
08-21-2013, 08:27 PM
#27
Le Mans Master
I think the 3-piece air dam is hinged (or designed to fold backwards at any rate), and then if flops back down after you've cleared the driveway bump. Could be only the center part has this feature. I just go slowly and try to approach at an angle. Mine also scrapes at the bottom of a hill, which intersects my street. There's even one especially high manhole cover in my neighborhood that clips my air dam if I drive over it. So I just go around it.
Our Cadillac ATS also scrapes on the driveway.
Our Cadillac ATS also scrapes on the driveway.
08-21-2013, 09:06 PM
#28
Drifting
There's no issue if it scrapes. It's meant to move and scrape. It's main function is to have cool air flow over the radiator. If you're in a hot environment you will notice if it's gone. Otherwise you can remove it if you are so inclined.
You can trim it down slightly if needed. My cars radiator support is lower due to the supercharger and I ended up getting a plastic gutter guard piece from Home Depot and trimmed it to fit. Works just fine but it does scrape a lot... even under hard braking. Been working great for months now when the stock piece ripped apart within a few weeks.
This isn't my video. I've seen it posted here before but have no idea who made it.
You can trim it down slightly if needed. My cars radiator support is lower due to the supercharger and I ended up getting a plastic gutter guard piece from Home Depot and trimmed it to fit. Works just fine but it does scrape a lot... even under hard braking. Been working great for months now when the stock piece ripped apart within a few weeks.
This isn't my video. I've seen it posted here before but have no idea who made it.
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08-21-2013, 09:37 PM
#30
Melting Slicks
i got into a huge discussion over those 3 rubber pieces about a month ago. some claim that they create lift a speed, i don't believe it since they don't on my coupe (i took them off & tried it) they are there to direct air into the radiator.
you can trim them if you want or just SLOWLY BACK into your driveway. they are rubber and will fold and yes RUB will will not get damaged.
on wide body cars the lower air dam does get damaged especially the CF piece & that is expenssive. some have used planks of wood as a ramp if the transition is too great.
you can trim them if you want or just SLOWLY BACK into your driveway. they are rubber and will fold and yes RUB will will not get damaged.
on wide body cars the lower air dam does get damaged especially the CF piece & that is expenssive. some have used planks of wood as a ramp if the transition is too great.
08-21-2013, 10:04 PM
#31
This is what I did. When I bought the car one of the side pieces was damaged so I removed it along with the other side with the intent of replacing. I left the middle piece in place since it does direct airflow up into the radiator. I've not had any issues and my coolant/engine temps have remained the same. I've been driving it with the side pieces removed for a few months no with no problems but will eventually install new pieces.
08-21-2013, 10:27 PM
#34
Melting Slicks
It has nothing to do with downforce. It is important for cooling. Do not remove it. It's a wear item. It scrapes. It's cheap and easy to replace if it needs it. Removing or trimming it is a bad idea. Given all of that I don't understand the obsession some have with it rubbing and the lengths people will go to to stop it from rubbing. It doesn't hurt anything then it rubs.
08-21-2013, 10:29 PM
#35
Burning Brakes
Mine scrapes when I pull out of my driveway every day.
Over the last six years it’s gotten quieter and quieter as it has slowly worn the two end pieces down a bit.
A few weeks ago I hit a “road gator” and it completely ripped off both ends.
I installed two new pieces and now it’s really loud again when it hits.
But they will slowly wear away I suppose.
Besides cooling the radiator, the openings for the cooling ducts to the front brakes are just in front of the piece.
You can see them clearly in that video posted above.
As air hits the vertical surface, it’s directed up into the cooling ducts.
If you remove the side pieces, the air will go right by the opening. I wouldn’t remove them.
Over the last six years it’s gotten quieter and quieter as it has slowly worn the two end pieces down a bit.
A few weeks ago I hit a “road gator” and it completely ripped off both ends.
I installed two new pieces and now it’s really loud again when it hits.
But they will slowly wear away I suppose.
Besides cooling the radiator, the openings for the cooling ducts to the front brakes are just in front of the piece.
You can see them clearly in that video posted above.
As air hits the vertical surface, it’s directed up into the cooling ducts.
If you remove the side pieces, the air will go right by the opening. I wouldn’t remove them.
08-21-2013, 10:45 PM
#36
Le Mans Master
I use a 10 foot long 2X12 in the gutter at the end of my driveway. One board member of the HOA is giving me a hard time about it, but I refuse to remove it. Just painted it today.
08-21-2013, 11:53 PM
#38
In the interest of clearing up confusion, the OP is referring to the air dam under the car, NOT the front splitter on GS/Z06/ZR1.
I do not know about the coupe/convertible/GS, but the air dam under the car does nothing to improve cooling through the radiator of the Z06 as all radiator airflow comes in from the front of the car, not underneath like C5 corvettes/4th gen Camaros/Firebirds. Im not entirely sure of the aerodynamic benefits of the airdam otherwise, I've heard it suggested it is needed to ensure positive pressure at the inlet of the brake ducts. I don't fully buy it. It is interesting to note that Katech's front splitter kit fully smoothes out and deletes the air dam resulting in net downforce at the front of the car, not just lift reduction. That kit also reducts the brakes as well.
The front splitter, on the other hand, decreases front end lift. This part also occasionally scrapes (every time in my driveway
)
I do not know about the coupe/convertible/GS, but the air dam under the car does nothing to improve cooling through the radiator of the Z06 as all radiator airflow comes in from the front of the car, not underneath like C5 corvettes/4th gen Camaros/Firebirds. Im not entirely sure of the aerodynamic benefits of the airdam otherwise, I've heard it suggested it is needed to ensure positive pressure at the inlet of the brake ducts. I don't fully buy it. It is interesting to note that Katech's front splitter kit fully smoothes out and deletes the air dam resulting in net downforce at the front of the car, not just lift reduction. That kit also reducts the brakes as well.
The front splitter, on the other hand, decreases front end lift. This part also occasionally scrapes (every time in my driveway
)
08-22-2013, 06:21 AM
#40
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