Front rubber skirt needed?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 5
From: Longmont Colorado
Front rubber skirt needed?
So the front plastic/rubber that runs across the bottom of the front bumper is scraping on everything after i lowered my vette can i take it off or is there some important reason its there?
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
Its the front air dam, and it is needed from everything I have read. In fact I just bought the pieces new from Gene and reinstalled them so it would look better.
It helps push air up to cool off the radiator.
It helps push air up to cool off the radiator.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
The front air dams scrape on most cars that haven't been lowered.
They're self leveling, so there's no reason to worry about it. If it really annoys you, some have simply cut off 1/4" to 1/2" of material off the bottom to reduce/eliminate the noise.
GM had a reason to use them, to direct air flow up into the radiator core.
They're self leveling, so there's no reason to worry about it. If it really annoys you, some have simply cut off 1/4" to 1/2" of material off the bottom to reduce/eliminate the noise.
GM had a reason to use them, to direct air flow up into the radiator core.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 5
From: Longmont Colorado
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 5
From: Longmont Colorado
The front air dams scrape on most cars that haven't been lowered.
They're self leveling, so there's no reason to worry about it. If it really annoys you, some have simply cut off 1/4" to 1/2" of material off the bottom to reduce/eliminate the noise.
GM had a reason to use them, to direct air flow up into the radiator core.
They're self leveling, so there's no reason to worry about it. If it really annoys you, some have simply cut off 1/4" to 1/2" of material off the bottom to reduce/eliminate the noise.
GM had a reason to use them, to direct air flow up into the radiator core.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
The front one is really needed, some have shaved off an inch or 2 after lowering. The 2 side ones are more for areodynamics than anything else.
Besides, nothing looks/sounds more AWESOME than a Corvette with what looks like a broken suspension dragging on every bump in the road.
Besides, nothing looks/sounds more AWESOME than a Corvette with what looks like a broken suspension dragging on every bump in the road.
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 519
Likes: 0
From: Springfield MO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,857
Likes: 234
From: SW Nuh Hampsha
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
I read somewhere that the outside dams are for keeping airflow from underneath the car at higher speeds, which results in slight downforce (as opposed to lift) and keeps the car (more) stable. At lower speeds you won't miss them. And, as mentioned several times, the center piece is for directing air into the radiator. 
