Frame Rail Savers Question
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,166
Likes: 48
From: DC
St. Jude Donor '09-'10
Frame Rail Savers Question
What's the advantage of running those frame rail savers besides cosmetics? Can I do serious damage to the car if I scrape the frame rails every once in a while? Mine are already scraped up from the PO, so it's not like they'll get any prettier.
How do they even attach? Do you drill a hole for them?
Sorry for all the questions.. just curious.
Edit: I'm talking about the wheels in the front.
How do they even attach? Do you drill a hole for them?
Sorry for all the questions.. just curious.
Edit: I'm talking about the wheels in the front.
Last edited by dangerz; May 4, 2010 at 06:26 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 552
Likes: 4
From: Mukilteo WA
If you consider keeping the rockers covers intact and attached to the car cosmetic then there is no other purpose.
Since the rocker covers wrap under the frame they get smacked and these are lower so they get smacked instead.
They allow you to not worry about jacking up your car or having it jacked up by a shop and the covers getting broken.
Lastly, yes there are a few small holes that must be drilled.
Best thing I ever did and I wish I'd done it the first day instead of waiting and I gouged out the rockers on a steep gas station entrance.
Since the rocker covers wrap under the frame they get smacked and these are lower so they get smacked instead.
They allow you to not worry about jacking up your car or having it jacked up by a shop and the covers getting broken.
Lastly, yes there are a few small holes that must be drilled.
Best thing I ever did and I wish I'd done it the first day instead of waiting and I gouged out the rockers on a steep gas station entrance.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
They are not cosmetic at all since they are underneath the car. They do save the plastic rocker panels from damage though. They are just something else for the guys that have it all. I don't have them either. But I do have the front wheel things that help with taking a hit in the front end underneath. Good for the Corvette unfriendly zones. 
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 413
Likes: 1
From: Simi Valley CA
In my opinion they are well worth the money. When I bought my C5 that was one of the first things I did to it. When I pulled out of the driveway onto the street at work, the front end would scrape. I looked under the front end to check things out and saw some major scraping going on. I bought a couple 3/8" bolts and four small wheels. Drilled the holes and attached the wheels. What a difference that made! Instead of that terrible scrapping noise, it would just take the hit and just roll nice and smooth. I change the wheels when they start to wear out, but they are only a couple of bucks each. That skid bar that was taking the hit is a lot more than that to replace. The skid bar is hollow and the wall thickness is only about a 1/16". Wouldn't take too long before rubbing a hole in that thing. Had them on for the last eight or nine years and they still work great. 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 11,945
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,343
Likes: 9
From: Lexington Park MD
In my opinion they are well worth the money. When I bought my C5 that was one of the first things I did to it. When I pulled out of the driveway onto the street at work, the front end would scrape. I looked under the front end to check things out and saw some major scraping going on. I bought a couple 3/8" bolts and four small wheels. Drilled the holes and attached the wheels. What a difference that made! Instead of that terrible scrapping noise, it would just take the hit and just roll nice and smooth. I change the wheels when they start to wear out, but they are only a couple of bucks each. That skid bar that was taking the hit is a lot more than that to replace. The skid bar is hollow and the wall thickness is only about a 1/16". Wouldn't take too long before rubbing a hole in that thing. Had them on for the last eight or nine years and they still work great.
You can make your own for about $5 with parts from Walmart. May have to go to Home Depot or Lowes for the bolts.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Just to add my 0.02c
You were talking about the frame savers. Frame savers are the small wheels and rocker rails are the strips that run along the rocker panel.
Frame Savers
The frame savers fit to the front skid bar assembly. Drill a hole and slot a bolt through.
The rocker rails screw into the undertray.
http://www.customcorvetteaccessories...protector.html
I think you'd need to work hard to make contact on the rocker rails unless you work really hard at it. It would need to be a steep incline and a lowered car IMHO. Striking the skid bar is way easier.
That said, you might want to consider the rocker rails which are only $100 or so. I see them as a cheap insurance. Chip at CCA does a great combo deal for just $110. The big advantage is that once they're fitted even the dumbest mechanic/fitter couldn't break the rocker panel jacking the car up. The rocker is bonded to the frame so it's a serious fix if it gets damaged.
The latest designs have slots to take the jacking pucks. Mine are older but you can still jack up the car on the rails.
You were talking about the frame savers. Frame savers are the small wheels and rocker rails are the strips that run along the rocker panel.
Frame Savers
The frame savers fit to the front skid bar assembly. Drill a hole and slot a bolt through.
The rocker rails screw into the undertray.
http://www.customcorvetteaccessories...protector.html
I think you'd need to work hard to make contact on the rocker rails unless you work really hard at it. It would need to be a steep incline and a lowered car IMHO. Striking the skid bar is way easier.
That said, you might want to consider the rocker rails which are only $100 or so. I see them as a cheap insurance. Chip at CCA does a great combo deal for just $110. The big advantage is that once they're fitted even the dumbest mechanic/fitter couldn't break the rocker panel jacking the car up. The rocker is bonded to the frame so it's a serious fix if it gets damaged.
The latest designs have slots to take the jacking pucks. Mine are older but you can still jack up the car on the rails.
Last edited by DeeGee; May 5, 2010 at 01:44 AM.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Just purchased a Z06 and am having major worries that I will scrape my front bumper. The air dam get pretty bent, but I have an inch to the bumper. Would these frame rail saivers give me some extra clearance/protection from scraping the bumper? Also, I have to reverse out the driveway and am bending the air dam back, is that a major concern/issue?
