Skid plate C5
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 296
Likes: 6
From: Valencia CA
Skid plate C5
Since my Vette is lowered, I've been scraping going up driveways, steep angles,etc. I looks like there are some sort of skid plates it hits on but it's grinding them down pretty quickly. I know they sell bolt on skid plates, but they are ugly as well as those wheel setups that roll when you hit. I'm wondering what others are using or fabricated that works well. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 296
Likes: 6
From: Valencia CA
Last edited by imlowr2; Aug 27, 2015 at 11:00 PM.
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Burning Brakes
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From: SoCal CA
I'm in the process of installing the Fangs on my car, but I also saw these other designs on Amazon. Don't know if they're any better though.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...late+protector
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...late+protector
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 296
Likes: 6
From: Valencia CA
I'm in the process of installing the Fangs on my car, but I also saw these other designs on Amazon. Don't know if they're any better though.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...late+protector
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_no...late+protector
Last edited by imlowr2; Aug 28, 2015 at 01:38 AM.
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I've seen these before, but they don't look very sturdy? More like cosmetic and a cover for the original ones. They are plastic! Logic would make you think a couple good scraps coming off the curb and they are history. My question is are they durable? It looks like saccity is the only ones who carry this as well.
SacCityCorvette is the designers and manufactures of the Fangs. We put a lot of R&D into them so they would be durable and protect the skid plates on the C5, C6 and C7. The finish product just happen to also look great. They are also made here in the USA.
The Fangs are not just any plastic, they are more of a high tech plastic that the manufacture says is 6 times more abrasion resistant than steel. They protect by allowing the skid plate to slide without getting traction that puts heavy stress on the skid plates that can break it. And believe me, they won't come off with a couple good scrapes.
We made a couple test videos of the white Fangs just so they can be seen better. You can see them here.http://www.saccitycorvette.com/Fangs.html
The black test pair of Fangs are still on our C5 zo6 after 5 yrs and we have purposely scraped on parking curbs, driveways and what ever looks like someone might scrape on many many times in our testing and still do.
They look a bit tore up because of the abuse but the skid plate/ lower radiator support are in great shape. I can get pics if you like.
Thank
Christian
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 296
Likes: 6
From: Valencia CA
Hi imlowr2,
SacCityCorvette is the designers and manufactures of the Fangs. We put a lot of R&D into them so they would be durable and protect the skid plates on the C5, C6 and C7. The finish product just happen to also look great. They are also made here in the USA.The Fangs are not just any plastic, they are more of a high tech plastic that the manufacture says is 6 times more abrasion resistant than steel. They protect by allowing the skid plate to slide without getting traction that puts heavy stress on the skid plates that can break it. And believe me, they won't come off with a couple good scrapes. We made a couple test videos of the white Fangs just so they can be seen better. You can see them here.
http://www.saccitycorvette.com/Fangs.html
The black test pair of Fangs are still on our C5 zo6 after 5 yrs and we have purposely scraped on parking curbs, driveways and what ever looks like someone might scrape on many many times in our testing and still do.
They look a bit tore up because of the abuse but the skid plate/ lower radiator support are in great shape. I can get pics if you like.
Thank
Christian
SacCityCorvette is the designers and manufactures of the Fangs. We put a lot of R&D into them so they would be durable and protect the skid plates on the C5, C6 and C7. The finish product just happen to also look great. They are also made here in the USA.
The Fangs are not just any plastic, they are more of a high tech plastic that the manufacture says is 6 times more abrasion resistant than steel. They protect by allowing the skid plate to slide without getting traction that puts heavy stress on the skid plates that can break it. And believe me, they won't come off with a couple good scrapes. We made a couple test videos of the white Fangs just so they can be seen better. You can see them here.http://www.saccitycorvette.com/Fangs.html
The black test pair of Fangs are still on our C5 zo6 after 5 yrs and we have purposely scraped on parking curbs, driveways and what ever looks like someone might scrape on many many times in our testing and still do.
They look a bit tore up because of the abuse but the skid plate/ lower radiator support are in great shape. I can get pics if you like.
Thank
Christian
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Thank you for that information Christian. There isn't too many option when it comes to protecting the skid plate. I like the fangs, however I'm looking into the wheels (pros and cons) as well. Right now, I'm swaying toward the fangs because they look better! Thanks again for the info. It really helps.
Thanks
Christian
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2013
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From: Oakland CA
Add another vote for the Fangs- I scrape going into my driveway, and it's much less destructive with them on. They are pretty easy to install. I just went out and checked them and after almost two years of scraping they show only light surface wear. They are tough.
Instructor
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Question: I'm ready to bolt on the metal skid protectors but wonder what areas of my car will be forced further upward from the addition of those fairly thick pieces.
When contact is made, obviously, there is weight on those extensions as seen by the damage that occurs, but what is actually happening when those members are forced upward? What moves? Can that be harmful?
And it follows that, with the addition of additional thickness when adding the protectors, further upward travel will happen.
I scrape now just backing out of my drive. Once those metal protectors are added, I'll make even heavier contact. A little worried about what is being affected above...
When contact is made, obviously, there is weight on those extensions as seen by the damage that occurs, but what is actually happening when those members are forced upward? What moves? Can that be harmful?
And it follows that, with the addition of additional thickness when adding the protectors, further upward travel will happen.
I scrape now just backing out of my drive. Once those metal protectors are added, I'll make even heavier contact. A little worried about what is being affected above...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 749
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From: SoCal CA
The skid plate is designed to bend before damaging anything above it. The mounting points for the bars are on the frame, so nothing will be damaged except the bar itself. One thing about the bolt on plates is that they can slide out of position when scraping. Froggy talks about it in this video.
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Froggies video really shows how much friction goes on when they drag. That friction
is what breaks the support. It not so much the lifting up that breaks the support as it is the friction pushing back and forth on it.
is what breaks the support. It not so much the lifting up that breaks the support as it is the friction pushing back and forth on it.
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There's a couple things I don't agree with Froggie on. First is changing the shape of the protector. Doing so reduces the lifting/vertical travel (my first concern was the amount of vertical travel being harmful) thereby reducing the amount of front end lift protection it was designed to offer. He does bevel the leading edge and that makes sense due to squaring that surface' angle to contact with his bend mod.
Also, I'm not sure about eliminating the "slide factor" by running a bolt thru both components. Drilling may weaken the channel, IMO. Also, doing the thru bolt thing will definitely eliminate the skid's sliding backwards but risks increasing bad forces on what you're trying to protect by the skid not "giving" when it has to.
While still somewhat concerned about the increase in vertical lift with these installed, seeing what Froggies skid protectors looked like after four years - with no mention of other issues overhead, guess I'll bolt these on, grit my teeth and see what happens.
Cheaper than having my driveway re-poured ...
Also, I'm not sure about eliminating the "slide factor" by running a bolt thru both components. Drilling may weaken the channel, IMO. Also, doing the thru bolt thing will definitely eliminate the skid's sliding backwards but risks increasing bad forces on what you're trying to protect by the skid not "giving" when it has to.
While still somewhat concerned about the increase in vertical lift with these installed, seeing what Froggies skid protectors looked like after four years - with no mention of other issues overhead, guess I'll bolt these on, grit my teeth and see what happens.
Cheaper than having my driveway re-poured ...
