Scraping front bumper
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
From: Eureka Ca
Scraping front bumper
Just bought this 98 coupe a few days ago. When I got it, it had a few scratches under the front bumper- now there's even more! The only place it could be happening is pulling in and out of my driveway. I've had a friend look underneath the car as I backed out and verify only the air dam is dragging. Must have been more than the air dam at least once after that 
Weights and measures thread said the crash bar should keep the bumper from bottoming out. The only thing I can think of is that the driveway and curb have a bit of a V shape. Maybe the crash bars wont help in that case?
Dont know If I should replace the crash bars or not. They dont look too worn to me. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.
Weights and measures thread said the crash bar should keep the bumper from bottoming out. The only thing I can think of is that the driveway and curb have a bit of a V shape. Maybe the crash bars wont help in that case?
Dont know If I should replace the crash bars or not. They dont look too worn to me. Any advice/tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
From: Eureka Ca
This is what I was talking about
from:http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=984927
Scraped front ends and rocker panels
Checking for scrapes is an easy way to tell if the car was treated well. It's almost impossible not to scrape the front end, but there are two metal crash bar loops that should prevent the bumper from scraping. The bumper itself should not have scrape marks on it. Check the underside of the tip of the bumper, and the bottom corners of the bumper. If the crash bar gets scraped enough, eventually it will wear down to the point where it needs to get replaced.
Checking for scrapes is an easy way to tell if the car was treated well. It's almost impossible not to scrape the front end, but there are two metal crash bar loops that should prevent the bumper from scraping. The bumper itself should not have scrape marks on it. Check the underside of the tip of the bumper, and the bottom corners of the bumper. If the crash bar gets scraped enough, eventually it will wear down to the point where it needs to get replaced.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Its difficult to tell from the pics but the skids dont seem to be worn
My guess is that damage has been caused by the kerb stones in a parking lot.
If it is the driveway, frame savers will improve the situation. Theyre easy to fit an work well. Wilfulone (CCA) sells some nice ones.
My guess is that damage has been caused by the kerb stones in a parking lot.
If it is the driveway, frame savers will improve the situation. Theyre easy to fit an work well. Wilfulone (CCA) sells some nice ones.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 1,144
From: Sleepy Hollow- NJ
speed bumps and parking stones. Go slow, at an angle over speed bumps...don't worry about the folks behind you, they can wait.
As for parking stones, once you have a feel for the length of your front end, don't pull up so close to the stones. So what if your rear sticks out a little. Most parking spaces are long enough, even if you don't pull in all they way.
As for parking stones, once you have a feel for the length of your front end, don't pull up so close to the stones. So what if your rear sticks out a little. Most parking spaces are long enough, even if you don't pull in all they way.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
From: Eureka Ca
I know it looks like speedbump or parking stone scrapes. But since Ive only had it a few days, Im positive I have not been anywhere near either. I'll put some pictures up tonite of the car leaving the driveway.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Tulsa OK
Not all curbs are created equal! I have noticed that some bumpers in parking lots and curbs are higher and the front will hit before the guards (scrape rails) will hit.I usually try to stop before the front gets to the curb. If you practice, you can look out the side and see where the curb is in relation to some point like the mirror when you are behind the wheel and always stop at the same point.
Those scrapes don't indicate abuse but you probably will want them repaired before you decide to sell the car becuase as weights and measures says - people are looking under there.
Is the car lowered?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
From: Eureka Ca
Nope, not lowered. I bakced out of the driveway tonite, and looked at clearnce. Stopped about every inch, tried all kind of angles etc. Basically, I have a scewed up driveway. The street slopes down, the the sidewalk area of the drive slopes up, and then the driveway proper slopes down. They make a perfect angle to scrape under the bumper with out the frame rails touching. 
The rocker panels clear by about an 1/8th of an inch
Looks like Im gonna have to make a ramp or park it outside all the time.
The rocker panels clear by about an 1/8th of an inchLooks like Im gonna have to make a ramp or park it outside all the time.
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
I would suggest getting a set of Bumper Savers. An active skid plate design with integrated urethane wheels that eliminates costly front-end damage from lowering, steep driveways or other road obstacles. Installation takes approximately 1 hour with welding required to the radiator supports. I have them on my 04 Coupe and they truly do the job! Here is a link to check out, hope this works for you! http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette?frame=1.3885
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 5
From: Chico CA
I would suggest getting a set of Bumper Savers. An active skid plate design with integrated urethane wheels that eliminates costly front-end damage from lowering, steep driveways or other road obstacles. Installation takes approximately 1 hour with welding required to the radiator supports. I have them on my 04 Coupe and they truly do the job! Here is a link to check out, hope this works for you! http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette?frame=1.3885
I'm in a rural area, on a long driveway with some dips to it. The air dam gets dusty from dragging, and I scraped the bottom of the bumper once here, and several times at a friend's house.
Bought the same thing as above, from a different vendor, and had the local muffler shop weld them to the crash bars. You can feel them work now and then, and the only scrapes are when I think I'm driving my Jimmy and pull up too close to the curb. Great addition!
Oh, on my avatar, that's an old orchard smudge pot next to the back of the Shelby. Yep - I'm out in the country.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 106
Likes: 19
From: Ontario, California
As suggested above, get the frame savers (i.e. bumper savers). My car is very low and I have yet to scrape under the front bumper. The little wheels have kept the front bumper from scraping on a drive approach or a street cross gutter. While you're at it, also consider the rocker rails to keep the underside of the rocker panels from scraping on speed bumps.
Rod
Rod
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 315
Likes: 1
From: Eureka Ca
I think I'll get the rollers and the rocker panel guards too. Theirs bound to be uglier approaches I'll be making around town in the future. Is there any difference between the Fatt Daddy rollers from CCA vs the bumper savers from mid america?
Also, I was thinking the car might sit a little low, maybe due to the shocks. It has the original f45 suspension. 68k miles. Clearance from the ground to underside of front bumer is about 6 inches. I bought it from the original owner, who said it had not been lowered.
Also, I was thinking the car might sit a little low, maybe due to the shocks. It has the original f45 suspension. 68k miles. Clearance from the ground to underside of front bumer is about 6 inches. I bought it from the original owner, who said it had not been lowered.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 3,424
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas Nevada
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Could it be that your Vette was like that from the previous owner? I try to be real careful but i have a few good scrapes on mine from getting to close to parking stones
Racer
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 431
Likes: 5
From: Chico CA
I think I'll get the rollers and the rocker panel guards too. Theirs bound to be uglier approaches I'll be making around town in the future. Is there any difference between the Fatt Daddy rollers from CCA vs the bumper savers from mid america?
Also, I was thinking the car might sit a little low, maybe due to the shocks. It has the original f45 suspension. 68k miles. Clearance from the ground to underside of front bumer is about 6 inches. I bought it from the original owner, who said it had not been lowered.
Also, I was thinking the car might sit a little low, maybe due to the shocks. It has the original f45 suspension. 68k miles. Clearance from the ground to underside of front bumer is about 6 inches. I bought it from the original owner, who said it had not been lowered.
Shocks generally don't affect height. Weak springs do, but from what I can tell, the fiberglas springs on these cars are usually binary-state; okay, then broken. Don't really sag like the old coil or leaf jobs.
I'm guessing that all the rollers from good sources are okay. Probably want to avoid ones from Fred's Pizza Delivery and Corvette Mods Superstore, but other than that, any of the reputable vendors will do. Bought mine at West Coast Corvette, but that was because I was in the store at the time. I would like the strips that go along the frame, as well. With the speed bumps they're putting up around here, something to ease the impact on some of these things would be good. had to put the Jimmy in four low to get over one the other day
I'm going to start doing that
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 415
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, VA 22032
Angles are your friend. If I pull into the grocery store parking lot the wrong way I will scrape the crap out of my front. But it's something you should hear/feel when it happens. You don't let your girlfriend drive it do you?