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Hi everyone,
I am finishing up the detail work on the 'vette and have come up against a problem that I am not sure how to deal with. The vent ducts for the front brakes are 4 inches too long (compressed) to fit into the hole that points the duct at the brakes. I am hoping someone can tell me a simple way to install them without pulling the front bumper....
Off the car the front brake ducting seems long but it's accordion shaped body compresses against the duct opening when installed against the front fascia. Part of this compression action "secures" it.
When on the car there's not a lot of wiggle accordion action. A classic trick to replacing the DRLs are to go in through the brake ducts, but because they're pressed against the fascia there's not a great deal of wiggle room to push them in.
Well, I tried compressing it and it does compress. However, while fully compressed, the part that goes through the hole in front of the brake is still 3 inches too long. Would it be easier to come in through the headlight area and stick the round part in the panel 1st, then, compress it over the opening in the bumper?
Any additional thoughts are appreciated
Yellow '01
I went through this with my car. I removed the access panels to replace the DRL assemblies and ended up having to remove the brake ducks. They will go back in there but it was quite a struggle to work them back in.
I got them pushed back into the front openings and then angled the other end against the inner fender and pushed back while sliding them towards the hole in the inner fender. Like I said it was a chore but I got them back where they belonged.
Great advise on this problem. I did remove the panels when I tried this. I have to admit it would have definitely been impossible, at least in my estimation, with the panels on. I will try what zachaeous suggested, maybe things will work.
Again, THANKS to everyone for your help and insight
Yellow '01
Got them in!!
Just in case someone else runs into this problem.... I pulled the parking lights. Since the access panel was already off, I slid the ducting up through the access panel area. I put a thin, soft rag around the bellows part and slid it through the parking light hole. Then slid the round part into the brake side hole. I then compressed the duct and released it into place. 5 minutes once the parking light was removed. WAY easier than I thought it was going to be. Maybe this will help someone in the future - and MANY THANKS to everyone who joined in on this.
Yellow '01