Ok, lots of good information. Here is my story: I am lowered about 1 3/4" all around. I bought these because the driverside had a droop and you could see daylight between the spoiler and the body. They worked as advertised.

One day on my way to work very early in the morning I was following a Trans-AM by about four car lengths. Suddenly he makes a hard right shift (we are doing approximately 75-80 MPH not racing). Not seeing anything immediately I figure I better follow him. I catch a flash of silver metal spinning torward me from under his car. Wam! I feel the shock of something hitting me hard under the front, the car raises slightly and I hear ripping underneath and look in my mirror and see cars behind me going in all directions and large pieces of metal flying all over. I pulled off at my exit with a scraping sound or something rubbing on the road.

As I look underneath I find long strips of aluminum folded around my skid bar protectors that I had bolted on (Eclkers) was completely folded back and the center spoiler was drooping. the side spoiler was ripped and hanging, the reenforcer was shattered. Did you ever try to bend those bolt on skid bar protectors? I put it in a vise and tried to bend it back! Forgetta~getta~bout~ it.

I had collected an aluminum ladder that had fallen off a contractors truck. It actually hit the Skid bar then the end of the ladder contacted the lower Radiator mount assembly and put about a 30 degree bend in it. The metal continued under the car and next put a nice dent in my Corsa SS Indy exhaust and out the back.

No damage to the radiator, but I had to replace the entire front skid assembly. Bottom line is it did not rip the body. Total bill approximately $400 bucks and my labor.

I must say I shredded that ladder that protector just ripped it like a piece of paper and the poor people behind me were just trying to get out of the way of flying metal. Never saw the truck that lost the ladder! No external damage to the car or the running gear.

The spoiler savers are good for the droop, but don't really save anything (with that kind of impact what would?) The spoiler plastic is very soft and bendable, so I don't fear ripping the body on low driveways.

I have 97K on my little Blue 98. and had them on the car sice they were introduced. I am on my third set of spoilers due to the fact that I just wear them out from rubbing on speed bumps and driveways.

I think for the looks and droop they are worth the money! But they don't stop tear off.

Jerry

:D :skep:


[Modified by BlueDragon, 11:14 AM 3/5/2003]

 

great info...thanks....

the droop is what I have and want to eliminate

thankss

R
A
T

 

Oh, come on, just a little **** don't you think? I've never had a problem and my Z06 runs at higher rpms than stock C5!!!!!!!

 

I agree, Been over 160 a few times and hey? no problem! of course I never got out to look! :jester However they do play a pretty important part in routing the air around the outside the car to give more down force! :iagree:
jer

 

good little debate :lol:

I just want to eliminate that sag.....and I thought it may prevent the fascia tear that I incurred on my 99 :cheers:

thanks

R
A
T

 

RAT, just go for it - no regrets for those few USD. Sometimes, good things really come in little portions........

@ Captain ZO6 : thanks for your nice and assisting wording. Just follow your own route - certainly you're right. I learned my way from an US CORVETTE-Racer and that's allright for me so far :cheers: :blueangel:

Joe. :seeya

 

It wasn't meant as an insult, just don't see the need. Racers need to do many things we don't. True, we go faster on the autobahn for longer than most racers, but we are not as close to the ground as their cars are. I wonder if there is a way we could test how much deflection we get at 170mph?

 

:rolleyes: You can stop the droop by putting a 1/4" washer 1 1/4" in diameter on the bolt before you insert it. This will stop the bolt head from getting sucked up into the rubber deflector. Washer = $.05 each.

GM had a service bulletin on this drooping at one time concerning the factory installed washered bolts. Many cars were built with the wrong bolt - washered bolt had too small of a washer. If you have already lunched yours, a slightly larger 1/4" fender washer will also work to provide more support. If I remember correctly there are 4 bolts on each side - just count them.

Check your existing bolts to see if the washer is less than 1". If so, it may help. If you are so low that your outside deflectors are banging constantly, it may not do you any good. The droop is usually in the radiused area of the deflector. A possible solution in that case is to drill a matching fifth hole in that area (through both the deflector and bumper cover) and insert a fifth bolt with washer to suck up the droop. If I recall correctly it is an M6 bolt and you will need a matching washer and u-clip. They sell them at Lowe's and Ace Hardware around here - take an existing bolt with you to make sure I am correct on the size if you decide to try it.

:cheers:


[Modified by NevadaVette, 10:51 AM 3/6/2003]


[Modified by NevadaVette, 11:32 AM 3/6/2003]

 

RAT i made mine from some 1/8" thick plastic back in 97 just to keep the side spoilers from sagging between the bolts. now i just use a piece of piano wire under the washers all along the front end of the spoiler this way you do not have to remove the screws just loosen them and slip in the wire.:chevy


[Modified by clem zahrobsky, 4:37 PM 3/6/2003]

 

I would just buy some washers. That would do the same thing IMHO. :cheers:

 

Good idea Clem :yesnod:

 

I think these save the facia from getting the holes ripped out. One of the holes in my facia tore, NOT the rubber side spoiler. I think this would have prevented it.

Eric

 

95K miles and no problem w/o them

 

:confused:

how ya mean???

thanks

R
A
T

ps....washers and piano wire.....creative people on here :)

 

just loosen all the screws enought to slip a length of stiff wire( piano or spring wire) bent in a curve to fit the radius of the spoiler under the washers and retighten the screws. this will renforce the rubber so it does not hang down between the screws and leave a gap that looks like HELL. :chevy

 

got it

thanks

R
A
T