Side Skirts for Protection???
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Pro
Joined: May 2015
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Side Skirts for Protection???
I autocross my C7 a few times a year and I nicked a cone the last time (happens!)
I have a little scratch about 1 inch long 6-8 inches behind the front wheel. I will fix this in a separate thread (it isn't that bad)
That being said, do any of you guys use side skirts for protection? Would they even help?
If they do help, what are the easiest/cheapest ones to install? I have a black car, so black plastic will look fine.
Thanks!
I have a little scratch about 1 inch long 6-8 inches behind the front wheel. I will fix this in a separate thread (it isn't that bad)
That being said, do any of you guys use side skirts for protection? Would they even help?
If they do help, what are the easiest/cheapest ones to install? I have a black car, so black plastic will look fine.
Thanks!
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,982
Likes: 12,383
From: NE South Carolina
^^^
Hmm, side skirts provide excellent protection from rocks tossed off of the sticky front tires. The debris hits the bottom of my carbon fiber skirts. Hear them every day. Tops stay fine.
Don't see they will be of much help to hitting something. In fact if you inadvertently step on the, they will break. Not sure what you expect them to do?
Hmm, side skirts provide excellent protection from rocks tossed off of the sticky front tires. The debris hits the bottom of my carbon fiber skirts. Hear them every day. Tops stay fine.
Don't see they will be of much help to hitting something. In fact if you inadvertently step on the, they will break. Not sure what you expect them to do?
Last edited by JerryU; Jun 27, 2017 at 11:53 AM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2015
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Hmm, side skirts provide excellent protection from rocks tossed off of the sticky front tires. The debris hits the bottom of my carbon fiber skirts. Hear them every day. Tops stay fine.
Don't see they will be of much help to hitting something. In fact if you inadvertently step on the, they will break. Not sure what you expect them to do?
Don't see they will be of much help to hitting something. In fact if you inadvertently step on the, they will break. Not sure what you expect them to do?
Also from a rock perspective, the rear area where they put that "plastic" wrap on the sides is pretty dinged up now. So I think a side skirt would help with that as well?
I honestly don't really like the look of them, but I am considering them out of necessity.
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Yes, I really don't like the side skirt look either and haven't on any car.
XPEL Ultimate on my rockers and on the entire panel behind the rear wheels has totally taken care of the flying rock problem on mine. Since it's a glancing blow the film hasn't been damaged. The cost to apply film in those areas is a hell of a lot cheaper than the side skirts if you prefer the look without.
XPEL Ultimate on my rockers and on the entire panel behind the rear wheels has totally taken care of the flying rock problem on mine. Since it's a glancing blow the film hasn't been damaged. The cost to apply film in those areas is a hell of a lot cheaper than the side skirts if you prefer the look without.
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Yes, I really don't like the side skirt look either and haven't on any car.
XPEL Ultimate on my rockers and on the entire panel behind the rear wheels has totally taken care of the flying rock problem on mine. Since it's a glancing blow the film hasn't been damaged. The cost to apply film in those areas is a hell of a lot cheaper than the side skirts if you prefer the look without.
XPEL Ultimate on my rockers and on the entire panel behind the rear wheels has totally taken care of the flying rock problem on mine. Since it's a glancing blow the film hasn't been damaged. The cost to apply film in those areas is a hell of a lot cheaper than the side skirts if you prefer the look without.
It MIGHT be too late to install something like that? They presumably would have to really prep the area and fix any chips before going ahead with it.
Is that something I can self-install?
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,982
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From: NE South Carolina
Well in this particular case, I grazed a rubber cone going 40-45 MPH. So the object is light, probably coming from the bottom-ish/side. I really just was thinking it would help deflect minor items away?
Also from a rock perspective, the rear area where they put that "plastic" wrap on the sides is pretty dinged up now. So I think a side skirt would help with that as well?
I honestly don't really like the look of them, but I am considering them out of necessity.
Also from a rock perspective, the rear area where they put that "plastic" wrap on the sides is pretty dinged up now. So I think a side skirt would help with that as well?
I honestly don't really like the look of them, but I am considering them out of necessity.
Since I had a carbon fiber roof on the 2014 I order carbon fiber side skirts from LG Motorsport, a forum vender. They won a SEMA award and did look great, are expensive but matched my roof!
Look on eBay you'll find ABS skirts, a very durable plasic. Corvette side skirts are $200! Believe they do what you want.
Not a fan of covering my car with plastic warp and the ABS side skirts are much cheaper. I was able to remove the marked up GM protective plastic a few months after installing the side skirts when I proved they worked. Sold my September 2013 built C7 a few months ago and the rocker panels looked new. Many of us bought side skirts for rocker panel protection and installed ourselves. Easy to do.
Last edited by JerryU; Jun 27, 2017 at 12:24 PM.
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After trying GM Splash Guards was still getting the GM protective plastic dinged and marked. Bought side skirts to stop debris, not because I was trying for a different look! Since I believe in "Form Follws Fuction" they looked great on my 2014 C7 Z51 and ordered the Stage 2 aero package for my new Grant Sport to get full length skirt coverage.
Since I had a carbon fiber roof on the 2014 I order carbon fiber side skirts from LG Motorsport, a forum vender. They won a SEMA award and did look great, are expensive but matched my roof!
Look on eBay you'll find ABS skirts, a very durable plasic. Covervette side skirts are $200! Believe they do what you want.
Not a fan of covering my car with plastic warp and the ABS side skirts are much cheaper. I was able to removed the marked up GM protective plastic a few months after installing the side skirts when I proved they worked. Sold my September 2013 built C7 a few months ago and the rocker panels looked new.
Since I had a carbon fiber roof on the 2014 I order carbon fiber side skirts from LG Motorsport, a forum vender. They won a SEMA award and did look great, are expensive but matched my roof!
Look on eBay you'll find ABS skirts, a very durable plasic. Covervette side skirts are $200! Believe they do what you want.
Not a fan of covering my car with plastic warp and the ABS side skirts are much cheaper. I was able to removed the marked up GM protective plastic a few months after installing the side skirts when I proved they worked. Sold my September 2013 built C7 a few months ago and the rocker panels looked new.
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Team Owner
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Jerry, I was suggesting XPEL Ultimate, not the GM stuff, which is inferior. For whatever reasons, the GM stuff on my car was dinged too, but it was removed when XPEL was installed. It has remained undamaged.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 34,982
Likes: 12,383
From: NE South Carolina
Yep, understand many folks like 3M etc quality plastic but in the OP's case think the ABS plastic side skirts are inexpensive and can handle bumping better than fiberglass. It's what they make LEGO blocks from so kids can't destroy them!
Last edited by JerryU; Jun 27, 2017 at 12:39 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 484
Likes: 59
From: Southbury CT
I wasn't sure about side skirts so I had XPEL Ultimate, full rocker kit installed. It did get beat up pretty badly, to the point of tearing at a couple of impact points. Based on this I decided to install side skirts. The XPEL was bad enough that I had it replaced before installing the skirts.
XPEL may not be enough depending on where and how you drive, high speed stone impacts will damage it.
XPEL may not be enough depending on where and how you drive, high speed stone impacts will damage it.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 80
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From: Frisco (North of Dalla) Texas
I actually took my side ACS Stage 3 CF skirts off this past weekend on my Z51. Initially I liked the look when I first purchased it last year and wishing I had a Z or the resemblance of a Z (mod bug), but now that I have a Stage 2 Z I decided to revert back to the original look when I first bought the Z51. I now much prefer the look without them, however, only time will tell if I will regret my decision(functionality).
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,299
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From: Fort Worth TX
St. Jude Donor '14-'15
ABS would be the best material to have skirts made out of....providing you like the looks/style. I'm running CF skirts from C7 Carbon but would not recommend them for the Cone Maze....unless you know how to work with fiberglass damage and can rebuild them after a hit.
I do lots of HWY miles and a track session now and again (no Auto-X); my theory is if I can keep rocks, sand, old broken "P" parts from striking my paint to start with, that's a real plus. The clear wrap is good, but not bullet proof; for myself, I prefer using Dr. Color Chip to fix anything that gets past the Skirts, Finder Flairs and Air Damm.....BUT your mileage may very.
I do lots of HWY miles and a track session now and again (no Auto-X); my theory is if I can keep rocks, sand, old broken "P" parts from striking my paint to start with, that's a real plus. The clear wrap is good, but not bullet proof; for myself, I prefer using Dr. Color Chip to fix anything that gets past the Skirts, Finder Flairs and Air Damm.....BUT your mileage may very.