rbask

are there any one else with 17 models tearing front air dam?
have replace front (has 3 pieces) three times as they tear after very little dragging on driveway... Talked with GM and they tell me there are no other reports of this being a problem. Ultimately I had a fabricator redo it at a cost of $600... have had 3 vettes and this is the first time this has been an issue although 17 is a bit lower..

Larry/car

No problem with my Stingray's front airdam.

dvilin

No problem with mine and it has scrapped more than once exiting my driveway.

sTz

$600? Any advantages that they provide, i.e., downward force, cooling, and even fuel economy, are negligible. If it's a persistent problem, you may want to just remove them. Many have, as documented on this forum, with little to no impact.

Edit: Just a suggestion, and you may already know this, but if you approach the driveway at an angle it might help...

Tron1

I scrape my front air dam backing out of my driveway all the time... no matter how slow or what angle I drive... its a wear item. When it starts looking uglier I will remove it.

lakemg

You must be dragging way more than a little bit to do that much damage. If we're talking about the same pieces, they are just pliable rubber and shouldn't be tearing with gentle/little dragging. Can you share photos of what was damaged to make sure that we're all on the same page?

JerryU

Did see another post with a forum member saying his ripped and wanted to know how to repair. I googled and the GM center air dam for a C7 was for $46 from a Vette vendor. You can buy a new one, they are designed to bend.

My C6 Z51 had a center air dam and in 6 years it dragged every time I left my driveway. I would just and the bottom edge about one a year. Never ripped. My C7 Z51 seldom craped the side air dams since the C7 is a bit higher. Most report that unless you lowered on the stock bolts. My new Grand Sport is the same but occasionally if I leave the driveway other then slow it does scrape. No tears.

Frankly I leave the air dams on as a type of curb feeler! If you're hitting the air dam hard enough to tear it suggest you are due to hit the next lowest part right behind it, the skid pads! I hit those several times in my C6. That aluminum on pavement sound is terrible. Makes the air dam on pavement sound like music. Bought FANGS for my C7 Z51 and hit it once or twice-no damage. Occurred when having to go into a mall driveway faster than I wanted. Just installed on my new Grand Sport

Here is a pic showing what they are and FANGS, made by a forum vendor: http://www.saccitycorvette.com/C7Products.html


vendor: http://www.saccitycorvette.com/C7Products.html


C6 Scrapped Skid Pad, Skid Pad Part, C7 Protector FANG Installed. Also installed on new Grand Sport, lower pic.

VNAMVET

My 2017 C7 Z-51 has no center air dam, just one curved one on each side, unlike my 2014 Z-51 that had all three.

LIStingray

On my 2014 they were pliable rubber, on my 2018 GS they are the same black plastic as the front splitter and wheel spats.
On my 2014 they had only a little wear at the bottom after maybe 300-500 driveway exits/entries; while on my 2018, after 500 miles and maybe 20 trips in and out of the driveway, there is noticeable wear on the hard plastic ones - I don't expect they will last anywhere near the life of the car.

lakemg

Yikes! Didn't know that they changed the materials of construction on them. That would explain it...

JerryU

Hmm, your dealer added the center one by mistake in your 2014! The center air dam was planned for the 2014 Z51 but at the last minute GM decided not to add. My September 2013 built early 2014 didn't have one in the center. But ordered early from Hendrick in Cary NC who knows Vettes! Since I had one in my C6 Z51 have followed closely as to why. In a 2014 article the GM Chief Aerodynamicist said it was for "improved handling" BUT no details.

Lots of early speculation as to why it was eliminated at the last minute. Most, in 2013, were marketing BS, IMO! Tadge in the past two years and partly in a forum post answered the real reason that detailed what the Chief Aerodynamicist had said. At high speed it added too much downforce that created some oversteer and Tadge said they have very careful specs of designing with a balance of slight understeer.

We old Corvair owners know all about excess oversteer. Assume GM did not want to give Ralph Nader material for another book!

osup715

Had same problem on my 2017 convertible. The air dam is too still and not pliable. It torn near the top on one side for about 12 inches. I tried different adhesives and black silicone but it kept separating and hung down so I used a good duct tape from behind after using the black silicone once again and this time it not a problem any longer. Poor design for sure!

jwreed50

Should be replaceable as a warranty item, right?

Mine drags a little in/out of the driveway, and it eventually was torn and dragging under the car. I'm not completely sure it was properly installed at delivery, but I intend to have the local Chevy dealer replace it under warranty.

osup715

I'm not so sure it will be replaced under warranty but if they do please let us know and I will ask for a new one too. Thanks

JRYELLOWCORVETTE

I am not sure the GS with the CF package has the rubber air dam. I will have to look when I get back in town but I am pretty sure that there is no rubber under there. It sits very low as is.

JerryU

^^^^
The Grand Sport splitter varies but lowest point has 4 1/2 inch clearance. With my Scrape Armor Spiltter Protector it's 4 1/4 inches.

The Grand Sport, like the Z06 and Z51 has only side air dams. They have only 2 1/4 inch clearance (just measured!) They direct air around the tires to reduce turbulence improving drag. They don't provide downforce, which is the function of the center air dam at higher speeds while reducing drag at highway speeds.

The reason the Grand Sport, Z06 and Z51 don't have a center air dam was defined in my post number 11. It has to do with high speed handling.

JerryU

Hmm, if you dent a fender would you expect it to be covered on warranty? Worth trying! It does look like GM changed materials so maybe there is a bulletin about it.

Oskee

My 2015 C7 Z06 came with the center air dam uninstalled and they told me it was only to be used on the track when they handed to me.

Now my 2017 C7 Z06 which I took delivery May 25 came installed on my new vette. Dealer said that the factory made a change on the new Z06's and they came already installed. The only thing the dealer did on the PDI was they installed the side rocker skirts.

Also I noticed that the center air dam on my 2017 is alot more flexible than the one that they gave me for my 2015.

Go figure !

VETJAZZ

I simply removed mine 3 years ago. I've had no issues and no more scraping. They're supposed to offer aerodynamic benefits at speeds of 150mph +. Not something I need to be concerned about.

TNSQUIRE

Mine tore on my 2014 after a few months because of my driveway angle. I removed all three pieces and no more scraping and no other issues either. I like the look better too.