Torn front Air Dam
09-28-2018, 10:10 AM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Torn front Air Dam
I have a slightly torn front air dam and would like to 'glue' the loose edge back. Does anyone have any direct experience in gluing the loose end back on and what type of glue worked the best?
09-28-2018, 12:15 PM
#2
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '13
I don't think the material they use would work well with glue, though you might be able to use small screws and a doubler.
However, the air dam is pretty cheap and I've just replaced mine when damaged. Easy.
However, the air dam is pretty cheap and I've just replaced mine when damaged. Easy.
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09-28-2018, 12:50 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
Consider it tuition in the "Corvette Parking School"
09-28-2018, 02:22 PM
#4
Safety Car
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Or take an exacto knife and cut off the loose part.
09-28-2018, 02:25 PM
#5
Moderator
If it's plastic glue doesn't work too well. You have to melt it together with an old soldering iron and black zip ties as the solder (assuming it's black plastic).
Last edited by Zjoe6; 09-28-2018 at 02:26 PM.
09-28-2018, 02:38 PM
#6
Le Mans Master
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09-28-2018, 03:01 PM
#7
Melting Slicks
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2022 C8 of the Year Finalist - Modified
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Might be worth giving Gorilla Epoxy a shot. That stuff is pretty strong once it cures.
09-28-2018, 04:36 PM
#8
Race Director
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Just buy a new one and move on. 
09-28-2018, 05:18 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
I took mine off when I installed a Poverty splitter. I would remove them.
09-28-2018, 08:15 PM
#10
Pro
09-29-2018, 12:16 AM
#11
Racer
my air dam broke and i used a 90 deg angle about 12 inch long on the back side with 5 min epoxy. last few months its still holding. i did check with the dealer if i needed to replace it 70 for front or 120 complete.
09-29-2018, 02:07 AM
#12
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
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A mechanical solution and black silicon to cover metal parts would be best. Screws would hold best. Depending how bad, replacement is easy and cheap.I am convinced GM changed the dam material in the C7, at least the center air dam, which I did not have in my 2014 Z51 and don’t in my Grand Sport with Stage 2 aero package where it is not used.
I scraped my C6 center air dam every time I pulled out of my driveway. All I ever did was sand off the bottom slightly about every year. I also hit my “skid pads” at least twice, scraped paint off. They sit higher and back from the air dam which must have bent back fully. Lots of folks saying there C7 air dam tears and don’t recall very many posts about it with the C6.
Last edited by JerryU; 09-29-2018 at 04:28 AM.
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beaversstonehaven (09-29-2018)
09-29-2018, 05:14 PM
#14
Racer
I had the two little side air dams in my 18 Z51 and the first time I tore one I just took them both off. I think the car looks a lot cleaner with them off. I also installed a plate under the front facia forward of the skid plate. I've had this car up to 160 a couple of times and it was solid as a rock so I don't believe they are necessary to the aerodynamics. JMO
09-29-2018, 07:56 PM
#15
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
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^^^
GM did not add them for fun! An air dam at highway speeds improves mpg. That is why one is on the Chevy Volt (and many cars!)
At over ~100 mph it does add downforce, again per GM and wind tunnel tests.
This is a PDF with no doubt more info than you may want:
http://netwelding.com/Air_Dam.pdf
Your Car Your Choice. But the mph difference is no doubt less than you would be capable of accurately measuring. Would say the same about downforce except I clearly saw the difference years ago on my 260Z.
Others also have removed them because they didn’t like the look. GM had a reason to add or not, i.e. my Z51 and Grand Sport don’t have a center air dam but has the two end dams. They divert air around the tires and provide an early warning the next thing to hit will be the alumin’um skid pads. Since IMO “form follows function,” they look great!
GM did not add them for fun! An air dam at highway speeds improves mpg. That is why one is on the Chevy Volt (and many cars!)
At over ~100 mph it does add downforce, again per GM and wind tunnel tests.
This is a PDF with no doubt more info than you may want:
http://netwelding.com/Air_Dam.pdf
Your Car Your Choice. But the mph difference is no doubt less than you would be capable of accurately measuring. Would say the same about downforce except I clearly saw the difference years ago on my 260Z.
Others also have removed them because they didn’t like the look. GM had a reason to add or not, i.e. my Z51 and Grand Sport don’t have a center air dam but has the two end dams. They divert air around the tires and provide an early warning the next thing to hit will be the alumin’um skid pads. Since IMO “form follows function,” they look great!
Last edited by JerryU; 09-29-2018 at 08:01 PM.
09-29-2018, 09:23 PM
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09-29-2018, 10:25 PM
#17
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St. Jude Donor '13
The problem with these discussions is that apparently nobody has done a careful study of the effects of removing the air dam and/or side pieces, except GM.
When people say they had no problem with removal, what kind of cooling tests did they do at various speeds and heat loads? Did they test at high speeds to determine the effect on stability at 80 mph/100/150/180?
Did anyone test with all the various combinations of base/Z51/GS/Z06 standard parts and optional parts?
If you don't exceed legal highway speeds, then I expect that stability won't be an issue. Probably...
If you don't experience overheating in daily use, I expect temperatures won't be an issue. Probably...
Deleting the air pieces during manufacture would save both money and weight, which are holy grails to GM. But they still put them on the car.
If the front air pieces were a $20 factory option that was listed to improve stability at high speeds, and cooling/MPG at medium speeds, people who failed to buy them on the car would get flamed without mercy here.
When people say they had no problem with removal, what kind of cooling tests did they do at various speeds and heat loads? Did they test at high speeds to determine the effect on stability at 80 mph/100/150/180?
Did anyone test with all the various combinations of base/Z51/GS/Z06 standard parts and optional parts?
If you don't exceed legal highway speeds, then I expect that stability won't be an issue. Probably...
If you don't experience overheating in daily use, I expect temperatures won't be an issue. Probably...
Deleting the air pieces during manufacture would save both money and weight, which are holy grails to GM. But they still put them on the car.
If the front air pieces were a $20 factory option that was listed to improve stability at high speeds, and cooling/MPG at medium speeds, people who failed to buy them on the car would get flamed without mercy here.
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joemessman (09-30-2018)
09-30-2018, 01:29 AM
#18
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^^
Mostly. As I don’t think anyone can accurately define difference up to ~1 mpg. If they don’t care about mpg-none issue for them. Unless you have the wind carefully measured, temp, humidity etc, etc-you’ll get an answer but not very accurate. In my PDF I quote GM saying and air dam was added to the Volt to increase range at highway speeds.
I also quote the GM chief aerodynamicist re the C7 aero at highway and stability at speeds of 150 mph. If you don’t exceed the legal speed limit or probably 90 mph the car will not oversteer as I quote Tadge saying happens at 150 mph and why the center air dam was eliminated from the Z51and some GS and Z06 models.
However the C7 is not cooling like some prior Vette models so have not read any info about cooling. But side air dams help divert air around the front tires and that reduces drag. As you indicate GM has not defined how much but they didn’t spend the money to add them to the Vette (or Volt) to irritate folks! You can read info from Volt owner’s as they are not happy with scrapes either!
IMO anyone removing them with a statement that they do nothing is like the Fox who can’t reach the grapes, gives up and says they must be sour!
Mostly. As I don’t think anyone can accurately define difference up to ~1 mpg. If they don’t care about mpg-none issue for them. Unless you have the wind carefully measured, temp, humidity etc, etc-you’ll get an answer but not very accurate. In my PDF I quote GM saying and air dam was added to the Volt to increase range at highway speeds.I also quote the GM chief aerodynamicist re the C7 aero at highway and stability at speeds of 150 mph. If you don’t exceed the legal speed limit or probably 90 mph the car will not oversteer as I quote Tadge saying happens at 150 mph and why the center air dam was eliminated from the Z51and some GS and Z06 models.
However the C7 is not cooling like some prior Vette models so have not read any info about cooling. But side air dams help divert air around the front tires and that reduces drag. As you indicate GM has not defined how much but they didn’t spend the money to add them to the Vette (or Volt) to irritate folks! You can read info from Volt owner’s as they are not happy with scrapes either!
IMO anyone removing them with a statement that they do nothing is like the Fox who can’t reach the grapes, gives up and says they must be sour!
Last edited by JerryU; 09-30-2018 at 02:29 AM.
09-30-2018, 09:06 AM
#19
Le Mans Master
09-30-2018, 10:08 AM
#20
Melting Slicks
I tried gluing the passenge side air dam that started tearing. It only lasted for a while. Whatever caused them to tear in the first place will defeat a glue bond as well.