well my 16 coupe has just turned 1600 very very easy miles and I am thinking of buying and installing side skirts to prevent damage to the lower paint. I have added gms mud flaps but still hear stones getting tossed. What are the best side skirts to buy and how hard are they to install.


Thanks
Mark

 

I went with C7 Carbon side skirts. I am very happy with the quality and finish of the carbon flash paint. You will hear varying opinions on which skirts are the best but without a doubt, installation of side skirts will significantly reduce or completely eliminate the problem with paint damage. I waited too long to do my install. I had mine professionally installed at a GM dealership. Get the skirts and you won't be disappointed with the results.

 

agree! Skirts look great and provide good functionality with rocks kicking up on the paint.

 

I use https://acscomposite.com/collections...-z05-2015-2016
great product and easy install, mention me from the forum bet you get a better price.
I have their front splitter, side rockers and rear spoiler
There stuff is exactly same specs as OEM GM

 

+1 for ACS very happy with ours.

 

OP. Was in the same boat you are then picked up a set of 3/4 rocker extensions from a forum member for less than 400 bucks shipped in perfect condition carbon Flash I hate the look of the side skirts on my particular car I don't think they're aesthetically pleasing and this was the lesser of multiple evils.

I will say if you already have 1600 miles on your car and you didn't have mud guards low and wide enough to stop the rocks your quarter panels are probably rocked pretty hard make sure you get a good look at it in the right lighting from different angles.

I had expel put on my quarter panels above the brake duct area left the factory stuff below and I didn't cover the brake ducts they are crushed and I only have 1700 miles on my car now but I noticed the damage it about 1200 the xpel has zero impact marks but I have super low and wide $10 mud guards on the front both installed when the car was brand new.

once I noticed the damage to the rear brake ducts I covered them in black electric tape for now just to leading-edge that's where they get hit for anyone who just has the side skirts and not mudguards or flaps your brake ducts maybe still catching some hits to look closely. And I can all but guarantee if you don't have loan wide mud guards in the front even with the side skirts your upper quarter panels just above the brake ducts getting crushed as well you have to have both or expel and the side skirts to be protected

 

I purchased my GS w/ 600 miles on it and the original owner never had the splitter nor skirts installed at the dealership. (long story, but he was forced to trade car back in after 10 days of ownership, mommy and daddy were not happy.... bad for him, good for me!)

Anyway, the skirts and splitter were still in the boxes. The original "dealership" wanted $500+ to install, (kind of interesting since they are supposed to be installed at delivery, but what ever.) so I looked at the instructions and decided it was a good DIY project.

Only real challenge was trying to get the clearance needed to get under the car. you can see how I fixed that issue. the other hint I have is look at another car before you start and take a picture of how everything lines up. Side skirts are easy, splitter takes alignment. Once you understand and see where it lines up, simple...

You need for tools to install: cleaning rag, a drill bit, screw head bit and pop rivet gun, that's it...

It took me about 2 hours by myself to install everything, hardest part of whole deal is the psychology of drilling the first hole in the bottom of the car...

Another hint, is mark your drill bit so it only enters the car about a half inch, that way you have plenty of room to install the rivet and do not have to worry about drilling through anything else.

 

Get them on there asap! I had the wide guards on there but they didn't keep the damage from happening. I waited until 4500 miles for the skirts and have the usual brake ducts and quarter damage. Ordered body color (black) from RPI and installed them in 40 minutes. Absolutely wish I'd have known better from the start. There's a reason the 3/4 are stanadard now. I hope GM will pay for the repairs.