JasonVette

Hit an armadillo on a backroad cruise and broke my splitter. I've since taken it off until I replace it, but it also broke the piece under my car. I don't know it's purpose and wanted to know if I can just remove it. I also want to know if I can remove the plastic pieces in front of my front wheels.



It's hanging

Do I even need these

Bill Dearborn

The two flexible pieces in front of the wheels look like they are fine. I can't really see the dark piece in the center of the car to tell what it is. If you had a stock stage 3 or stage 3 splitter then you would have had two panels attached to it. There would have been a large piece that bolted to the front edge of the splitter with 22 bolts and would have also had 4 bolts tieing it to the cradle. That piece is the Undertray. Above the undertray, there would be a smaller panel called the Front Deflector. If you had a Stage 1 Aero car you wouldn't have an undertray but you would have the Front Deflector.

Front Spittler with Undertray or as GM calls it a Deflector:


Front Deflector that is installed above the undertray:


If you have a Stage 2 or 3 Aero Car wouldn't you want to have the parts that are included in the package? They do provide better down force when on track. Not much benefit at highway speeds. The Front Deflector is required since it also serves a cooling function.

Bill

JasonVette

The car came with the stage 1 aero. I want purely straight line performance as I don't track the car. I also don't care much for cooling as I will be adding aftermarket cooling to the car in the future. Does that mean I can remove both the plastic pieces in front of the wheels and in the center under the car? I just don't see a use for them in my application but if they served some additional function like preventing debris or something I'd put it to consideration.

jbsblownc5

WOW, guess you would have much rather hit a Squirrel!!

JasonVette

No kidding. These Texas backroads can be a dangerous place for low cars haha

Bill Dearborn

The side air dams deflect air away from the tires. The center air dam isn't used on Z51s and wide body cars with Stage 2 and 3 Aero, I didn't realize it was mounted on any wide body cars even if they had Stage 1 Aero since it isn't used on the Z51. I suspect without it the front end might get a little lighter at triple digit speeds but the only way to know is to try not using it. All three of those pieces are meant to be wear and tear parts that are low cost and easily replaceable.

Bill

spoolin98

I've been wondering the same thing since I got my Z years ago, do I need those 2 things hanging down on either side? I dont even know what they are called and I never knew what they were for.

ErnieN85

Yes and they wear fast on the track Mine survived an armadillo but not the track