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I don't think that individual piece that hangs low can be replaced. It's part of a full width piece that includes both of the air dams, is is only available as an entire piece.
Look at item 18 in the second diagram.
This may be it. Different part number with/without Z51.
Yep different part number with and without Z51.
This is NOT the Flexible Rubber type "air dam" on the C6 and C7 Vette! Those are designed to bend and no big deal scaping. Recall on my C6 and C7 just sandpapered the bottom edge occasionally. My C6 Z51 had three pieces one in the center and the two sides. Like many cars with air dams they help reduce drag and improve mpg at highway speeds. At very high speeds they also provide front downforce.
My two C7's (a Z51 and Grand Sport with Stage 2 Aero Option) did not have the center air dam only on the sides BUT were still soft bendable rubber versus this harder plastic. Did the research to see why no center air dam on my C7s where is was on the base C7 AND some Grand Sports without the Stage 2 & 3 Optional Aero. Was related to the center air dam downforce inducing Oversteer high very speeds.
These for the C8 are hard plastic and as I have a Lift a none issue re scraping. Splitter is lower!
They come in pairs, discounted to ~$80 by many. This pic is for Z51. Other looks the same but different part # probably due to mounting holes.
Its called a "Deflector, Frt Tire Frt Air" in the 2020 Service Manual that I have. I have not been able to find that part in the on line GM parts suppliers yet. Looks like Jerry found it while I was entering this post, and the name is different from what is in the version of the Service Manual that I have. I have attached some images of it from the service manual.
Last edited by Andybump; Apr 11, 2022 at 08:32 AM.
2 years to define why! There was marking speak about cooling of rear brakes BUT not
Originally Posted by Andybump
Its called a "Deflector, Frt Tire Frt Air" in the 2020 Service Manual that I have. I have not been able to find that part in the on line GM parts suppliers yet. I have attached some images of it from the service manual.
Interesting description as for the C6 and C7 that was the function of the side "air dams." My C6 Z51 had all3 pieces of the air dam. My early Z51 came with the center air dam in the hatch that was a dealer install at PDI. BUT dealer had a note NOT to install on Z51's. No reason given. Took ~2 years to define why! There was early Marketing Speak from GM Engineers about allowing air in to cool the rear brakes BUT not what an article by the GM Chief Aerodynamicist said that I read when I got my early C7 Z51! See how it was finally releveled by Tadge:
Why No Center Air Dam on Some C7 Models 1) John Bednarchik, the Chief GM Aerodynamicist, in an October 2, 2013 published article said it was removed for high speed stability. I read that article when it was published, as I get that car mag. He gave no details of what “high speed stability meant!”
2) A GM engineer said in 2014 it was to get more air to the rear brakes. That didn’t match with Bednarchik said and that engineer made a different statement, with no detail to the forum member who posted the comment. Sounded like “marketing speak” to me!
3) Tadge at the April 2014 Bash said the center air dam on the Z51 was deleted to balance the lift characteristics. Interesting, similar to Bednarchik’s statement but again no details.
4) Tadge in a 2015 Z06 intro video said it was not used because it was causing high speed oversteer and they require some understeer. (Now that sounded like the real reason! Since I had a modified ’67 Corvair, knew all about high speed oversteer and how the average driver did NOT know how to properly steer to counter a high-speed skid!)
5) Tadge in a 2016 forum post said they carefully control “pitch moment” to provide neutral handling biased to understeer. 6) A 2017 GM Bulletin shows the base models of the Grand Sport (not my Stage 2 Aero Option that doesn’t) and Z06 now have center air dams, minimizing the reason being extra cooling if that was every more than "marketing speak!" (GM, must have good CFM (Computational Fluid Dynamic Computer Models) proving it OK for those C7 variants!)
Jerry, I was posting that info from the manual while you were posting what you found. I did not see yours before I posted mine. I think it is interesting that there some discrepancies in the version of the manual I have. The manual purports to be a 2020 manual. Apparently they continue to update the manuals and mine is a snapshot of some version. The discussion of the Hydraulic System Flush is another example. My manual does not include that step as part of the Transmission Fluid Filter and Seal replacement. But another version, posted by someone in a another thread, clearly labeled 2020 Service Manual, show that added step.
Jerry, I was posting that info from the manual while you were posting what you found. I did not see yours before I posted mine. I think it is interesting that there some discrepancies in the version of the manual I have. .....
Actually, my pic came from the GM parts explosion that someone sent in a link. Interesting as I was searching for the description as EXPECTED it was what you had! Put hat part # in google and all I got was the many dealerships who use the GM website pics and offer discounts! No word description of function.
In my ~2 year curiosity search effort to find out why the dealer was shipped the center air dam for my early October 2015 C7 Z51 but was told not to use. Only "Marketing Speak" from Corvette Engineers was posted like it was to get more air to cool the rear brakes. Tadge finally admitted it was (probably in last minute testing) promoting excess front downforce and Oversteer!
BUT my C7's had the side air dams more properly called deflectors as they deal with the drag created by air around the front tire and air going into the open wheel well as that turbulence is a cause of drag! Doubt they have any downforce effect as did the large center air dam used on C6s including my Z51 and some C7s but not Z51s!
Can You Replace
Yep different part number with and without Z51.
