Can I remove it? Not sure what it's called (air dam maybe?)
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Can I remove it? Not sure what it's called (air dam maybe?)
My car has this under the front bumper (all our cars do) I'm pretty sure it's for fuel economy / air flow
I'm tired of dragging it when I turn in a parking lot though.
I'm tired of dragging it when I turn in a parking lot though.
#2
I'm going to be replacing mine because it's worn and some of the fasteners are loose. I think if you take it off, you'll run into cooling problems. From what I understand it forces air up to the radiator.
#4
Instructor
Thread Starter
I find it difficult to believe that the only rad support protection is a thin piece of plastic.
#6
Pro
#7
Race Director
I've been scraping my air dam over the driveway for years and have just learned to live with it. The only part that bothers me is when neighbors are around and they all turn to look when they hear it.
#8
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Why do some many Vette owners spend so much time and money worrying about the air dam scraping and try to "fix" it? It's a wear item. The Owner's Manual (that most owners don't read) says it's a wear item and it doesn't hurt to scrape it. It hurts nothing when it rubs. It is also part of the cooling system design.
#10
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
You'll bang up your radiator supports with or without the air dam if your not careful. The air dam doesn't protect it from hitting something.
I've been scraping my air dam over the driveway for years and have just learned to live with it. The only part that bothers me is when neighbors are around and they all turn to look when they hear it.
I've been scraping my air dam over the driveway for years and have just learned to live with it. The only part that bothers me is when neighbors are around and they all turn to look when they hear it.
#12
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
#13
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#14
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This very question appeared in the Tech Nerd section of the April 2014 issue of Corvette magazine. This was the response:
"The air dams that you refer to are aerodynamic components that help manage airflow under, around, and through the Corvette. Will you notice any difference in the car's performance if you trim them along the bottom? Probably not, especially if you drive your car in a very sedate manner. But on the other hand, Chevrolet expects these pieces to be scraped over time and they are easily and inexpensively replaced; if you want to retain 100 percent of their performance without suffering the indignities of seeing their scrapes and scratches, then replace them."
"The air dams that you refer to are aerodynamic components that help manage airflow under, around, and through the Corvette. Will you notice any difference in the car's performance if you trim them along the bottom? Probably not, especially if you drive your car in a very sedate manner. But on the other hand, Chevrolet expects these pieces to be scraped over time and they are easily and inexpensively replaced; if you want to retain 100 percent of their performance without suffering the indignities of seeing their scrapes and scratches, then replace them."
#15
Le Mans Master
Whenever I scrape mine and people are around you can hear them yell and say stuff too making it seem more dramatic than it really is.
Leave it alone and get used to it. It's no big deal.
#16
Le Mans Master
try going into driveways and such at a good angle. Maybe you wont scrape it as much. But on the other hand, its your car. Take it off if you want to. It doesn't hurt anything to scrape it and as was said earlier, its an early warning sign that you are getting real close to scraping more than a piece of plastic.
#17
Melting Slicks
It is the loudest 100.00 you will ever drag on the roadway.
Be careful hitting stuff with it.
That spoiler can bust up the brake cowling/inner fender plastic.
The PO of my car tried to hit anything they could.
I had a lot of plastic pieces which needed to be replaced when I bought my car.
Be careful hitting stuff with it.
That spoiler can bust up the brake cowling/inner fender plastic.
The PO of my car tried to hit anything they could.
I had a lot of plastic pieces which needed to be replaced when I bought my car.
#19
Drifting
Some C5 owners take them off without consequence. I seem to remember the outer dams are not there for cooling air to the radiator, rather they direct air around the outside of the front tires at high speeds.
I back both the C5 and C6 into the driveway, at a slight to moderate angle and that eliminated all scraping I had if I otherwise drove the car in forward. My driveway was just enough of an issue that even at a very shallow angle I would scrape the air dams going in forward.
I back both the C5 and C6 into the driveway, at a slight to moderate angle and that eliminated all scraping I had if I otherwise drove the car in forward. My driveway was just enough of an issue that even at a very shallow angle I would scrape the air dams going in forward.