Thoughts on removing the rubber/plastic lip under nose?
 

My new driveway has a bump that will not clear the 2.5in clearance of the 3 piece front plastic lip guard. There is a 6-10 inch 45 degree incline and then flat driveway.

I can hear it scraping the lip and distorting it to the point it seperates from the plastic button holding it to other pieces. I have tried coming in at all angles.

What are my options?

-Remove entire plastic lip guard
-Back in?
-do they make a higher lip guard?

Is it a DIY pop off or does dealer have to do it.

Thanks

You can take it off in about 3 minutes. Its not hard at all.

Mine hits too and it sounds just like what yours is doing.

I wouldnt take it off but I am debating on "trimming" it up slightly to see how it does. Be simple to take it off, mark it, cut it, and then smooth the cut surface so its not sharp.

Pretty easy to remove. I have replaced mine after it was destroyed be a road gator.

Mine scrapes also....has also come loose from the plastic pins holding the 3 parts together. I just live with it.:D

Could replace it again, but it would end up the same so why spend the money. No one can see it anyway.

I have the same problem. It is a bolt on piece, and easily removed. I don't think it really has any value other than appearance. I would like to put a "splitter" on mine, but that would scrape just as badly....:ack:

It is for high speed runs....keeps the front from lifting.:cheers:

I trimmed about an inch off mine as I also have an inclined driveway.
I still have to come in at an angle, but it doesn't scrape anymore. :cheers:

I don't think that flimsy 3-piece rubber air dam is going to keep anything from "lifting".

I believe it is there to help direct air up into the radiator, and is needed for cooling.

If it scrapes all the time, I guess you could shave maybe in inch off it so it would not set so low. Removing it is a bad idea.

Mine scrapes for the last several years, haven't seen any damage that I feel I need to remove it.

I dont think so. I thought it directed air up across the radiator to help keep it cool.

Mine also scrapes. So does my splitter. I went to Home Depot and bought 20"x20" rubber patio blocks. About 6 bucks apiece.

I back down until I hear it scrape. Pull forward and put the blocks behind the front wheels to build it up. I then back out slowly.

I only do this because of the splitter scraping not the air dam. If it were just the air dam I could live with it.

It does both I think. Creates neg pressure under nose which helps direct airflow thru rad. Neg pressure also helps downforce.

It has nothing to do with downforce. It is important for cooling. Do not remove it. It's a wear item. It scrapes. It's cheap and easy to replace if it needs it. Removing or trimming it is a bad idea. Given all of that I don't understand the obsession some have with it rubbing and the lengths people will go to to stop it from rubbing. It doesn't hurt anything then it rubs.

i got into a huge discussion over those 3 rubber pieces about a month ago. some claim that they create lift a speed, i don't believe it since they don't on my coupe (i took them off & tried it) they are there to direct air into the radiator.
you can trim them if you want or just SLOWLY BACK into your driveway. they are rubber and will fold and yes RUB will will not get damaged.
on wide body cars the lower air dam does get damaged especially the CF piece & that is expenssive. some have used planks of wood as a ramp if the transition is too great.

remove to 2 sides and leave the middle section

It draws attention.

It's a Vette. It draws attention sitting in a parking lot. If someone doesn't want any attention, they should be driving a white Camry, not a Vette. :lol:

Mine's been rubbing for over eight years (twice a day). It's made to rub. If it ever gets to the point of looking bad I'll replace it. :toetap:

This is what I did. When I bought the car one of the side pieces was damaged so I removed it along with the other side with the intent of replacing. I left the middle piece in place since it does direct airflow up into the radiator. I've not had any issues and my coolant/engine temps have remained the same. I've been driving it with the side pieces removed for a few months no with no problems but will eventually install new pieces.

If you dont want to remove, try googling ramp systems and you may find something that works and does not look hideous. My $1.02 (inflation adjusted)

Took mine off, been over two years now and my car is fine. Couldn't stand the scraping. Sometime embarrassing just like the brake squeal.

It is designed to wear and is not unusual for it to rub. I have replaced two of them since I bought the car new 1/07. The function is to get air into the radiator and to smooth out the flow of air under the car so there is less turbulence under the vehicle.

Does this not help downforce?:D:hide:
I remember going for a ride in a 67 and the front wheels would come off the ground at high speeds.

For me it's less rubbing ad more grating and buckling sound in reverse especially (after going in fwd)

A lot of people remove them, and it does make it seem like it has a lot more clearance. But that is the point of the thing too to warn you of clearance. It takes the damage and is cheap to replace. Others do as they have told you, trim it off etc.

I used to drive a white Camry... now I drive a white 'Vette!

The man is correct , it's there to direct air to radiator.. I wouldn't remove it. Maybe trim an inch. Mine scrapes also on my driveway just go real slow. Replace when it's cracked or worn. Real easy to change


QUOTE=Turbo6TA;1584726657]I don't think that flimsy 3-piece rubbeair dam is going to keep anything from "lifting".

I believe it is there to help direct air up into the radiator, and is needed for cooling.

If it scrapes all the time, I guess you could shave maybe in inch off it so it would not set so low. Removing it is a bad idea.[/QUOTE]

I think the 3-piece air dam is hinged (or designed to fold backwards at any rate), and then if flops back down after you've cleared the driveway bump. Could be only the center part has this feature. I just go slowly and try to approach at an angle. Mine also scrapes at the bottom of a hill, which intersects my street. There's even one especially high manhole cover in my neighborhood that clips my air dam if I drive over it. So I just go around it.

Our Cadillac ATS also scrapes on the driveway.

There's no issue if it scrapes. It's meant to move and scrape. It's main function is to have cool air flow over the radiator. If you're in a hot environment you will notice if it's gone. Otherwise you can remove it if you are so inclined.

You can trim it down slightly if needed. My cars radiator support is lower due to the supercharger and I ended up getting a plastic gutter guard piece from Home Depot and trimmed it to fit. Works just fine but it does scrape a lot... even under hard braking. Been working great for months now when the stock piece ripped apart within a few weeks.

This isn't my video. I've seen it posted here before but have no idea who made it.

Kadorja

Thanks for the clip!

I love the madness!!!

Only a Car nut will know that we need a video to document this issue !

I use 3 foot long 2X12's. Place at the end of driveway and back in, problem solved. Yeah, sometimes it's a hassle, but small inconvenience for a great looking car:rock:

Same here. Sides are removed, middle piece remained in place. No problems with over-heating or front-end lifting. I did it 1 year ago. Got tired of buying / fixing side pieces.

It's there for a reason... leave it on and let it scrape. If it gets all beat up after a couple years, buy a new one.

I think Im going to trim mine this weekend.... I have to go in my driveway and parking lot entrances at 45 deg angles lol

:iagree:

Mine scrapes when I pull out of my driveway every day.
Over the last six years it’s gotten quieter and quieter as it has slowly worn the two end pieces down a bit.
A few weeks ago I hit a “road gator” and it completely ripped off both ends.
I installed two new pieces and now it’s really loud again when it hits.
But they will slowly wear away I suppose.

Besides cooling the radiator, the openings for the cooling ducts to the front brakes are just in front of the piece.
You can see them clearly in that video posted above.
As air hits the vertical surface, it’s directed up into the cooling ducts.
If you remove the side pieces, the air will go right by the opening. I wouldn’t remove them.

I use a 10 foot long 2X12 in the gutter at the end of my driveway. One board member of the HOA is giving me a hard time about it, but I refuse to remove it. Just painted it today.

i took the two outer ones and kept the one in the middle for the radiator...no more scraping noises..

In the interest of clearing up confusion, the OP is referring to the air dam under the car, NOT the front splitter on GS/Z06/ZR1.

I do not know about the coupe/convertible/GS, but the air dam under the car does nothing to improve cooling through the radiator of the Z06 as all radiator airflow comes in from the front of the car, not underneath like C5 corvettes/4th gen Camaros/Firebirds. Im not entirely sure of the aerodynamic benefits of the airdam otherwise, I've heard it suggested it is needed to ensure positive pressure at the inlet of the brake ducts. I don't fully buy it. It is interesting to note that Katech's front splitter kit fully smoothes out and deletes the air dam resulting in net downforce at the front of the car, not just lift reduction. That kit also reducts the brakes as well.

The front splitter, on the other hand, decreases front end lift. This part also occasionally scrapes (every time in my driveway :( )

After removing it,if you hear any scraping it ain't gonna be a good thing. lol

:rofl: . . Got that right!

The middle section helps with cooling for the base car (not widebody). The outer pieces help with directing air to the brakes on all models.

I'd leave them all on and let it scrape...its no big deal. I don't know why everyone gets so worked up over that thing scraping and make a thread about it every week...http://www.vwvortex.com/Anthony/Smilies/facepalm.gif

the scraping got on my nerves and the outer ones kept coming apart at the seam and looked like it had been wrecked..so i took them off...cooling pblms? have not noticed any difference in either brake performance or engine coolant temps...

Grand Sport, Z06 and ZR1 are 100% front feeders as the opening under the nose is closed off. The air dam is there for aerodynamics. It minimizes the amount of air going under the car and hitting the wide front tires. It also helps direct air into the front brake ducts located in front of it.

:iagree:That is why GM added them,but they don't do much good, as said in car & driver mag.I removed my 2 yrs ago with no change in temp.The end ones are easy to remove,but the center one Not so easy"

:iagree:


The air dam does not add frontal down force - it helps reduce overall drag for the car by preventing more air from spilling under. However it does help with lift on the rear because there is that much less air traveling under the rear end. This has been tested by katech in a windtunnel, and the information is available online.

If you didnt buy the corvette to drive fast, then the only reason to keep the air dam is to warn you before you take out your bumper or radiator support.

:cheers:

:iagree:^^ fact ^^ :iagree:

HeY I'm all for letting it scrape

However, this is deforming it to point where it sperates from pin holding it to center piece

It thats ok and it wont tear loose I will let it go and swap out like wiper inserts every
year.

Just want to make sure its secured and can take a beating

Ive had to replace those stupid tabs numerous times, but the airdam has stayed fine.

I did recently switch to these (available at almost any auto parts store) and they seem to work better:

http://contentinfo.autozone.com/znet...0-707/image/2/

:cheers:

When mine ripped I just put some black silicone adhesive on there to hold it together but still have some movement. It's all attached to the bumper via screws so it will stay on if those pieces are torn or missing. It just makes it look prettier when it's all together like that.

I didnt buy the Vette for the attention it gets. I bought it for the performance of the car and I have wanted a new one for many years.

Suuurrreeee you didn't........

I didnt. I have had Vettes (used ones) from the time I was 19 to 30. In that time I had a GTO and multiple Camaros. I got more attention from the bright red Z28 that I had.

Say I meet a girl and we are going out on a date and she doesnt know I have a Vette I wont drive it. I take my winter/DD Durango.

My Victory Hammer gets more attention than my Vette anyway.

I solved my scraping problems by backing in

Clif

it scrapes, it doesn't matter really. but it does need to be there.....all of it. as some have said it helps direct air into the radiator. nobody likes to hear it scrape but its designed this way and I was told from gm engineers at bowling green not to worry its supposed to hit. they want it that low....

:iagree:
Now this is a GREAT idea! Thank you for posting these screw rivets!

:cheers:

It does direct air into the radiator on the base and Z51 cars plus that is where the brake cooling ducts get their air supply from. Remove the air dam and there is nothing to create a high pressure area under the fascia thus forcing air into the ducts. GS, Z06 and ZR1 have the air inlet blocked off and cooling air comes in through the grille.

You can do all of the things noted above but why do anything. It is supposed to scrape and it is easily replaced when worn and the parts don't cost much. I don't see any reason to trim it since it trims itself. The sides on mine both wore out and I replaced them to keep my brake cooling. Mine scrapes when going over dips on the track at high speed. Turn 2 at the Glen has a little dip just before the turn in point and when I hit it at speeds above 90 mph I get a little Zitt noise.

Bill

Bill :thumbs:

Thanks for the info Bill........!!

This is what I did on my previous 2006 coupe.

The air deflectors are super easy to remove, and you don't need a lift, though you might want a jack and stands. ( you can do it with a ratchet, socket and an extension without jacking up the car, if you are good at working blind)

But they are super easy to trim, and you can easily do it with a pair of tin snips that you can get at the hardware store. Even just an inch trimmed makes a world of difference.

I try not to remove them entirely, as they are there to aid in cooling, and to help cut down under car wind noise.

Thanks,
Mitch