Front rubber air dam... re-install?

Hi,

I ran over something on the freeway yesterday at about 75. (No chance to avoid it.) The car seems fine. No tire issues. But it ripped my front air dam half off. I finished removing it a gas station. There didn't appear to be any real damage to either the under tray or the dam. They just aren't attached anymore. So...

1. Is the air dam necessary? Should I reinstall it?

2. If so, best method?

Thanks in advance!

I defend this about once a week on Facebook. I say it is totally worth it to replace it. I'm not sure how the thing is attached, so no comment on wether you can replace the air deflector by itself, or if you have to replace the whole belly pan.

yeah, i'm inclined to want to put it back on. I figure the engineers put it there for a reason right? Hopefully I won't have to buy a whole new undertray to do it.

If anyone has attempted this or has any tips, let me know.

In the meantime, if I manage to get it back in place I'll post an update in case anyone else finds themselves in a similar situation.

Thanks.

mrSlush50 said:

yeah, i'm inclined to want to put it back on. I figure the engineers put it there for a reason right? Hopefully I won't have to buy a whole new undertray to do it.

If anyone has attempted this or has any tips, let me know.

In the meantime, if I manage to get it back in place I'll post an update in case anyone else finds themselves in a similar situation.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

I believe it's riveted on the undertray. I know this because I posted on Facebook about removing it a week ago and was educated on keeping it or replacing it with the PP undertray/lip instead.

it is hot pressed in place, basically melted at certain spots. Leave it off - the PP cars don't have one.

And here come the "but the PP belly pan is different" comments...

Mine came off under similar circumstances. I left it off, and i cannot see one iota of difference in any aspect of the car.

im taking mine off shortly i dont like the look of it , looking at the front of the car. looks like a big mud flap under the bumper

What function does it serve?

GTP said:

What function does it serve?

Click to expand...

Click link from post #2, 3:40 mark starts to talk about the underbelly.

I remember that video. Not a complete explanation, IMO.
I'm not convinced that the aero on our cars is as balanced as that video would like us to believe.

In a perfect wind tunnel environment it is. :lol:

GTP said:

I remember that video. Not a complete explanation, IMO.
I'm not convinced that the aero on our cars is as balanced as that video would like us to believe.

Click to expand...

When I saw the larger vents and lowered nose of the 18, that is what I thought they were trying to address(the not perfectly aero balanced).