Hi everyone . i had to take my front mud protectors (the plastic item in front of the front wheels under the car) off because they were badly damaged after i hit the garage entrance and i had to take them off.
What are they for?
Will it affect anything?
Do they have any aerodynamic help? Thanks fot the help.

Service told me that they were only for mud.




drifttolga

 

From what I've learned on this site, they are aerodynamic spoilers, not mud flaps. If they were mud flaps, they would be behind the wheels. Unless you drive in reverse in the mud a lot, they wouldn't help much for mud. Did the dealer say that they were listed as mud flaps in the parts list?

 

yes he said that. i cant replace them because the bolting place is also damaged a little.

 

I could be wrong (not the first time, for sure), but I thought they were intended to help divert some of the water AWAY from the front tires when driving in rain, etc - to help reduce the chance of hydroplaning.

 

I don't have mine either so I'd like to see what others say

 

Dude, you are now heating up your front brakes!!!!!!!!!!

Those are air diverter strakes. They are designed to push air to the inside of the wheel and a vortex is created so air is pulled into the brake rotor and caliper.

I can understand the garage thing, but the area in my parking garage at work that I have hit, is because I am going slightly too fast. If I go slower, I do not hit them. Not to mention, I am missing the one on the passengers side from a piece of a 18 wheeler retread I hit at 80mph. Luckily if did not damamge the bumper or suspension, but I need to buy a new grill insert and fender liner.

 

I believe the strakes on the front are also used to create a channel of air under the car improving down force. I would look at getting them replaced.

Here is a quote from a Honda Insight web page. They refer to the strakes as air dams...

 

the little plastic "mud flaps" as you would call it.. actually do have an aerodynamic purpose... it helps stabilize the car at high speeds....

 

be afraid, be very afraid!

 

If the mounting holes are ripped/unusable, then you'll have to replace the fender liners. New fender liners are relatively cheap. From what I remember, fender liners are either $90/pair or $90 each. I think the fender liners include new air dams.