Arch liners/undertrays ...just how important are they??

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 2:58 pm

...so after fitting my front lip there was no where for my arch liners/undertray thing to mount on to properly and lately it flapping around in the wind and rubbing on my wheels is p!ssing me off.
It's cable-tied out of the way for now but I've seen some sweet engine bay shots where you can see the floor from around the engine etc as all the plastics are missing from underneath and I'm wondering how important those plastic things really are?

Any help/opinions would be appreciated

Thanks
Adam

nitin_s1 · Post by **nitin_s1** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:06 pm

In my old car, we had to remove the underlay to fix the crank pulley. I removed it and forgot to put it back. Drove the car for 4-5 months and it never bothered me. I thought the engine bay would get a lot dirtier but nothing happened.

And the rear arch liner, people tend to remove that as that's what builds up the rust?

Post by **Ammo** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:08 pm

I didn't have the front splash guard on my old lude, avoid puddles and winter driving as it splashes right up to the firewall

Post by **Pushki** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:09 pm

The arch liners and undertray are there to prevent stones and crap being thrown up and possibly hitting something important.
I personally wouldn't remove them.

Nits wrote:And the rear arch liner, people tend to remove that as that's what builds up the rust?

I've never heard of that!

Post by **vanzep** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:12 pm

think hes talking about the stick on arch liner for the rear arches

ive been running without an undertray for a couple of years now without any issue - but like ammo says id be carefull going through any massive puddles

nitin_s1 · Post by **nitin_s1** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:17 pm

vanzep wrote:think hes talking about the stick on arch liner for the rear arches

This is correct.

bb1boy · Post by **bb1boy** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:20 pm

Oh ok, well I mean those big black plastic things that fill up the entire wheel-well (kinda like quarter dustbins) and also the big plastic splash guard under the engine..

and yeah, I guess water splashing up there may potentially cause reliability issues especially in these winter months and my Apexi cone filter pointing at the floor...

nitin_s1 · Post by **nitin_s1** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:23 pm

Leave it for now as there will be some snow and salt coming up. Take it off in the summer, for light weight and more cooling.

Post by **Pushki** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:25 pm

bb1boy wrote:I guess water splashing up there may potentially cause reliability issues

...and rust.

Post by **NafemanNathan** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 3:25 pm

I ran my lude without wheel arch liners for a while. My engine bay was gleaming before they were removed... It was not afterwards

The undertray removal made no difference.