Question: C5 air dam may be a deal breaker

[cptmclark]

I brought home a test drive C5 and found that the air dam scrapes on my inclined driveway before the front wheels reach the incline. I didn't push my luck and go on up to see if it hurts anything. It looks like the air dam is made of flexible belt material or other rubberized fabric stuff and I wonder if it can be drug without any damage.
I tried the angled approach but that wasnt enough help.
I'd appreciate info and advice from those of you who have experience with these cars.
Thanks a lot.

 

[BigJimZ16]

I brought home a test drive C5 and found that the air dam scrapes on my inclined driveway before the front wheels reach the incline. I didn't push my luck and go on up to see if it hurts anything. It looks like the air dam is made of flexible belt material or other rubberized fabric stuff and I wonder if it can be drug without any damage.
I tried the angled approach but that wasnt enough help.
I'd appreciate info and advice from those of you who have experience with these cars.
Thanks a lot.

Mine both drag just a touch everytime I leave the driveway. Judiciuos use of angle and speed will minimize the damage but the air dam will get scratched up. Don't let that stop you from getting the C5. Experimentation with approach angle should cure the problem unless you're trying to back out over a full curb...

 

[timfitz63]

You might also consider this product; there's a thread discussing it in the Off Topic Forum.

But like Jim says: I find that going slowly and angling the car properly will get you past almost any gutter or curb without so much as a scrape on the air dam.

 

[catbert]

The air dam on the C5 is a wear item that was designed with the absolute knowledge it will hit every driveway in America. It's flexible, cheap to replace, and helps keep the car on the ground. The C6 is pretty much the same deal. Ignore the mild scraping and replace the dam every 5 years if it gets too beat up. Did I mention it's kind of spring loaded?

 

[Hib Halverson]

The air dam on the C5 is a wear item that was designed with the absolute knowledge it will hit every driveway in America. It's flexible, cheap to replace, and helps keep the car on the ground. The C6 is pretty much the same deal. Ignore the mild scraping and replace the dam every 5 years if it gets too beat up. Did I mention it's kind of spring loaded?

"catbert" is right. The front air dam on a C5 is a sacrificial part, easily replaced. They're actually quite durable. I've been scraping the dam on my C4 since 2004 on the asphalt adjacent to our driveway. I check the air dam periodically. It's still functional after eight years.

 

[timfitz63]

The air dam on the C5 is a wear item that was designed with the absolute knowledge it will hit every driveway in America. It's flexible, cheap to replace, and helps keep the car on the ground. The C6 is pretty much the same deal. Ignore the mild scraping and replace the dam every 5 years if it gets too beat up. Did I mention it's kind of spring loaded?

"catbert" is right. The front air dam on a C5 is a sacrificial part, easily replaced. They're actually quite durable. I've been scraping the dam on my C4 since 2004 on the asphalt adjacent to our driveway. I check the air dam periodically. It's still functional after eight years.

In a sense that's comforting to know; and they do seem to be pretty durable...

But they make an awful sound that just goes right up my spine when they scrape... It's just like the sound of dollar signs -- lots of them -- leaving my wallet all at once... :ugh

 

[Hib Halverson]

In a sense that's comforting to know; and they do seem to be pretty durable...

But they make an awful sound that just goes right up my spine when they scrape... It's just like the sound of dollar signs -- lots of them -- leaving my wallet all at once... :ugh

I wouldn't worry because, if that were true, a lot of us C5ers would be bankrupt.

 

[gmjunkie]

I wouldn't worry because, if that were true, a lot of us C5ers would be bankrupt.

Heck Yeah,In my younger days I've spent twice the price of a C5 air dam on Cheap Whiskey and Questionable Women on a Saturday night!~!!

 

[Junkman2008]

Heck Yeah,In my younger days I've spent twice the price of a C5 air dam on Cheap Whiskey and Questionable Women on a Saturday night!~!!

I bet you could tell some stories!

My Vette sits at stock height because of my driveway. The air damn flap scraps a tad every time I come and go. Like everyone s saying, hit the driveway at a angle and go slow. Jesse has been in and out of my driveway and he know how to do it. What I have found is that I get the least amount of rub if I head in and back out.