Air Dam Height - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

dupree · 03-17-2012, 02:27 AM

Ok I am going to be installing a lower air dam in the next 2 weeks, just was wondering how low, everyone is running theirs. And if you have had rubbing issues and if so on what curbs dips driveways etc. Please share your experiences folks. I am assuming mine will be ok since its high already being a subie. I am thinking like 2-3 inches lower......please advise

mcrews · 03-17-2012, 04:29 AM

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...age-20951.html

Sven7 · 03-17-2012, 07:18 AM

Low enough to shield the lowest chassis component from oncoming air. You probably won't have a problem with clearance. If you do, just hit ramps at a bit of an angle.

It looks REALLY bad here but this is the height of the Probe's coroplast dam.

nemo · 03-17-2012, 08:11 AM

Mine is at approximately 5 3/4 inches now (last picture). Have little problem with entrances and exits. It will clear some parking stops and not others. I try to stay back from them.

First attempt:

This is how it looks today it is about 1/2 shorter (higher off ground).

This setup is about a 1/4 inch below the frame you see in the background in the first picture.

aerohead · 03-17-2012, 02:10 PM

If you'll cut a 16-degree slope pie slice out of some scrap cardboard and slide it to the front of your front tires,anything below this template is sure to strike the ground at some point.
As mentioned by members,you can modify your driving,or use flexible,deformable material for the lower chin.

dupree · 03-17-2012, 07:09 PM

well Thats the two things about mine. I was planning to do flexible lawn edging, with a few supports which will deform if necessary. That and secondly I dont think ill have too much problem since its already sitting high being a subaru. My question is for those of you with the air dams how close are you to the ground from the bottom of the dam

dupree · 03-17-2012, 07:18 PM

ok went out and did some measurements
the measurement from the ground to the bottom of the bumper is 10". The lowest under-hanging items are at about 7.5-8" from the ground not counting the lower suspension arms of course. but they aren't below the 7.5-8" mark by much. So it seems a 3 inch drop down spoiler should be fine, as it should cover up most the goodies, and still leave me 7 inches to ground.... I still would like to know what everyone else is running on bumper (air dam) to ground measurements.....

gone-ot · 03-17-2012, 07:55 PM

...*if* you're wanting "maximum" results, take a look at the NASCAR vechicles, at how "close" to the ground their air-dams are...actually "scraping" the pavement with each slightest bump. They want "maximum" effect, so they go ALL the way down to the pavement essentially.

aerohead · 03-19-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dupree

well Thats the two things about mine. I was planning to do flexible lawn edging, with a few supports which will deform if necessary. That and secondly I dont think ill have too much problem since its already sitting high being a subaru. My question is for those of you with the air dams how close are you to the ground from the bottom of the dam

I'm at 6-inches of clearance with rubber.4-inches above that is metal.

hoover · 03-20-2012, 07:19 PM

My air dam is 5 and one half inches from the pavement. Only difference is on my 2004 Silverado the air dam extends almost straight down from the front face of the bumper. I used 3/16" black abs plastic, screwed it directly into the bumper directly below the top plastic bumper cap. I have a 2" abs plastic pipe behind it about 3" above the bottom of the air dam for support. Two eyebolts into the pipe hang from my snow plow mounts. Last year put about 5,000 miles on this setup, scraped 3 times on entering odd shaped driveways.