Curved or Straight air dam??

[sidecar]

ok Prius Front spats


interesting article here too
http://autospeed.com/cms/A_2456/article.html

[Frank Lee]

The question was "curved or straight".

The answer mostly is: what do you have to attach it to? If you are extending something that's already there, go with that contour, whatever it may be.

Curved ends probably are better, but by a detectable amount???

I'll tell you what a perfectly straight air dam has going for it: when it hits something (and it will) it can "hinge" back then recover with little more than scratches vs curved air dams mangle or break when they hit something. Also, the straight one can be lower to the ground while maintaining a desired approach angle vs a curved one by virtue of being able to be closer to the front axle line.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by sidecar

ok Prius Front spats

Thank you for the clarification, I could not find those in my search.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

I'll tell you what a perfectly straight air dam has going for it: when it hits something (and it will) it can "hinge" back then recover with little more than scratches vs curved air dams mangle or break when they hit something.

Which ironically also works the other way around, a curve can keep a straight flexible dam from flexing over @ higher speed and wind load.

[sidecar]

Originally Posted by euromodder

Which ironically also works the other way around, a curve can keep a straight flexible dam from flexing over @ higher speed and wind load.

dependent on how deep and how thick and how flexible it is
absolutely true

[Frank Lee]

They're made of material that floppy? This I did not know.

[sidecar]

there is the contingency for cars with long front overhangs that a spoiler will scrape on occasion.

[Frank Lee]

Yeah, it's called "buying a replacement".

[Frank Lee]

This is what happens when an airdam has curved ends, and then hits something, and the ends have nowhere to go. Sure, it is possible to develop an airdam with curved ends that have provisions for the curved parts to disconnect and give way when hit to avoid breakage, but I've never seen that.

Any questions?

[dcb]

Originally Posted by sidecar

nope
'To be able to send PMs your post count must be 10 or greater.'
how totally ridiculous

Lots of spammers register and then start spamming by any means possible, that part IS totally ridiculous and I am glad the hosts are trying to do something about it.