Front air dam removal?

[wforrest08]

8 minutes ago, reardiff said:

following..  For those that trimmed off the bottom part, did you do it while it was on or off the truck and what did you use to cut it?  Thinking of cutting mine as well but can't decide if it would be easier on or off or what tool to use?

 

Threads about trimming it

 

Some more links in this one

 

[SS502]

Forgive the ignorance, is this a mod done for appearance or does it have a function? Not talking bad about it at all, it certainly looks very good on some of these trucks! Is the MPG concern due to changing the aero? As in is there a concern that it will drop the MPG? I’ve always said I’m not watching fuel mileage but I only have a small level and think it looks good now.

[wepiii]

following..  For those that trimmed off the bottom part, did you do it while it was on or off the truck and what did you use to cut it?  Thinking of cutting mine as well but can't decide if it would be easier on or off or what tool to use?

The lower part was just bolted on to mine. I just undid the 7 bolts and it was off. I laid under the truck and was able to reach all of them


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[wepiii]

Did you notice any drop in MPG or anything else?
 
I'm really thinking about taking off the bottom part of mine too.  It just looks better IMO.

I did it at the same time as level and larger tires so I really have no idea.


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[wforrest08]

Supposedly on a bone stock truck if you completely remove it you lose between 1.5 to 2 mpg on the highway.

 

Yeah it’s basically just for looks/clearance that guys trim/remove them. I believe it even says in the Z71 owner’s manual something about removing it while “off roading”.

 

On a lifted/leveled truck how much you lose or don’t lose is really anybody’s guess some guys claim no difference some claim a small loss. The 80s hot rod stance on these trucks from the factory also plays into the aero dynamics of these trucks GM don’t give a F if your truck sags with a load in the back so what percentage is lost from the air dam and what percentage is stance is the question. Same with the ass backwards “splash guards” in front of the rear wheels. Some claim a loss in MPGs removing them. I still like when people ask why the mud flap is in front of the tire...

 

014-015 Silverados are 1 piece 

016+ Silverados are 2 piece bottom will unbolt from top leaving it level all the way across 

Sierras IDK guess I figured where the same but maybe they are all one piece?

[reardiff]

21 minutes ago, SS502 said:

Forgive the ignorance, is this a mod done for appearance or does it have a function? Not talking bad about it at all, it certainly looks very good on some of these trucks! Is the MPG concern due to changing the aero? As in is there a concern that it will drop the MPG? I’ve always said I’m not watching fuel mileage but I only have a small level and think it looks good now.

For me it's 20% for looks and 80% because how low it is and scratch up just already from parking in spots I would have never thought I needed to think about curb clearance.  Between this, a 1.5 level and 33's  I'm hoping to have enough clearance to not have to worry about this anymore. 

[CombsL83]

I like this. I will do this soon.

[Kubs]

14 hours ago, MaverickZ71 said:

How do you like those Revo 3's?

They have only been on for about a week, but so far I like them alot.  They are pretty quiet considering the aggressive pattern, and they are much better in the snow than the OE Michelin Energy Saver tires that came on the truck. Ride is also great, but I moved from a 65 series 18" to a 70 series 17" so I added sidewall.

 

12 hours ago, reardiff said:

following..  For those that trimmed off the bottom part, did you do it while it was on or off the truck and what did you use to cut it?  Thinking of cutting mine as well but can't decide if it would be easier on or off or what tool to use?

On the '16-'18 trucks the lower portion is just bolted to the upper part of the air dam.  Just a handful of screws with a 7mm wrench and off it came.

[rkj__]

13 hours ago, SS502 said:

Forgive the ignorance, is this a mod done for appearance or does it have a function? Not talking bad about it at all, it certainly looks very good on some of these trucks! Is the MPG concern due to changing the aero? As in is there a concern that it will drop the MPG? I’ve always said I’m not watching fuel mileage but I only have a small level and think it looks good now.

On my old truck my motivation was 100% for added clearance, and 0% for appearance.

 

On my new truck I don't plan to do as much off roading, so the move was about 75% for appearance and 25% for added clearance.  As others have mentioned, even some parking curbs can catch these air dams, which I think is a little ridiculous. 

[spenpet]

an option...

[Grumpy Bear]

14 hours ago, SS502 said:

Forgive the ignorance, is this a mod done for appearance or does it have a function? Not talking bad about it at all, it certainly looks very good on some of these trucks! Is the MPG concern due to changing the aero? As in is there a concern that it will drop the MPG? I’ve always said I’m not watching fuel mileage but I only have a small level and think it looks good now.

Answered your own question buddy. 

 

Yes the MPG concern is due to a change in aero that reduces fuel efficiency. It will lower the MPG and no, you don't care. 

 

Opinion will naturally vary on this point but it isn't a matter of opinion. It's a matter of aero drag and that's science. The conclusions reached by individuals reflect a word of experiences the vary 'around' this popular modification. A fella for example that is a city dweller and rarely ventures outside of town or about 50 mph will hardly notice it in his fuel bill. A guy like me whose truck rarely sees a city and lives at the speed limit or a bit less......Pepper's fuel numbers don't come from 'any one thing' but from a purse full dimes making a Jackson. 

[SS502]

37 minutes ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Answered your own question buddy. 

 

Yes the MPG concern is due to a change in aero that reduces fuel efficiency. It will lower the MPG and no, you don't care. 

 

Opinion will naturally vary on this point but it isn't a matter of opinion. It's a matter of aero drag and that's science. The conclusions reached by individuals reflect a word of experiences the vary 'around' this popular modification. A fella for example that is a city dweller and rarely ventures outside of town or about 50 mph will hardly notice it in his fuel bill. A guy like me whose truck rarely sees a city and lives at the speed limit or a bit less......Pepper's fuel numbers don't come from 'any one thing' but from a purse full dimes making a Jackson. 

Yeppers, I do like the way mine looks and have yet to scrape it on a curb or dip in the road. Having said that, I’ll probably hit it today. As for the fuel mileage, I’m not concerned but I’m not wasteful either so mine will stay the way it is. Now if the opposite were true and it saved fuel, then I would consider it because it looks good trimmed too. Obviously my quest is not in saving fuel (Range and Pedal Commander) but more in line with enjoyment and reducing the possiblity of AFM lifter failure.

[MikeNH]

Took it off last night. Noticed zero difference in MPG on my 2011 and I can’t imagine this will be different. 15 7mm bolts I think. The front was too low with the air dam.  

[BriDroid]

5 hours ago, MikeNH said:

Took it off last night. Noticed zero difference in MPG on my 2011 and I can’t imagine this will be different. 15 7mm bolts I think. The front was too low with the air dam.  

Looks good!

[johnhankel]

7 hours ago, MikeNH said:

Took it off last night. Noticed zero difference in MPG on my 2011 and I can’t imagine this will be different. 15 7mm bolts I think. The front was too low with the air dam.  

Did you trim off the bottom portion or completely remove it?  Hard to tell from pictures.