Bottoming out

[Eidolon]

I have the stock ground effects on my firebird. And every once in a while I bottom out. It's just something you can't help. I've learned to become aware and avoid roads/driveways that I know will scrape no matter how slow I go. But it still happens once in a blue moon.

Anyway, the paint on the bottom of the molding is all scraped up. In fact there's a small half-inch white spot where it looks like the paint is totally scraped away. Luckily nothing's visible at all, unless you look underneath the car.

So my questions are, what's best way to repair this? Should I even bother repairing it? If not, then would it cause any long term damage to the car? ex: like could the paint erode away to the point where it can one day be seen from the front?

[Everglades W68]

I wouldn't worry about it. I have a few scratches along the lower sides of the front GFX. But with pewter cars (and silver too, I guess) its not very noticeable.

I don't think you should do anything until it become noticeable from a casual "walking by" viewpoint.

[RaVeN1469]

I wouldn't worry about it. The underside of my front fx are missing a whole lot of paint and you can't really tell. It won't do any damage as far as I'm aware.

[JVT007]

I'm having to get mine repainted... it looks like all hell from learning how to drive the car... luckly some fool backed into me so i'm including it in the repair work [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/evilgrin.gif[/img]

[QuicksilverRS]

I have a '97 RS and I hear 'ya man. Especially since I have a 2 inch drop on it and my rims and tires are about .2" smaller than stock. I ride pretty close to the ground. Got one word for 'ya: angles. Take every driveway, bump in the road, speed bump etc. at an angle. I've gotten to where I can go almost anywhere without bottoming out. 'Course it's taking me 5 years to get to that point. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Ryan

[ravenp]

Same problem here... i've nose-doven a few times... looks fine from above, but underneath... bah!

You can paint it all you want but the reality is it's flexible polymar...more flexible than any paint when dry...

[Eidolon]

Thanks for the input.

Yup, angles. That's what I've learned too. Take those driveways with big dips very slow, turning the wheel before the dip. Usually works fine. But there's always some I can't avoid, unless I don't drive on it at all.

Speaking of bottoming out, has anyone ever bottomed out in the rear before? I've had the car for getting real close to a year now and it's never happened before, until last night! I couldn't believe it. I was pulling out of a Sunoco gas station that I haven't been to before. The exit didn't even look like it had a bad dip at all. I went slow, and the front of my car cleared perfectly fine. But then suddenly I heard the most God awful sound come from the rear. Sounded like a metallic T-Rex. The muffler must have scrapped the bottom. No real visible damage. I'm still not sure how it could have happened. All I know is I'm never going there again.

[iceman]

I have a 98 camaro and the person that had it before me must have drove like an a$$ and there is a inch hole that roles up frpm the bototom and there is quite a few scratches around the fog lamps on both sides. It looks terrible and i was just wandering if i should have it fixed or should i just buy a new one. If i buy a new one where should i buy it and about how much.

[99Camaro]

im lowered with gfx and i live in a city with a lot of hills..angles is the way to go...

[iceman]

COME ON SOMEBODY ANYBODY. I NEED A DIRECTION TO HEAD IS EVERYONE ON THIS SITE IN THERE ON LITTLE CLICH. I think my question is ok. Or maybe we could all answer the questions that have been asked before. About ten billon times ok sure. :mad:

[TealV6]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by iceman:
COME ON SOMEBODY ANYBODY. I NEED A DIRECTION TO HEAD IS EVERYONE ON THIS SITE IN THERE ON LITTLE CLICH. I think my question is ok. Or maybe we could all answer the questions that have been asked before. About ten billon times ok sure. :mad: <hr></blockquote>

Relax. Your asking US if YOU should fix YOUR car. I think this is a no brainer. If you can't stand the way it is, fix it. But understand the nature of the car. You may think that the previous owner drove like an idiot, but sometimes you can't help it with U.S. roads the way they are.

NOW... You can check with Scott over at www.speedautomotive.com about getting an new nose cone, but you do understand, that it will cost a small furtune. There is no "real" way to fix plastic and make it look right.

So... choices:

1. Live with it
2. Replace the nose cone and drive carefully.

Hope that helps.

Cheers
Steve