is front air dam necessary?

[troll3193]

I have an 04 4x4. Under the front bumper, there is a small black plastic air dam. It cracked on one side about a year ago, and this weekend bit the dust when I got stuck in some deep snow and needed to get pulled out.



I would just like to remove it. Is there any negative affect of this? Does it affect the cooling or such?



TIA,



Bryan

 

[JStraw]

Those little airdams are to push excess air out and away from underneath the vehicle causing a slight vacumm. This prevents an otherwise lifting effect as air boils (rolls) under the vehicle. Thus it makes the auto more stable at speed. As to just how much it assist, I don't know.

 

[PKnoerzer]

The vacuum it creates is suppose to help draw air throught the radiator, but it can only work at speed. Most won't have a problem cooling at speed unless the radiator fins are packed up with dirt.



I removed mine for clearance and built a skid plate for the radiator and intercooler. I didn't notice any difference in cooling. Without the air dam you can see how vunerable the coolers are and the oil lines that hang down below them.

 

[Amish Elegance]

Got a buddy that didn't like it, so he yanked it the day he got his truck. He's got over 80k on it with no ill effects.



As to the stability at speed, I highly doubt that an 8000lb truck will feel any different because you took a piece of plastic off the front.

 

[Hercules130]

mine cracked too. pulling it off as soon as it warms up

 

[p-Bar]

Mine went with the silencer ring

 

[mberry]

Anyone still have one laying around that they want to get rid of? I would like to replace mine. Thanks.

 

[Diesel Power]

i would like to replace mine too. thanks

 

[rjohnson916]

I believe it's also in place for added mpg reasons. I know for the very last run of 2006 Chevrolet Tahoes that's why GM added that hideous front airdam, supposedly it increased fuel economy . 7 or so +/-





-Ryan

 

[JOblenes]

I have an 04 4x4. Under the front bumper, there is a small black plastic air dam. It cracked on one side about a year ago, and this weekend bit the dust when I got stuck in some deep snow and needed to get pulled out.



I would just like to remove it. Is there any negative affect of this? Does it affect the cooling or such?



TIA,



Bryan

You don't indicate where you are from. Many above have mentioned cooling. They design these trucks for most of North America. If you are in a more northerly state perhaps it is not really a concern, i. e. doesn't get so hot. Dunno, just a thought.



PKnoerzer,



Would love to see a pic of your skid plate, I am about to embark on this myself, I could always use some good ideas.

 

[rbattelle]

I second the request for skid plate pics!



Other than being a convenient place to mount my block heater plug, I have no interest in keeping the little air dam. I don't think there's any major reason it needs to be there, and I doubt fuel economy will be noticeably effected.



-Ryan

 

[mberry]

I agree that it may not serve any other purpose than to make the front end look nicer but I want to keep my truck looking stock as much as possible. I just want it there because it came with it and it may have a function.

 

[JStraw]

If they didn't serve a purpose, NASCAR wouldn't use them and put them as close to the ground as posable. These guys have spent millions on wind tunnel test. The function is to create a vacumm that sucks the body of the vehicle down. This prevents a possable roll-over of the vehicle if an emergency correction is required as well preventing the wind geing forced under the vehicle from causing it to lift. I'm sure that you've all heard of vehicles with high-roll over potential.

Stability at freeway speeds is where it comes into play. Any additional item that provides a measure of safety is worth it for myself and family.

 

[DavidBurt]

I cleaned mine right off the front of the truck the second month I had it. Going through one of my fields and hit a ditch, no more air dam. I havent noticed any difference at all. I am sure it serves some purpose but I can't tell the difference. I still have it around but I'm not sure of how good of shape its in.

Dave

 

[Patriot Blue Megacab]

I have to agree on the theory it isn't and wont hurt a thing,its an 8,000 lb truck,air at 70 mph isn't going to lift it up,as far as NASCAR and windtunnels,I don't think anyones truck is doing 180 mph,but thats just my opinion

 

[JStraw]

My point wasn't about doing 180 mph. I can't get above 110



Wind force at any speed can cause disastrous results. If you've ever driven your truck with 15K on the back and get hit by a 50 mph crosswind you'll know what I'm talking about.

 

[PKnoerzer]

PKnoerzer,



Would love to see a pic of your skid plate, I am about to embark on this myself, I could always use some good ideas.

A picture of my skid plate is in my readers rigs gallery. I hope it helps.

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

I put a new aftermarket, factory style bumper on last May after a collision. I never put the air dam back on and have yet to see any heating/cooling issues, in fact, the idiots that did the repair didn't fix the cooling fan wiring. I noticed it while looking things over, but drove the truck around all day in Phoenix stop and go traffic w/o even coming close to overheating. Granted, I wasn't loaded etc. but my point is that the cooling systems on these trucks seem to be extremely well (over?) engineered so I don't think that there would be a cooling problem by just removing the air dam.



On a side note, I have a new (aftermarket) in the packaging, air dam if anyone is interested. Please PM me.

 

[troll3193]

A picture of my skid plate is in my readers rigs gallery. I hope it helps.

I like it, do you sell them??? Not much of a metal fab guy myself. .



Bryan

 

[JOblenes]

A picture of my skid plate is in my readers rigs gallery. I hope it helps.

Very nice work. I was thinking pretty much the same thing, except it will have to be a little different for me because I have a front winch mount. What gage metal did you use? Did you mock it up with cardboard first?



Thanks.