Front inner fender liners - necessary?

ncdogdoc · 7 December 2002

In a never ending quest to lose weight (me and the car), and to use bigger tires and spacers up front, do I really need the fender well liners? My 225's with 25mm spacers do rub now at full lock. I would like to be able to go 245's on 7" or 8" wheels and or run spacers.

I worry more about aerodynamics than cleanliness. Any and all thoughts appreciated.

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Gary Yates
1995 Red/Tan Boooleevard Cruzer
1992 White/Black Track Rat
2002 Red and White Cooper S - for sale, please inquire

Chris W · 7 December 2002

The first thought that comes to mind is that any rocks you pick up with your tire could potentially fly up and dent the fender from the underside with no liner there to protect it. I think eventually your fenders would look like they had the measles.

docjohn · 7 December 2002

Indeed you will get reverse dings but to combat this we put a lot of the black weather protectant goop that dealers will prep cars with,seems to be holding up well.I had three noticable dings that were removed (or smoothed is more like it) by my dent wizard.They really don't weigh very much,and removed do allow 225/45/17 which is very tall.I'm confident that with perfect matching of wheel offset and spacer you could get a 245/35or 245/40/17 without the liner.you will still rub on the inside of the wheel well regardless.

nsxtasy · 7 December 2002

You could always remove your fender liners and the fenders, as well, for even greater weight savings.

Andrie Hartanto · 7 December 2002

Hi Gary,

what are the offset of the wheels?

BostonNSX · 7 December 2002

For better weight saving.. simply don't drive the car.. the car loses more weight without you ( the driver + passenger ) on

Originally posted by nsxtasy:
You could always remove your fender liners and the fenders, as well, for even greater weight savings.

MYNSX · 7 December 2002

Originally posted by BostonNSX:
For better weight saving.. simply don't drive the car.. the car loses more weight without you ( the driver + passenger ) on

On 1/4 mile launches I always throw a brick on the gas pedal and "jump out" it does wonders for your et's!!

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WWW.MYNSX.COM

NA1/2-R GT · 7 December 2002

Gary,
not to worry too much, I will be able to solve your need of wider wheels up front soon.
Dan N.

ChopsJazz · 7 December 2002

I remember a high-speed test a few years back where the hood on a Mitsu 3000GT and a Supra nearly had their hoods ripped off because of the underhood air turbuolence at about 140 mph.

I think in that same article an inner wheel liner, like the one you want to remove, separated from the fender of another test car and wrapped itelf around a tire. Not a scenario I'd like to see on an NSX.

I think the engineers knew what they were doing when they put them there. And how much do they really weigh anyway?

BostonNSX · 8 December 2002

so its better to have a air scoop or two on the hood to avoid it?

Originally posted by ChopsJazz:
I remember a high-speed test a few years back where the hood on a Mitsu 3000GT and a Supra nearly had their hoods ripped off because of the underhood air turbuolence at about 140 mph.

I think in that same article an inner wheel liner, like the one you want to remove, separated from the fender of another test car and wrapped itelf around a tire. Not a scenario I'd like to see on an NSX.

I think the engineers knew what they were doing when they put them there. And how much do they really weigh anyway?

tunapie · 8 December 2002

I had mine off for a short time. Aside from the chance of dents from the inside what bugged me the most was little rock piles on the door sills. For a 245 to fit in the front you need a rather high offset and you can't lower the car too much. Mine were rubbing in the back. I ended up tucking that liner up under the fender and trimming the back bulge off. Dan

ncdogdoc · 8 December 2002

Thanks everyone. I knew I would get some good, and "not the usual

" responses from this group.

Andrie - I am using factory 16" right now with a 25mm H&R spacer and get rubbing of the front liner at full lock. I plan to use the factory 15" with the same spacer or a set of TE37's that are 15x7 38mm without the spacer at first.

Dan - I look forward to "seeing" your solution and hearing the Dream 28 when I get it in the next week or two.

ChopsJazz - That actually sounds like I should not have the liner if it could come off and wrap around the tire at high speeds. Plus, I am looking more for tire size than weight loss I confess.

BostonNSX - My Dali Bananna Boat Hood (in bananna yellow!) does indeed help with stability at speed. Will help even more when I finally get the splitter and underbody tray and radiator scoop finished.

tunapie - I think this is probably the best of both worlds. Removing the "not flush" areas for clearance and not worrying about weight.

Anyone else want to chime in?

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Gary Yates
1995 Red/Tan Boooleevard Cruzer
1992 White/Black Track Rat
2002 Red and White Cooper S - for sale, please inquire

nsxtasy · 8 December 2002

Originally posted by ncdogdoc:
2002 Red and White Cooper S - for sale, please inquire

May I ask what the story is with that?

ncdogdoc · 9 December 2002

Found the car in Greensboro, fell in love with it on sight, and even more after driving it. That car sold before I could put a deposit on it so I found one in Charlotte. I have had it 3 months. Then I found Chad's white '92, and I could not pass up the deal of the century for a track NSX.

Now I have 3 car payments, and I really do not need 5 vehicles, as my 13 year old Lab is not old enough in NC for a drivers license, plus she does not like manuals! I tried the Cooper at the track for one session, and after the NSX, it is hard to drive anything else (especially FWD - sorry Ken!) So now that I am going full steam with the track car, it is time to sell the Bulldog, as much as I hate to part with her. I have not listed her anywhere, just dropping hints to try and find her a good home with someone I trust.

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Gary Yates
1995 Red/Tan Boooleevard Cruzer
1992 White/Black Track Rat
2002 Red and White Cooper S - for sale, please inquire

ChopsJazz · 9 December 2002

[QUOTEI
ChopsJazz - That actually sounds like I should not have the liner if it could come off and wrap around the tire at high speeds. Plus, I am looking more for tire size than weight loss I confess.
[/B][/QUOTE]

Actually, I was referring to the strength with which they are attached to withstand such strong aerodynamic forces. I think the NSX guys did a bit more thinking about thses high speed wind forces than other have.

nsxtasy · 9 December 2002

Originally posted by ncdogdoc:
I tried the Cooper at the track for one session, and after the NSX, it is hard to drive anything else (especially FWD - sorry Ken!)

Maybe that's just because you were driving the wrong FWD car on the track.

At Grattan three months ago, I was driving my FWD car in the instructor run group and was not just passing, but lapping the two instructors driving Mini S cars. Jeff B, one of our fastest Midwest NSX track drivers/instructors, drove my car for a session and said it was incredibly balanced and didn't feel like a FWD car at all.

Here's a picture of Jeff following me at that event:

ncdogdoc · 10 December 2002

I know the MINI (not even the S)is the same as an ITR, but I watched a full caged MINI S with R rubber and tightened suspension keep up with a very fast 2002 M3 and a C5 vette at VIR on the south course, which rewards technique more than raw speed.

I am not used to the earlier turn in and not being able to throttle steer. Plus in stock form, neither MINI has a limited slip diff, so I was spinning my inside tire like crazy. Steering response is phenominal, and the brakes are great. I just cannot rationalize all three sports cars.:-(

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Gary Yates
1995 Red/Tan Boooleevard Cruzer
1992 White/Black Track Rat
2002 Red and White Cooper S - for sale, please inquire

[This message has been edited by ncdogdoc (edited 09 December 2002).]

ScienceofSpeed · 10 December 2002

I have been running with out the fender liners for about a year now with out problems.

Bridgestone S03 235/40zr17 on a 17x8.0et45 wheel, no rubbing.

Cheers,
-- Chris

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Revolutionize your NSX with ScienceofSpeed
www.ScienceofSpeed.com | [email protected] | 877-863-4520

docjohn · 10 December 2002

Chris-why did you remove the liners,if you are using 235/40?that size fit on my car with hr springs and only slight rubbing.And what is your ding count.

Soichiro · 10 December 2002

ncdogdoc said about FWD cars:
>>I am not used to .... not being able to throttle steer.

My FWD track car throttle steers very well - but you must remember to reduce the throttle to rotate the rear, as opposed to increasing the throttle with a RWD car.

Front inner fender liners - necessary?

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