Some cars have aerodynamic underbody covers that are held in place by dozens of screws. Is removing/reinstalling them a 1-person job or do you need a 2nd person to hold the piece while you screw them in? Is there a trick to doing this with just one person?
removing and re-installing underbody covers
- Thread starter tonycarguy
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Dozens of screws? Hmmm...the panel that covers my FWD Fusion engine/transmission area has only a few with a sub-panel for access to the oil filter with only 3 screws. No problem, of course, doing that one single handed.
Takes only one person. My Charger has an underbody cover/shield and takes 6 or 8 screws I can't remember exactly. As said the hardest part is getting underneath, I don't even try to squeeze my self in there anymore and just jack it up right off the bat.
The only one I have personally seen with "dozens" was a Ford GT Supercar. I wanna say there are 24 fasteners.
Usually they are plastic so the hardest part is them being big and clumsy. I like the metal shields Toyota uses on their trucks. When I worked at Sears I would toss any dirty ones in the parts washer while I did the oil change. Customers never saw it, but it made me feel better.
Usually they are plastic so the hardest part is them being big and clumsy. I like the metal shields Toyota uses on their trucks. When I worked at Sears I would toss any dirty ones in the parts washer while I did the oil change. Customers never saw it, but it made me feel better.
My Mazda CX& has 7 10mm bolts and one plastic clip. Takes me about 10 minutes to remove by myself. It is abit clumsy though. I just slid it backward after unbolting.
If you have alignment or bending problems, simply use a cardboard box [or whatever] to hold things in place.
There are some Volkswagen that have about 15 torx screws holding the underbody cover to get to oil filter...what a pain in the [censored]. But a 1/4 air ratchet saves some time
Mine has more than 12. PITA
My Nissan 370Z has something like 14 screws and 1 plastic pop up type retainer holding the under chassis shroud. I remove it for every oil & filter change. The car is up on Rhino ramps and the shroud is very light, semi flexible plastic. I just use a cordless screwdriver, remove the thing, slide it back out of the way and then reinstall. It's not like it takes 2 people or 3 hands to do and only takes a minute or so to remove.
My CTS (3.6DI) has an under body shield. You have to remove a few push pin retainers and 4 10mm bolts to drop it. Easy 1 man operation since it is just plastic. Put it up and it it'll stay up while you secure it because it has small fingers that grasp it in place.
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