I just installed my replica FEED side skirts (side steps might be a better description of them, I sure hope nobody tries stepping on mine!).

I bought my skirts some time ago but decided to think about how to install them without having to drill multiple extra holes in my car. This was a good decision as it turns out that there are already perfectly situated points that can be used to anchor FEED side skirts - the "drain plugs" (is that what you call them?).

1. Remove plastic drain plugs.

2. Go to hardware store, drain plug in hand, and buy some washers, and nuts and bolts. Get some bolts with nuts that are square and fit tightly inside the drain plugs (important as this will allow you to tighten/loosen and adjust the position of your set up).

3. On your FEED side skirts look for the indentations where the drain plugs line up. Drill holes in the centre of these indentations. When you've got the drill through pull it to either side a bit to make the holes longer length-wise in relation to the side skirts (make the holes around 10mm long).

4. Affix drain plugs to the skirts using your nuts, bolts and washers
- N.B. for each plug your washers go right up on the side skirt, one each side.

5. Hold side skirts up to car and ensure all plugs line up, also check that your fender bolts line up to the holes drilled in the side skirts (the side skirts are affixed near the front of the car using the two fender bolts). If your holes/plugs aren't lined up, get the drill (or a file) out and fix 'em up.


6. Plug the side skirts up and tighten the drain plug bolts (if you got the right size nuts they won't spin.). Then screw in the fender bolts, through the side skirts.


7. Sadly, you do need to drill one hole near the rear of the skirt and attach it with a screw.


That's it! FEED side skirts installed tidily.

 

So most of what of what holds the side skirt in is the plug? have you tried to pull it out? How much force does it require to pull out? seems like a good alternative to drilling in the body of the car. please keep us updated.

 

Yep, it's the plugs hold the side skirt right up tight. But the two front fender bolts and the screw (that you need to drill through the body) on the rear end are required to keep the ends tight - without these it's a bit loose on the ends because there aren't plugs far enough out to either end.


I had to pull it out on my first attempt, because didn't drill some of the holes for the plugs in the right spots. To pull it out it requires a fair amount of pulling - you see some of the plugs stretching quite a bit before they let loose. I was afraid that they might rip through, but they all came out no problemo. It's probably a good idea to be careful that you have the plugs lined up good before you go and plug them up because I don't think that you want to go pulling them off too often. I think the plugs will eventually break.

 

I'm pretty sure air at speed will be enough to pull the plugs out. even if they don't fall off, they'll sag and let air under the car instead of directing it past.

 

change your wheels.

 

trus+ me they're REAL rigid.. that aint gonna happen, the bolts and screws either end do the majority of the work. . Also, iv been up to 200kph with em. they stick hardcore,i'd go as far as saying that they'd stick right up tight on a bugatti veyron doing 400kph. just make sure all the plugs are plugged up and you'll be sweet.

have u ever tried to remove yourdrain plugs? they are damn tight! there really is no movement in it once it's plugged up and secured both endds...

try it out and find out yourself.

 

what's wrong with them? they're mazdaspeed ms01s, quite rare. and i just spent some money on fixing kerbing and polishing the lips. i think they'll look great when ive done my susp. and put some (slightly) stretched tires on them.

i see alot of people but 19 or 20inch rims on their fd's...i think it looks silly having such a big wheel on an fd, yet still have such small brakes behind them. at least with these it looks like they were designed for the fd

anyway, i might change them eventually. what do u recommend?

 

This statement adds what exactly to the thread? Oh...that's right...nothing. Chances are those rims, even if not your taste, are a bit more rare and expensive than what you might be rocking.

Martin, thanks for contributing a new idea for the rest of us owners the guy is from Arkansas and probably thinks a sheep is a good substitute for a woman so don't mind him...then again you are from NZ so you might have that in common! Just kidding (pun intended).

 

oh lol that was good, thanks Gringo Grande! No worries, I'm from the North Island, it's the South Island that's like Arkansas.

 

Dunno man. Those ms-01's are pretty awesome. I'm not a huge fan of yellow, but it's not my car.

 

I'm pretty sure mefarri just wants to have the only cym on yellow ms-01s...

 

That's what she said... Sorry, I had to do it.
Good write up though.

 

Thanks for the idea, about to install mine... which have been sitting in the closet for like a year hah

 

lol.

 

lol, nice spotting!

 

Cool man, let us know how it goes for you. Take care with the holes you drill into the skirt, so that you can line all the plugs up with the holes on your first attempt... :-)