So I've been developing covers to close the hole in the engine bay where the fender liners use to cover but I have put the project on hold to gather some more information. Initially I though people removed their fender liners due to them breaking. After speaking to a few friends, they removed them because the liner was rubbing as they turned their wheels. Given these are drift cars with modified knuckles or insanely wide wheels with low offset, I was wondering if this was a common issue for removing them?

So why did you remove your fender liners?

If you rub, What part are you rubbing at?

Thanks!

 

I haven't removed my fender liners and don't get any rubbing

 

Mine were in terrible condition and new replacements are to much $$$$ for what they are.... I for one would jump at the chance to buy just to buy just a cover for the hole....

 

People rub in front, right where the wiring harness passes on the opposite side of the liner
Next time I have the car on the lift, I'll try to remember to take pictures

 

Mine are still in and in good shape and my wheels don't rub (no super aggressive offset or width or crazy knuckles here) so my holes are still covered. However I've been really considering cutting the fender liner out where the holes are & putting a mesh screen to relieve a high pressure area (the engine bay) by allowing air to exit & help bring engine bay temps down a little. I am not sure if it works well or not, but I figure if it helps even a little bit why not (not that my temps are crazy high, but why not help it cool some if I can?). Here is what I'm talking about: Mod: Mesh Fender Liner Vents « RotaryAddicts

 

This is where mine tend to rub...

 

Rubbed through the top of the passenger side and ate through the airbag sensor harness at the track.

 

Getting metal or carbon fiber liner replacements would be great!
Lowered cars with wide tires always end up chewing up liners.
Replacing the easly turn liners for more of a skid plate would be perfect.

 

I don't think a tire breaches the plane of that hole and comes into the engine bay.
Mount them from the bay side flush or convex and everybody is happy:-)

 

Aftermarket fender/bumper

 

edit

 

If something could be made to cover the hole into the engine bay, and then a small liner to cover all the wiring run under the fender I would consider it. Until that's made or I make one, I will just keep the car up higher so the tires wont rub.

 

They only rub if you have improperly sized wheels/tires. I have run 285/30/18s all around without rubbing, just a moderate fender roll. The ridiculous "stanced" look that is becoming popular for who knows what reason is why all these people destroy their liners and in turn the wiring harnesses. I had to fix 3 cars this year alone that rubbed through the body harness and caused all sorts of electrical problems. One fried a power fc and another one a map sensor. Removing the liner leaves the harness unprotected. If you do that make sure you secure the harness somehow and at the very least put some looming around it. Additionally, removing the liners causes all sorts of junk and debris to get sucked into the engine bay.

 

I run -3 degrees of camber on each side with A6s (as you're supposed to for Hoosiers), and I rub a bit on hard cornering
It's not just the posers that have issues... where do you think they got the idea from that negative camber is good?

 

If you run the Tail Of The Dragon at Deals Gap N.C., and your car is really lowered; you need real heavy rate springs and/or the shocks set on hard. Many have worn through the liners and cables there.

 

Mine are in. On a stock daily, there is no benefit to removing them.

Someone once said removing them was to help engine bay cooling, with the exposed holes in the sides of the engine bay. If you need to do that, you must have severe cooling problems lol...

 

Cheap coilovers with poor dampening don't help either.

 

Carbon fiber parts for the inside would be outstanding. Would be even better if it were a 2 piece design where you had the CF cover for the bay, and an optional fender liner area. That way those that dont want liners could just buy the covers and those that want a liner and eye candy could buy yours instead of OEM

 

This is where mine rubs too with slicks.

 

Carbon would be nice, but people would crack it in about 5 minutes.

 

And it would be $$$

 

Word. I'd be all over plastic if it were available.

-David Guy

 

My Car isnt Extremely low , but it is lowered . I would rub when cornering or braking hard .

 

I get zero rubbing issues no matter how hard I drive my car. But then again, my offsets don't look as good as most on here.

 

Me three. Running 255/40's on 17x 9 +48 wheels and mine just barely rubbed on hard right steering lock with suspension compression....and only on the LF. There's metal behind the liner where that red line is in the pic. Drilled a hole and used one of those large round flat plastic hood liner retainer plugs (A box of them at Fastenal costs ~ $10). It sucked it in a little tighter and away from the tire while covering a small wear area. FWIW.