Undertray/Skidplate Alternatives

[SaiRacing]

I'm looking at fixing up the front of my car, since the wheel well liners and gravel guard is torn up from the previous owner. But having stuck my head under the car I've come to the conclusion that the OEM liners are trash, and from research online I can see many others feel the same way, even reading that they can randomly pop off on the highway. Who at Kia thought 4 clips 3" from the leading edge was enough to keep the thing on?

So I've been looking at some aftermarket options, but it seems that aside from the FSPE offerings, there don't seem to be any.

Their V3 combo splitter seems tempting, but from the pictures on the listing it seems that it doesn't interface with the OEM oil skidplate or with their own aftermarket offering. There seems to be a substantial gap between the two pieces, and the oil skidplate appears to sit lower than the rear edge of the bumper skidplate, leaving plenty of space for water and other debris to get up into the space above and behind it.

Might not be a big deal but I was a little surprised that extending the panel a few inches to have them at least overlap wasn't a consideration in the design.

I'm tempted to order an OEM undertray, measure out the mounting holes, and cut my own metal undertray when the OEM one inevitably fails. But before I do that, I wanted to get a consensus on if that's even practical or if there are other alternatives that I don't know about.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Hi. I've read pretty much every post over the years on this topic on the forum. It interests me particularly, as I have replaced my engine and bumper undercarriage panels before. After tearing a couple of holes in my bumper and engine "undertrays" - might as well adopt the same nomenclature as you are using - I replaced them through the dealer. They have held up well for seven years. Just don't expect them to be "skid plates", ha hah. "Undertray" is a good term because they are adequate for keeping the weather out, and providing the airflow as designed.

I've had my car well over 100 MPH enough times to know that the undertray in front does not tear off when undamaged, and mounted properly, with the undertray ON TOP of the mounting points, not under them.

If the material, which is some kind of of water resistant coating on pressed board, is ripped or scuffed it will slowly degrade, i.e., start to shed pieces. This should be obvious by looking under there and seeing if any shreds of undertray are hanging down. In that case, replacement is the solution. I suppose that spraying them - removed of course - with Rust-Oleum or some similar weather preventative could lengthen out their lifespan. But I've not heard back from someone suggesting to try that.

Materials used to trace out a fabricated replacement have included aluminum and sheet plastic. These could then be properly called "skid plates" I suppose. When or if the time comes, I will just go OEM again, at least that's the plan.