I ran over a semi-truck tire on the road today. Just bad luck, as I was changing lanes - I looked back to check to see if everything was clear, as I looked ahead again, I just noticed the car ahead of me run over it. I couldn't swerve because there was no shoulder.

So, I checked everything, and I tore off the passenger side mud guard that sits forward of the tire. Its attached near the bumper and held in by those plastic screw plugs. Do you guys think its an important piece? It looks cosmetic to me. It doesn't look like it protects much, but then again - if it didn't do anything I can imagine Subaru molding parts for it and wasting money.

 

I am guessing you will be fine without it. I am not completely sure what part you are talking about, but if its just some plastic piece i doubt it is very important. A picture would helpful though

 

Here a few pictures. I took the driver side off for a picture. As you can see, there's a hole in the plastic panel already. I don't know what this piece would really do. The second picture has an outline where everything should be.

 

Yeah doesn't look like it serves any important purpose. I wouldn't worry about it. My suggestion would be to keep an eye out for people who wreck their car and see if you can pull the piece off theirs. That way you don't have to pay for a new one.

 

I've lost those several times. After RallyCross events there are always a couple I find and take home to add to my collection in case I want to put them back on some day. The plastic push clips are useless in holding those in place under any stress.

Anyhow, it seems like it's designed to channel air through (see crude attachment)... maybe to the brakes, and also to keep piles of crap (dirt/water spray) from running up into brakes/suspension stuff. I'm just guessing here, but it does seem to tie into the channel in the front/lower part of the fender liner there.

 

Well at least you've freed up some horsepower and lost some weight by losing it! Some say you can put another 4-5 to the wheels with the plastic deletion mod... who knows

Vimik

 

take the drivers side one off, write "jdm" on it, and sell it to some rice rocket kid

 

I hate road debris. One time I ran over a long metal piece that was left over after an accident. It blew out two of my tires and bent the rims.

 

Thanks guys, I'll keep the driver side off for now. MoDrift, I was thinking along the same lines that the plastic panel channels air/block crud. I just didn't know how MUCH it would affect things without the panel.

I just didn't want to bend over at the dealership for something that I can do without. Thanks again.

 

you should be fine without it mine also was knocked off