[KarlHungus]

Picked up my new 1LE Thursday. Last night I went into my trunk and found these wrapped in plastic. Is OK that they weren't installed?

[cdb95z28]

Install them, it's easy.

The more important question is...Did the inept dealer pull the front spring spacers?

[50MileSmile]

A dealer I won’t do business with again left mine in the trunk too - along with both ends of the three-piece blade spoiler. Chevy says they’re necessary to help protect the lower control arms from corrosion caused by water splash and other road junk. Put ‘em on - you don’t even need to jack up the car.

I’d also check carefully to make sure nothing else was missed during your dealer’s PDI. Mine sort of forgot to check the tire pressures too.

[Kamero6]

Originally Posted by KarlHungus

Picked up my new 1LE Thursday. Last night I went into my trunk and found these wrapped in plastic. Is OK that they weren't installed?

Consider yourself lucky. I only had one side installed, the other side missing completely. Had to argue with them, and they order the driver's side. Got it and had to purchase the plastic clips myself from amazon.
This work perfect if you need them:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085MYGXPJ...roduct_details

[Kamero6]

Originally Posted by 50MileSmile

A dealer I won’t do business with again left mine in the trunk too - along with both ends of the three-piece blade spoiler. Chevy says they’re necessary to help protect the lower control arms from corrosion caused by water splash and other road junk. Put ‘em on - you don’t even need to jack up the car.

I’d also check carefully to make sure nothing else was missed during your dealer’s PDI. Mine sort of forgot to check the tire pressures too.

I had 43 psi when I checked mine. They also scratched the paint while tinting...
Now that you mentioned the 3 piece spoiler, I have 1 piece... so the ends are missing? Do you have a pic?

[50MileSmile]

Both a one-piece blade spoiler that was as wide as the trunk lid and a three-piece blade spoiler where the ends glued to the tops of the rear quarters on both sides were/are available. I left my ends off for awhile, so I could tell people it was worth 3 mph on the top end. Amazing how many people believed me…

[Johnfin]

I would think the cupped covers would trap and hold
Moisture/crud. If they are important why werent they
Installed at the factory? I have always left them off.
.

[Keko]

Also curious why the control arms would need covers but NOT installed from factory. Perhaps for areas that see salt on the roads?

[50MileSmile]

They fit pretty tightly and are necessary to keep junk out of the fittings. Chevy views them as a safety item. They aren’t installed at the factory, like some of the aero add-ons, because they can be knocked off or damaged during transport from Lansing to your dealer.

[LeonardS]

Originally Posted by 50MileSmile

They fit pretty tightly and are necessary to keep junk out of the fittings. Chevy views them as a safety item. They aren’t installed at the factory, like some of the aero add-ons, because they can be knocked off or damaged during transport from Lansing to your dealer.

I’m not doubting you, but is there someplace online to read about their purpose? Mine are still in the trunk also.

[50MileSmile]

How about trusting the engineers who designed the covers? They’re not in the habit of adding parts (and expense) to a vehicle for no reason. I’m guessing that if you climb under your car and look at where and how the covers fit, you’ll see why they need to be there - to protect the fittings by keeping sand and dirt and water away from them. I know it sounds extreme, but not using the covers possibly could lead to excessive wear or ultimately premature suspension failure, which is no fun on the street … or the track. Help me understand why you wouldn’t install them….

P.S. I don’t have copies of my emails to/from GM on this topic 5 years ago, but for some reason I still had this link in my bookmarks. The part has been specced for 29 vehicles, so someone at GM thinks it has some value:
https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/oem-pa...2823593?c=az0x

[cdb95z28]

Not sure why there's doubt in installing these. It literally takes 5 minutes for both. They are to be installed by the dealer.

[Caerus]

When I got my ATS in 2013 (alpha platform) I looked into why they were there. The consensus was for minimizing NVH. Don't call me crazy for believing, but it makes sense in away. I am sure they also help minimize direct road grime contact with the control arms. Also noted, BMWs have had them on the lower control arms for years as well. After all, the alpha platform is a copy of a BMW 3 series (but better).

[arpad_m]

Caerus is spot on. They also help preserve the control arms and bushings particularly in the Northeast where road salt and brine is a major issue.

I lost my originals somewhere along the way because the clips the factory used in 2018 were a smidge looser than they should've been. The replacements came with nice, very tight clips, the new set is on there real good now.

And yes, the BMW 3 series must have been the main inspiration for the 6th gen suspension design that improved quite a bit on the "muse". A mile or so down the road from us a neighbor has a beautiful blue 3 series, the resemblance is pretty conspicuous.