Arch chip protection

[Einarrson]

Inside the rear door shut on the arch is a piece of what looks like plastic on the rear arch. This curls round the back of the inside of the arch where it is exposed to the road.

What are your thoughts on this bit of protection? Worthwhile or a water trap? 

[chris]

My thought is if you get the arch to be rust free and have sound paint then put them on.
They will help prevent stone chips etc starting new rust.
Any chips here will rust quick because of salty water spraying up off the wheels.

If you have rust now or dodgy paint dont put them on or they will help the rust to fizz away unseen.

[Einarrson]

Yeah... that makes sense Chris...

Anyone know if you can get them from VX dealers?

[The Duke]

Aye, 90444639, 90444640 are the part numbers. £2.29 each inc vat. Prices as of October last year  

[hazzy]

if you mean as photo below they have been NLS for some time.

Guy on ABS makes replacements though.



take care brian

[U.D. - Omega DTM Rep]

I used a stone guard and painted mine on....



It still looks factory-ish and gives better stone protection to the inside of the wheelarch which is beneficial if you run larger wheels IMHO!



JM2PW!

[doz]

As your painting the car why don't you fit the strips and lacquer over the top? That way they they can't trap water and it will still look factory. I have a set as made by the ABS member and I've got to say they are as good as the originals

[The Duke]

I thought they would be NLS but as I said I got a pair last year no problem

[melinx]

It is difficult to see how stone chips could occur in that area ! I believe that those strips are merely 'chafing guards' to prevent the door sealer marking the paintwork.

When I did the o/s wheel arch, I made a deliberate decision not to replace that strip and now (18 months later) there is just a faint line in the paintwork where the seal abuts the arch; however I did leave it for quite a few days for the lacquer to harden before fully closing the door

They may be applied at the factory due to the paint not being fully hard immediately after the car is built

http://totalcarlton.com/forums/index.php/topic,9752.msg78376.html#msg78376

[Einarrson]

As your painting the car why don't you fit the strips and lacquer over the top? That way they they can't trap water and it will still look factory. I have a set as made by the ABS member and I've got to say they are as good as the originals

Hmm..interesting idea but I don't have a lacquer finish  

I think the bit protected by this is the bit you don't see facing the wheel. Except the pic from Hazzy diesn;t show them covering this bit.