As some of you might be aware, I had the "opportunity" to run my RX-8 flat out for several thousand miles over the past few weeks. Much of that time was spent in the triple digits, many at "the limit" so to speak.
At some point near the end of these escapades, I became aware of a flapping noise coming from under the car at certain speeds. I had assumed (incorrectly) that I had grabbed a plastic bag or something similar under the car.
What had actually happened was the mounting screws at the the mating point of the front lip and the under tray had allowed the tray to work free and it was being blown down, off the car. The result was not pretty.



This had also allowed the air conditioning condensor to take on some gravel hits, none of which seemed to compromise the system, but I was lucky.
Mazda wants almost $200 for this piece of plastic.
Instead, I fabricated my own replacement.

First I grabbed one of the many Sterilite storage bins that I had laying around after my move to Arizona.



Then, I cut a setion from the lid that corresponded to the hole in the under tray.

 

I was sure when doing this that I had the appropriate warning markings visible to protect children in your neighborhood.



Then, using a pop-rivet gun and a cordless drill, I attached the new panel to the remains of the old panel.




Voilá! Good as new.

 

you sir are a genius, just make sure you bolt it on firm

 

tupperware, really locks it in!!!

nice solution... simple is as simple does...

btw, who left the screws loose???? i had to buy new screws and it was not me... it was an after the dealer issue.

beers

 

Screws weren't loose. They were still in there, tight as can be.
The holes that the screws go through in the tray are (were) elliptical, so the tray's occillations from the high speed wind wiggled the tray right off of the screws.

The two new screws in the center positions have larger washers, longer threaded sections and the holes in the new section of plastic are round and just large enough for the screws to go through and nothing more.

 

good for you.

that must have been big big fun.... i had to replace the screws with crap from autozone... then order the right ones to get my lower sealed...

i am glad that i noticed the sag....

now the kids under the car. you could sell that sticker!!!!

beers

 

MazdaManiac,
Why dose it look like you bottomed out? Or it looks like you hit the cement in a parking lot parking spot or a curb? on your front bumper?
Or is it just me?

 

I'm in a constant state of scraping. Just getting out of my driveway is an ordeal.
It isn't visible from any normal viewing position, so I don't worry about it.
My cross braces, side skirts and such suffer equally.

I've never "hit" anything, though.

 

I've had the same problem with those undertray screws working loose.

 

The screws didn't work loose. They were as tight as ever. The tray was stretched right off the screws by the airflow.

 

Nice job - saved $200 and now you have a skid plate

 

I guess if the undertray moved enough to wear the holes oval, the next question is whether or not we are venting the under hood air pressure quick enough at high speeds to prevent this from happening again(?). Will it only be a matter of more high speed driving before MM has this happen again?

 

I think mine got loose and lost somehow...I am missing 2 down there. Anyone know the part number for those plastic "clip" screw? BTW, pretty cool solution. In the meanwhile, you can look to see if you can get a used one from a junk yard.

 

Whenever I go very fast (over 135), I do notice the front end feels a little light, especially noticeable on long sweeping curves. I wonder if it is this "plate" bowing from the pressure, creating extra lift on the front end....

 

^^ You will destroy your A/C condenser in short order that way. Mine got dented to sh*t after just the few hours of the tray being perforated.

 

Thanks, Jeff I was looking for a solution to mine.

Now I know how to fix it cheap.

 

Mine has the same - it's difficult to have the MS bumper and not have any scratches on the bottom lip. I have a pizza place nearby that I frequent, and there is a deep enough incline that I'll scratch if I'm not at an angle when leaving.

 

Man, that is awesome. Cool replacement idea.

I love the warning sign, haha.

-Cody

 

****, i thought i was the only one. One night i hit 135mph and then i hear the scraping noise. I still haven't figured out a solution for the under tray, but ill take this one into consideration

 

I guess I am going to pull mine down and put huge washers on mine. That should hold it down more with the washers providing more surface area.

 

my left side front tray thing ripped off on me once.

 

What do Tupperware and a walrus have in common?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
They are both always looking for a tighter seal.


:-)

 

Slightly mickey, but very creative....

 

I could have gone to the trouble of using a good piece of black polypropylene, but I liked the message on the Tupperware.

 

My tray is hanging down (has been for a few months)...looks like it's smiling at me. Piece of ****? Should I be pro-active here and get the middle gap fixed before it comes tearing off? That wouldn't happen with the speeds Maniac was hitting...that would be wrong