Rear bit of plastic/undertray hanging off

[waltzinblack]

Please see pics below. This troublesome bit of plastic is hanging off just in front of the rear passenger side wheel and scraping along the ground.

 

Can anyone advise whether I should replace, and also how important the part is? I'm not sure whether it's snapped off or some bolt has just fallen out - wasn't about to get under there in a suit at 6am!!!

 

 

 

Cheers

 

 

[cmck13]

If that's the w brace plastic cover hanging off and it looks like it is. Not much of a problem take it off but you should be able to fit it back on up to you really

[GIXXERUK]

tie wrap it

[Floydbax]

There's a couple of pix in my gallery of my new W brace which doesn't have the bolt for attaching this plastic bit back. Like GIX' said just use a cable tie, it actually holds the tray up better and higher and tighter than the original bolt.

[KyleR]

The bolt has probably corroded to pieces, rip it off or cable tie it up like the other said. It's not important

[waltzinblack]

Thanks. Glad to know it isn't a problem.

 

So what exactly do those bits of plastic 'do' then? I will most likely try and source some new ones and replace both. Might fit a new W brace as well just for the hell of it.

 

I imagine these are pretty easy jobs!

[Floydbax]

My plastic trim bits did a great job of collecting small stones and other miscellaneous road debris - tho having said that I suspect they haven't been touched since they went on at the factory. If you're going to replace the W Brace make sure you lead up to it with plenty of penetrating oil, several applications I mean, my car is '05 so those bolts have been there rusting in place for quite a while now I managed to snap a few of the heads off on the outer bolts ( There's 3 either side under the plastic trim). The Four middle ones came off a lot easier. There's 3 smaller ones that hold the plastic trim on, as you have experienced the front 2 tend to break off. These are actually a part of the W Brace itself and it you are replacing then it doesn't matter - 'tho like I pointed out when you come to replace the trim you will need to use cable ties. The rear bolt is a lot easier to 'lube' up and get off tho' I managed to replace the brace on my driveway on axle stands on my own so it can't be that difficult, tho it would take a lot less time if you can get onto a ramp