What are the purpose of the front splash guards?

[Bucko]

The ones in front of the tires, not the the ones behind the tires. I saw a week or so ago where a member here had his push back onto the tire and they wore down.

I don't drive in reverse enough to have water splash to the front....seems too that they would be an easy shot at hitting a parking block, much like how a front lower spoiler would do.

Seems they must have a purpose, but I'm not seeing it. Do folks remove them that do any off road driving?

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[Donald Wood]

The front guards are to deflect air from front tires.

 

[BronzeSmokeBadlands]

First off, the front "splash gaurds" for lack of a better word, are on all BS, minus the Badlands trim which has a 2.0L, not the 1.5L. My Guess is that Ford was trying to squeak out every last bit of gas mileage out of the 1.5L....Since the Badlands sells at much lower numbers and the gas mileage on the Badlands/2.0L is significantly less, so why bother?? IDK

 

[RSH]

Aerodynamics for better fuel mileage.

 

[Bronclahoma]

First off, the front "splash gaurds" for lack of a better word, are on all BS, minus the Badlands trim which has a 2.0L, not the 1.5L. My Guessa is that Ford was trying to squeak out every last bit of gas mileage out of the 1.5L....Since the Badlands sells at much lower numbers and the gas mileage on the Badlands/2.0L is significantly less, so why bother?? IDK

My 21 Badlands has them. I'd wondered the same and concluded that they deflect air. That is really grasping for mileage.

 

[HomePeace]

Mine just chewed up the driver side a few weeks ago and I ordered the new front tire flap and bolts... total was like 14 bucks. Took about 2 minutes to pop it on. When comparing the old to the new, I had somehow ripped off nearly 60% of the piece. I probably parked like an idiot and took it off by getting too close to a parking lot cement block or curb.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Mine just chewed up the driver side a few weeks ago and I ordered the new front tire flap and bolts... total was like 14 bucks. Took about 2 minutes to pop it on. When comparing the old to the new, I had somehow ripped off nearly 60% of the piece. I probably parked like an idiot and took it off by getting too close to a parking lot cement block or curb.

Your milage should improve by .00000001%. Thanks for trying to help save the planet. Mine does not have it. They must have known!

 

[DirtyLuke]

I accidently ripped one of those little air deflectors off my rear wheel with a rock while wheeling, so the other one had to go as well.

 

[Bucko]

Mine just chewed up the driver side a few weeks ago and I ordered the new front tire flap and bolts... total was like 14 bucks. Took about 2 minutes to pop it on. When comparing the old to the new, I had somehow ripped off nearly 60% of the piece. I probably parked like an idiot and took it off by getting too close to a parking lot cement block or curb.

This is why I asked. I will remove mine, as I'm not worried about loosing .003% fuel mileage per tank. Yea it may add up for Ford, but no worries for me.

I can't see myself worrying about hitting a parking stop with them, so off they will go.

Thanks to all for responding. I will sleep better tonight. Ha

 

[69cuda340s]

I can't see myself worrying about hitting a parking stop with them, so off they will go

If you go up against parking curb and flap wedges up against front tire then tire pulls it down and can pull screw out. I did it to rear flaps on another car.

Theoretically tires are major aero drag that why deflectors are there. How much real world difference don't know but that why modern cars have them.

 

[Bucko]

If you go up against parking curb and flap wedges up against front tire then tire pulls it down and can pull screw out. I did it to rear flaps on another car.

Theoretically tires are major aero drag that why deflectors are there. How much real world difference don't know but that why modern cars have them.

probably why they have auto stop/start too, to squeeze every possible MPG rating from a vehicle. They will come off my BS and get stored in case it changes hands some day; not any day soon though.

 

[69cuda340s]

probably why they have auto stop/start too, to squeeze every possible MPG rating from a vehicle. They will come off my BS and get stored in case it changes hands some day; not any day soon though.

Yeah I doubt you will see mileage difference. Maybe if you go 75 mph on highway on multi hour drive then maybe some minute difference.

 

[Hot Rod Mike]

Looks much cleaner with them off.

 

[Bucko]

Looks much cleaner with them off.

I'll think so too. And perhaps my mileage will increase due to the weight reduction of those front flaps removal

 

[rootdoc]

Plastic front splash guard/bezel also holds the wheel well liner in place.

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