Never build another splitter

they have teflon covered lug nuts in boxes of 250...

that's gotta make the car faster somehow..

http://www.roushyatesparts.com/2013-ford-focus-st-p/ryp-focus.htm

Keith Tanner wrote: The material of choice for cheapass DIY aero splitters is either plywood

Ah, the original carbon-based racing product! I have seen some very, very well done wood splitters, on all the way up to SPO cars. No reason not to, really, especially if you are experimenting. (Double-Plus points for a coroplast undertray)

I like to call it "fiber". Not carbon fiber, just fiber.

oh my god. thats what my hyundai is missing. roof flaps.

I could spend so much money on stuff I don't need there. I don't even like stock cars.

failboat wrote: oh my god. thats what my hyundai is missing. roof flaps.

Say What?

Keith Tanner wrote: I like to call it "fiber". Not carbon fiber, just fiber.

Trees are fibrous carbon based lifeforms, wood is a sort of carbon fiber.

Just read the whole thread:
The COT splitters are not carbon fiber, the are a kevlar like fiber in a plastic resin (Tegris or MFT is the specified designation in the rulebook).

The matrial is just under 1/2" thick and is not terribly hard to work. Treat it like wood. It does tend to leave fibers showing after cutting. If it touches the ground it will 'polish' as it wears.
It is not as stiff as Aluminum, for the same thickness, but cheaper for the same thickness. Aluminum tends to bend and fail catasrophically in a simlar stiffness. This splitter material tends to wear off instead of removing big chunks.

Wood and plastic are both good prototyping materials. Plastic tends to get soft and take a set with heat or ground contact. Wood just leaves you looking for smoke.

Bracing the leading edge of the splitter with cable of solid braces is a good idea if the splitter sticks out more than a few inches. The aero load will bend thin materials between the braces and leave cresent shaped wear areas, where your splitter used to be.

I do run support cables on my splitter, which is made of 6061 aluminum. Should be pretty strong Thanks for the tech update. A friend has ordered one of the COT splitters to try out on her Miata, we'll see how they fit.