FlyinTomato

see pictures below. the black plastic guard on each control arm

When I removed the arms to install the cw bushings. I managed to broke the bolts that were holding the reflectors. Those bolts were seized good after all these years.

I haven't been able to remove the broken bolts and have been driving the car without those reflectors.

What are the function of those pieces? Are they there to guard the arms from debris? Are they directing air to brake? I found the term air deflector from the forum...

Is it okay to continue driving the car without them? I do plan on taking the broken bolts out in the future.

Harry Apps

The deflectors are "air ducts" - see PET Page 180. They serve to direct cooling air towards the brakes but should not be essential for "sensible" day-to-day driving.

J richard

Those are in fact brake ducts. They deflect the air from under the car into/through the front brakes and wheel outlets. On later cars particularly cup race cars they are pretty important in the performance of the brakes. For street probably not a huge issue but for any track applications I would make sure they are in place.

FlyinTomato

oh. no wonder my brake performance suffered so much from traffic light to traffic light j/k

thanks or clarifying. I do plan on putting them back. Only problem is I can't get those seized bolts out. It's really the shanks of the bolts that are likely fused together with the control arms.

Gus

Especially if you have to stop at 2 light in a row.

Captain Ahab Jr.

I've driven across Europe with no deflectors

I wanted to stop in Switzerland but over shot my braking point and ended up in NW France

You will have zero problems driving without them

Jacke2c

I had purchased to extra arms to refurbish before I redid y suspension. I had the same problem with sheared and frozen bolts. The previous owner (did not tell me) had tried to drill out two of the bolts and had left the broken bits in place. I bought some quality cobalt bits in several small sizes and drilled what I could out. Even with heat, they would not budge until I had drilled nearly completely through. A good drill press, bits and a couple or three hours should get it done.

abarthguy

Find an 'EDM' ( I believe) shop near you. It will remove the broken bolt without harming the arm.

FlyinTomato

nice one captain. how's your light weight project going?

Captain Ahab Jr.

Good thanks, drove my car in torrential rain last weekend, shouldn't have removed the sunroof drain tubes so carbon sunroof infill panel is my next job.

As I'm working a 1000 miles away from my car I'm keeping myself busy thinking up ways to save unsprung weight.