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quick question for anyone out there NOT running rock guards: Bad Idea? Mine are starting to yellow and I kind of just want them gone but I also do not want to sand blast my rocker panels.
I went without for a couple months after removing my yellowed originals -- didn't notice any chips or blasting although where I live the roads are not really gritty (California) -- and the car looked so much better without the distracting plastic crap.
Went with the magnagrafix magnetic speedster rock guards so I can take them off and on. So far they are great, but they are matte black so they really stand out (on Silver) and distract from the lines of the car. I am not convinced you get a lot of wear without them. My car has a couple of chips in the rear that missed the rear rock guards anyway, and one on front that went thru the bumper film. I wouldn't over analyze it. I am probably going to put mine on for long trips that might involve gravel turnouts or whatever, but life is too short as it is...
Last edited by TheTorch; 12-02-2019 at 02:53 PM.
Reason: typo
when I had the entire front clip of my 997.2 protected with XPEL Ultimate, I also had them run some along the bottom rocker (from behind front wheels, all the way to the back as one piece) and covers up the flare (in front of rear wheel well).
It also rolls up over the sill (under the door), so anyone getting in & out of the car does not scuff the painted edge with their shoes.
It is a long full piece that covers way more than just where the original OEM piece goes. It also rolls over to the underside of the fender lip (just like my front fender) and protects the paint that faces the tires.
Most importantly it also goes higher on the Qrtr panel (verses OEM piece), and then veers down to the rear lip (at about 10pm on a clock face).
Literally cannot see it unless you find the edge of the film with your eyes. Best protection back there ever.
Took a pic. I have put little red arrows along the edge...
=Steve
I decided to have a 1 piece Xpel put on the lower/rocker panels also covering the area for the "rock guard". It is a single pre-cut piece that doesn't yellow, 10 yr warranty, and much much easier to remove. In addition, it provides protection of the front of rocker panel behind the front wheels and under the doors as well as the front rear fender (rock guard area). Costs vary but should be $250 -350 including removal of oem rock guard.
Not replacing the rock guard with something to protect the rear fender will ultimately blast away paint, chip paint and look like crap, IMO....it needs some protection especially if you are running wheel spacers or aftermarket wheels with different offset or wider.
Plenty of people remove their stone guards with zero issues after many years. At the same time, many people manage to rip up their clear coat doing it the wrong way. I'm sure it's mostly dependent on how the car was cared for and stored. Mine were at least 8 years old when I removed them--easily with a steamer.
Now, I'm not going to say that they all come off easily, but I will say that anyone who takes 8 hours to do it is either being exceptionally--i daresay anally--careful or is just doing it wrong.. I hope it was the.former. I'd love to have a detailer who was that careful--as long as I'm not paying him by the hour.
I wouldn't run the car without rock shields. I go by the tenet that manufacturers rarely install a part unless it is necessary, or there for style points. Since they're clear, they're not there for style.
Plenty of people remove their stone guards with zero issues after many years. At the same time, many people manage to rip up their clear coat doing it the wrong way. I'm sure it's mostly dependent on how the car was cared for and stored. Mine were at least 8 years old when I removed them--easily with a steamer.
Now, I'm not going to say that they all come off easily, but I will say that anyone who takes 8 hours to do it is either being exceptionally--i daresay anally--careful or is just doing it wrong.. I hope it was the.former. I'd love to have a detailer who was that careful--as long as I'm not paying him by the hour.
I wouldn't run the car without rock shields. I go by the tenet that manufacturers rarely install a part unless it is necessary, or there for style points. Since they're clear, they're not there for style.
My ppf guy pulled them off my 2009 with 3,100 miles in about 30 seconds with no issues. He proceeded to cover the entire car in Sunteck 10 year film.
Ok, you got me. If you cover the car with paint protection film, you could do away with the stone guards because you're essentially doing the same thing.
But my point is, the guards probably cost Porsche 50 or 60 pfenning per car--between the parts and the labor to install them. Over all the cars they make, that's a ton of wiener-schnitzel they could add to the bottom line in a year.
Their accountants go through the parts.list constantly, looking for things to cut. If they didn't cut the stone guards over the entire model run, then they must serve a useful purpose.
I agree, 8 hrs (post # 4347) is too long for the job (unless there are sandwiches inbetween sides). I doubt he paid for 8 hrs labor.
And to the point of age,... my 1991 964 Turbo had the originals that I replaced in 2008. 17 yrs. yes they were yellowed, kinda gooey, and just plain unsightly. Easy job tho.
The original stone guards on my 2010 997 (above post # 4352) were in fine shape, and easier to remove,... but just did not cover the whole area to my preference.
I ended up getting mine off in about a half hour with my wife's dyson hair dryer.
I have a lot of experience taking crap like that off cars, including badging, 70s pinstripe stickers, and etc. that is 10, 20, and even 30 years old.
The 12 year old or so OEM stone guards came off pretty smooth working slow with enough heat but not enough to burn my fingers.
Car is a 100% SoCal car (SD/LA) pushing 25k by the end of the year.
I chased it with a Meguiar's detailing spray.
I HATE HATE HATE seeing plastic wrapped cars and clear bra lines, much less yellowed stone guards on a NB 911.
It just seems weird.
I will cry to everyone later when my hips are chipped to death.
but for now, it looks clean and it had been an eyesore for a LONG time.
Thank you guys for the motivation!!
12-02-2019, 10:56 AM
