Help! Piece of car in rear hanging!

PhantomV8 · 09-06-2019, 04:52 PM

Hey all!

I just walked out to my car and noticed a piece of something dangling. What is this, and how urgent is it? My local dealerships service dept closed 50 minutes ago.

Is it safe to drive? Should I try and make it 45 minutes tomorrow to the next closest service shop?

Here is a link:
https://imgur.com/a/8MM5EeR

mrgoodbytes · 09-06-2019, 05:00 PM

It's a plastic cover. Nothing structural. So I'd say it is safe to drive.

However, there should have been some fasteners holding the piece on. They seem to have come off or maybe they were never in place.

What I would do, is try and fasten it with at least a zip tie or something. So it doesn't hit the ground and break off when you're driving. Then take it to the shop and have them get the correct fasteners put on.

Mov Ov3r · 09-06-2019, 05:06 PM

Looks like the coil spring/control arm plastic caps/covers. I don't think you NEED them, but they do protect from premature and excessive wear.

mcintyre1969 · 09-06-2019, 05:13 PM

Track shield

LT4Greg · 09-06-2019, 05:47 PM

Lower control arm plastic cover and yes the plastic pins look like they have come out. I would get it put back on but it’s not a critical part. See if you can remove it from the car so it doesn’t fall off on the road driving until you can get it to a shop for repair.

Zaqwert6 · 09-06-2019, 07:40 PM

Dead weight. Rip them off and relish in the additional speed. :-)

PhantomV8 · 09-06-2019, 07:43 PM

Thank you all so much for the replies, you have put my mind at ease.

The dead weight comment made me laugh!

Going to try and ZipTie it in the morning until I can get it into service!

cmitchell17 · 09-06-2019, 09:29 PM

As a side note, anyone know what the purpose of these are? I unrestrained plastic protecting metal pieces?

Tim M · 09-07-2019, 01:18 AM

Odd is the exact piece is loose on my 2018 as well although not to the same degree. I don't recall hitting something, but I suppose that is likely.

SSDan · 09-07-2019, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmitchell17

As a side note, anyone know what the purpose of these are? I unrestrained plastic protecting metal pieces?

As mentioned by others - it is a protective shield for the lower control arm. Many argue that they are not needed. But my view is that it has to at least provide some protection for corrosion and road debris. Otherwise, why would GM bother with the expensive of putting one there.

OP - I agree with just zip tying it up out of the way until you can stop at the dealership. Or just remove it. With either of those solutions - go ahead and drive it.

09-06-2019, 04:52 PM	#1
PhantomV8 Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Eastern US Posts: 117	Help! Piece of car in rear hanging! Hey all! I just walked out to my car and noticed a piece of something dangling. What is this, and how urgent is it? My local dealerships service dept closed 50 minutes ago. Is it safe to drive? Should I try and make it 45 minutes tomorrow to the next closest service shop? Here is a link: https://imgur.com/a/8MM5EeR

09-06-2019, 05:13 PM	#4
mcintyre1969 Drives: 1968 SS/RS, 2006 H2 2016 2SS White Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Texas ( Southern Moron) Posts: 770	Track shield __________________ 2016 2SS White fully loaded

09-06-2019, 05:47 PM	#5
LT4Greg Drives: 2017 Camaro ZL1 Coupe Join Date: May 2016 Location: Georgia Posts: 5,813	Lower control arm plastic cover and yes the plastic pins look like they have come out. I would get it put back on but it’s not a critical part. See if you can remove it from the car so it doesn’t fall off on the road driving until you can get it to a shop for repair. __________________ ZL1 Coupe, PDR, Exposed carbon fiber hood insert, My Link with Nav, M6 6 speed and Silver Ice Metallic. Mods done: ceramic window tint, GM Accessories Camaro floor mats and Roto-Fab CAI.

09-07-2019, 01:18 AM	#9
Tim M Drives: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Stuttgart, Germany Posts: 807	Odd is the exact piece is loose on my 2018 as well although not to the same degree. I don't recall hitting something, but I suppose that is likely. __________________ 2018 SS 1LE German Based Nurburgring Visit #19 Ring Laps: 77

09-06-2019, 05:00 PM	#2
mrgoodbytes Drives: '18 2SS/EU (+Recaros) M6 Red Hot Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Sweden Posts: 260	It's a plastic cover. Nothing structural. So I'd say it is safe to drive. However, there should have been some fasteners holding the piece on. They seem to have come off or maybe they were never in place. What I would do, is try and fasten it with at least a zip tie or something. So it doesn't hit the ground and break off when you're driving. Then take it to the shop and have them get the correct fasteners put on.

09-06-2019, 05:06 PM	#3
Mov Ov3r What speed limit? Drives: 2017 SS 1LE Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Dallas Posts: 245	Looks like the coil spring/control arm plastic caps/covers. I don't think you NEED them, but they do protect from premature and excessive wear.

09-06-2019, 07:40 PM	#6
Zaqwert6 Drives: 2SS Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: USA Posts: 396 View My Garage	Dead weight. Rip them off and relish in the additional speed. :-)

09-06-2019, 07:43 PM	#7
PhantomV8 Drives: 2016 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Eastern US Posts: 117	Thank you all so much for the replies, you have put my mind at ease. The dead weight comment made me laugh! Going to try and ZipTie it in the morning until I can get it into service!

09-06-2019, 09:29 PM	#8
cmitchell17 Drives: 17 2SS, 8L90, Cam, Heads, E85 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: US Posts: 1,201	As a side note, anyone know what the purpose of these are? I unrestrained plastic protecting metal pieces?

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