Question for NC owners. Given the absorbing properties of those fabric wheel arch liners, is it advisable to just get rid of them completely and replace with something plastic?
Seem a little pointless if they only serve to increase the risk of rust, or am I missing something?
Probably serve as a sound deadening too, I’d leave them in place. Best to remove and underseal under there (plenty around the arch lip area) then replace. Good chance too to see how under there is and the rusty stuff. Pay particular attention to the lower arch area where it meets the sill, that is the rust prone area around that small bolt/washer and the insert/bung
Thanks and will do, Think I just read your thread on this exact treatment too!
Another thing I’ve done is place rubber washers between the liner and the metalwork to keep the liner separate as much as possible.
I’ve treated mine with a load of Renova stuff that is used to waterproof the fabric softtop.
Not sure that it will help.
Poss there for soundproofing BUT I took it off for a while and didnt notice any worrying difference.
Some suggest trimming it back a bit along the long edge so that it doesnt sit with the foam edge in the arch lip and also at the bottom near the end of the front arch . . . .
I removed mine and coated inner arch with underseal after removing all visable crud / rust.
I then cut and fitted closed cell fully waterproof sound deading. I then jet washed liners, left until fully dry and refitted.
Cars dry use only, sound proofing helped with road rumble.
I’ve recently had the pockets welded and undersealed the arches but left the fabric liners out completely.
Most HGVs seem to have fuzzy wheel arch insides, I always assumed it was a feeble attempt to reduce spray.
Feeble? IMHO, yes, they still can cover three lanes of motorway with opaque thrown-up spray.
So it is moot, does it really do anything for them, or us?
And thus do they do anything useful in the NC?
In 1996 I specifically did not buy a new A4 because of the mud-traps inherent in the way a) the rear arch liners were so loose, about 5mm clear except at the fixers and arch return, b) the coil-over top sat in a coffee-cup sized pocket spot-welded on top of the arch (memories of Mk1 Cortina front strut tops already rotting out at first MOT).
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