What is the Deal With the "Black Things" Hanging on the 07/08 SEs? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

SEV6TRD · 03-03-2008, 12:54 PM

Do any of you other 2007/2008 SE owners see the same things I do when looking near my tires? My '08 SE V6 seems to have these weird black "flaps" that are hanging down near the skirting of the body kit; is this normal, and what are they?

JSM1284 · 03-03-2008, 12:59 PM

That is the rear moulding protector

xdothedew · 03-03-2008, 01:08 PM

Last week, I was driving across the George Washington Bridge and ran over a big chunk of ice or something.. it knocked the black flap out of its place and scraping against the rear wheel.. luckily, there was another screw holding the thing in place and I just popped it back in and it was alright ever since.. but I guess it did its job protecting whatever its supposed to protect

SEV6TRD · 03-03-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSM1284

That is the rear moulding protector

So, they are normal? What exactly do they do? I see them in front of the vehicle, too, near the front wheels....

SEV6TRD · 03-03-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xdothedew

Last week, I was driving across the George Washington Bridge and ran over a big chunk of ice or something.. it knocked the black flap out of its place and scraping against the rear wheel.. luckily, there was another screw holding the thing in place and I just popped it back in and it was alright ever since.. but I guess it did its job protecting whatever its supposed to protect

Yeah driving across the GW is a nightmare....I'm originally from Long Island, so I know what you're talking about...

So, your SE has these things, too? Mine are front and rear, but I was wondering what they're for and why they're there; they are actually an eyesore...

CMSE07 · 03-03-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEV6TRD

So, they are normal? What exactly do they do? I see them in front of the vehicle, too, near the front wheels....

Believe it or not, those are part of the underbody air diffusers to help aid in airflow under the body of the car to increase high speed stability.

centennialman · 03-03-2008, 01:14 PM

I had one in the rear rip off so I just took the other one off as well.

I thought they reduced drag...either way I won't have to worry about those things again. I'm counting the days until my front ones get damaged.

JSM1284 · 03-03-2008, 01:19 PM

Yes they are suppose to be there, I had them on mine.

SEV6TRD · 03-03-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CMSE07

Believe it or not, those are part of the SE's underbody air diffusers to help aid in airflow under the body of the car to increase high speed stability.

I do believe that; thank you very much for clearing that up. So, they are not the rear molding protector as suggested?

JSM1284 · 03-03-2008, 01:33 PM

They are called the Rear Moulding Protectors per toyota parts catalog.

geoff5093 · 03-03-2008, 01:34 PM

They are on my LE as well, they are on all the newer Camry's.

touringcamry · 03-03-2008, 01:34 PM

All the Camry grades have those wheel splats. They are there to improve aerodynamics around the tire and wheel well area.

SEV6TRD · 03-03-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centennialman

I had one in the rear rip off so I just took the other one off as well.

I thought they reduced drag...either way I won't have to worry about those things again. I'm counting the days until my front ones get damaged.

Wow...you took them off after one ripped off? Why would you -- just curious -- want to rip them off yourself purposely, and then wish the front ones get damaged and ripped off? You just didn't like the way they looked?

I agree they don't look good -- they're almost like wanna be ugly mudflaps of some kind -- but if they are part of the SE's underbody high speed stability system, I'm going to leave 'em where they are.

SEV6TRD · 03-03-2008, 01:38 PM

Okay guys, just to make sure we're on the same page here:

I'm not talking about actual extended mud flap things around the wheels; these are those small black flaps that hang just before the tires that you can see from a distance approaching the vehicle....these are on ALL Camrys of this generation, not just SEs?

And are they Rear Moulding Protectors, as the parts catalog suggests? If this is so, wouldn't these be considered an option from the parts catalog, not something that would just come on the car?

JSM1284 · 03-03-2008, 01:43 PM

Its not an option. They are on all camrys. Part of the way the vehicle was designed.

The front ones are called an "Extension Pad"