Body Kits – Why You Need One

The entire purpose of tuning your car is to gain comprehensive benefits in terms of both power and style. Quite a few ways exist that offer you some of this, though body kits are perhaps the best way to get the best of both worlds. What are body kits? These are accessory kits that allow you to change the look and shape of your vehicles exterior. You can add greater aerodynamics with these kits, as well as the hot street look that you covet.

Why do you need a body kit? What can these kits do for your ride? The best way to find those answers is to understand what a body kit includes. Most kits include a front bumper, a rear bumper and side skirts. Other kits include those pieces, as well as fender flares and/or a wing spoiler. Your budget and the type of vehicle that you drive will limit the type of kit you get. Before you drop a wad of cash on any body kit, you must ensure that it is made specifically to fit your vehicle. Kits with a "universal" fit will result in a sloppy look, loose body panels and a waste of your cash.

Ground effects, body kits, spoiler kits, bumper kits and aerodynamics are all terms that mean the exact same thing. Here is a description of some bodykit components:

Fender Flares – Some body kits include fender flares. These fit over your OEM fenders and extend the side of your ride. This results in a more aggressive look, especially when coupled with coilovers and side skirts. Fender flares can be colored, or they can be made to blend with your vehicle's paint. Black and gray are the two dominant colors fender flares are available in, though you can find others.

Bumpers – Most body kits come with a front and rear bumper. In most cases, these simply cover your OEM bumper, though some will require that you remove your original bumper. The new bumpers will offer you a different style, breaking from the bland OEM tradition that stamps out generic looking bumpers. Grille insert are also usually included and will go a long way towards giving you that custom look.

Side Skirts – Side skirts fit over your OEM rocker panels and give your car a lower, more aggressive stance. These are included in most almost all body kits and usually bear the maker's insignia at the back end of the panel. If your vehicle has been lowered significantly from its original ride height, you may need to raise it prior to installing side skirts.

Front Lip - Attaches below the front bumper or on the bumper without removing the OEM bumper or bumper cover.

Grille - Replacement front grill between your bumper, headlight, and hood area. The other grilles are used universally on your fender for styling purposes.

Spoiler - Rear Wing/Spoiler usually attached onto your rear trunk. Different styles are attached differently.

There are lot of options in more elaborated bodykits. Here are some of the parts that you may also find on some kits: hoods, mirrors, splitters, Wings, spoilers, scoops, difusers, replacement trunks, bumper lips, etc.

Most custom cars have some sort of extra body components and almost all tuner cars seen at car shows have some sort of aftermarket body kit. It's one of the most popular modifications on car tuning.

Wide bodykits
If you want to stand out and want to show off your ride, then wide body kits is the way to go. These style of body kits ground effects usually require extensive modifications to your car including custom front fenders, doors, rear quarter panels and more. In addition, expect to upgrade rim sizes to accommodate your wider stance. Widebody kits are recommended for the hardcore enthusiasts.

Materials

In the aftermarket industry of aerodynamics, consumers are given many options in choosing a desired tuning style, different quality of products, and ultimately personalization for their vehicle. However, most consumers are not aware of the different types of materials used to create the bodyparts, and the differences between those materials.

Fiberglass (FRP)

The majority of the aerodynamic products in the industry today are made of some form of fiberglass due to its relative inexpensive nature and its ease for mass production. Fiberglass (FRP) advantages include low cost, light weight, and its relative ease for customization. However, the disadvantages in today’s “low cost” fiberglass market include increased shipping damages, low quality products, fitment issues, and ultimately more money spent at the local body shop for consumers. Many aerodynamic companies today have been able to offer “low cost” aerodynamics at the expense of a poor quality product in which consumers are not aware of until they receive the product. The conventional fiberglass is recommended for the consumer with a low budget as long as they research the company they are buying from and avoid buying a low quality product.

Poly-Urethane (PU)

Another option consumers may consider is aerodynamics made of a high quality Poly-Urethane material. Urethane (PU) products are made with a closed mold process and the finished product resembles an OEM product on your vehicle. Advantages for the consumer include a high quality product, OEM fitment, and virtually no damage during transit. However, urethane products are known to be extremely expensive, sometimes resulting in two to three times the cost of a fiberglass product. Also, urethane aerodynamics consists of pliable plastics which make the ground effects heavier and more susceptible to heat, causing it to lose its shape, warp, and even tear during usage. Keep in mind that once urethane parts lose shape or rips, it is not repairable leaving consumers no other choice except to spend more money on another product. Urethane aerodynamics is recommended for the high end consumer who does not mind spending more money for a high quality product. there should be references also to PU-RIM. PU-RIM is an abbreviation for Polyurethane Reaction Injection Molding. Polyurethane is the material used and reaction injection molding is the technology used to mold the part. This is the same material/process used by OEMs for bumpers skins (skirts), spoilers, and other components. The process is expensive to tool up for (requiring elaborate molds) but it produces components of exceptional quality.

Duraflex (PFRP)

Duraflex is a combination of fiberglass, plastic, and flex resins resulting in the best of both worlds. Duraflex (PFRP) products have a higher durability rate, reducing damage rates up to 75%, while still retaining its flexibility and staying true to form. Every Duraflex product is inspected through a rigorous quality control process giving consumers the highest quality product available with superior craftsmanship. This process ensures that Duraflex products are free from normal fiberglass deficiencies including waviness, spider cracks, chips, and gel coat damage. Duraflex products come finished with a shiny black gel coat, high quality mesh, hardware kit, and an installation guide. Duraflex products include many advantages of both fiberglass and poly- urethane aerodynamics, while leaving out most of the disadvantages. Duraflex aerodynamics is recommended for the consumer with a medium budget and wants to get the best value for the amount of money spent.

Carbon Fiber (CF)

Carbon fiber is a material consisting of extremely thin fibers about 0.0002–0.0004 inches in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in microscopic crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber. The crystal alignment makes the fiber incredibly strong for its size. Fiberglass and urethane body components have long been the standard for altering the appearance of your factory body style. But if you really want to be on the bleeding edge of automotive fashion, you definitely want to check out carbon fiber. Most carbon fiber parts are ready to install right out of the box! They are also protected by a high quality clear coat and UV coating from the manufacturer. Another benefit that carbon fiber offers is a substantial weight savings over factory metal, aftermarket urethane, and even most fiberglass body parts!