aFe air filter - which side?
 

I just received my aFe Pro Dry air filter and installed into my car. One side says "FRONT" on it, so I assumed that it meant that side should be facing the front of the car, but I had a hard to closing up the air box. I flipped it over and it seemed to close easier, but some pressure is still required to snap the clips back on.

Which side is it suppose to be facing?

Your first thought was correct, front as in front of car. Being new perhaps seal is stiff you can spray some silicone spray on the deal. Check for molding flashings etc as well which could interfere. I've had a few filters in past diff vehicles had to hit em with hair dryer abit to make it mold up better for first install to.

Some filters have a flat side and a pleated side. Most often pleated side goes inward towards intake tube/motor etc,,

Hmm.. I just tried again and still can't push the upper airbox all the way day. It closes fine when I go back to the stock filter.

I guess I'll just have to take the whole airbox out to see why it's not going in when the weather gets warmer.

there is one corner that is different. make sure you have it rotated properly.

All four corners are the same on the aFe filter.
http://i.imgur.com/ZEBxKgq.jpg

I just took out the airbox and tried it again. I stuffed it in there, but I still need to put pressure on it for it to close. I took some pictures, so maybe someone can spot what I'm doing wrong?

http://i.imgur.com/Di1GGMY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/adV7MR7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/GWD8C4A.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Y9T2Pb8.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Xp8HEfY.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/0ILaHKs.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/g9r8yOO.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/j8GfE8c.jpg

Anyone? :iono:

The square side of the filter that stick out should face the from of the car. The flat face side should face the driver. Like like you have the square side that sticks out facing the driver.

So the text on the filter that says "front" should be facing the cabin of the car?


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I just installed mine Saturday night and was in the same situation as you. Comparing it to the stock filter, the FRONT should point to the inside of the car.
Check the stock filter and compare the seals (where they meet the air box), there is no way you can install with the FRONT towards the bumper.
Maybe FRONT means something else?

I called aFe just now. The guy said that it shouldn't matter which side you put it in. Does it mean the filter is bi-directional?

I tried to ask for further clarification and which side should the "protruding" side of the filter face. He said the filter should go on the "clean side" of the intake. I asked what that meant and he said the side closer to the engine.

Now I'm just confused. I'll just drive my car as is and hope it's put in correctly.

Honestly, I don't think there is anything else to discuss to decide which way it goes, FRONT goes towards engine like you said.
The guy in the company who said that it can go either way has no idea what he is saying. I'm just glad he doesn't work for a company like JE or Arias. I can imagine him saying 'the face of the piston can be installed anyway you want, forget about the valves, they are overrated'

I have the same filter as you and I had the exact same issue. Theoretically, it doesn't matter which side the filter is facing. The most important thing is the seal. If you install it like that with the front facing the bumper, the seal isn't as good if compared to the install with the front facing the cabin.

I suggest flipping it with the front facing the cabin. However, if you do flip it, make sure you clean that filter really really well. If you don't, you might just suck in all the debris that was trapped in it.

According to the diagram and description, the layers of the filter gets progressively finer. The grid-like thing looks finer on the side that says FRONT, so I swapped it back to facing the cabin. The air box seals much better, too.

The aFe guy I called didn't know what he was talking about. Problem solved. Thanks everyone.