Gravel Roads - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Jarrid'sBRZ · 05-30-2017, 03:58 PM

Hello all,

This past weekend I was shooting through some canyon/bluff roads

when suddenly I ended up on some unpaved all gravel roads... I drove slowly since this BRZ is my baby and I didn't want to damage her. I haven't gotten a chance to check the undercarriage for damage yet, but I was curious if anyone knew how durable the undercarriage is?

Tcoat · 05-30-2017, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarrid'sBRZ

Hello all,

This past weekend I was shooting through some canyon/bluff roads

when suddenly I ended up on some unpaved all gravel roads... I drove slowly since this BRZ is my baby and I didn't want to damage her. I haven't gotten a chance to check the undercarriage for damage yet, but I was curious if anyone knew how durable the undercarriage is?

It can take a pile of abuse. I have hit things on the highway that would give you fits of despair and all is still good under there. Some gravel won't hurt. It just makes the most soul rending noise as it hits.

jubella2 · 05-30-2017, 04:11 PM

If you have stock wheels on you're most likely fine. Wide front wheels with more poke will throw rocks right behind the doors where the fender flares out. That's where I have the most paint chips.

gramicci101 · 05-30-2017, 04:12 PM

The undercarriage is fine. What you should worry about is your tires kicking up rocks into the paint on the sides of the car. If gravel roads are going to be a habit, you should invest in mud flaps.

Tcoat · 05-30-2017, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubella2

If you have stock wheels on you're most likely fine. Wide front wheels with more poke will throw rocks right behind the doors where the fender flares out. That's where I have the most paint chips.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gramicci101

The undercarriage is fine. What you should worry about is your tires kicking up rocks into the paint on the sides of the car. If gravel roads are going to be a habit, you should invest in mud flaps.

I tend to forget that not everybody gets the stock mud guards like Canada does. I totally agree, anybody that hits a gravel road on a regular basis should invest in them. They make a huge difference.

Mr.ac · 05-30-2017, 04:48 PM

How dare you drive this car like a car!
Your car is totaled I would not drive it again till you take it to a dealership in a flatbed. And then proceed to announce to everyone working there exactly what you did and demand repairs.
Don't forget to get this all on video and share.

jubella2 · 05-30-2017, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I tend to forget that not everybody gets the stock mud guards like Canada does. I totally agree, anybody that hits a gravel road on a regular basis should invest in them. They make a huge difference.

Wow, a set of those are only $59 on FT86SF. I'm going to get them. Thanks!

gramicci101 · 05-30-2017, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubella2

Wow, a set of those are only $59 on FT86SF. I'm going to get them. Thanks!

Didn't know that. I will be getting some as well.

Jarrid'sBRZ · 05-30-2017, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

It can take a pile of abuse. I have hit things on the highway that would give you fits of despair and all is still good under there. Some gravel won't hurt. It just makes the most soul rending noise as it hits.

Yeah it was making the most heartbreaking noise.

thomasmryan · 05-30-2017, 07:35 PM

gravel is fun but i do have the Scion OEM flaps. handling can be the same as driving on ice/snow so don't get too crazy.

Gforce · 05-30-2017, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarrid'sBRZ

Hello all,

This past weekend I was shooting through some canyon/bluff roads

when suddenly I ended up on some unpaved all gravel roads... I drove slowly since this BRZ is my baby and I didn't want to damage her. I haven't gotten a chance to check the undercarriage for damage yet, but I was curious if anyone knew how durable the undercarriage is?

It's basically Subaru Impreza under there. Could care less. Makes a horrendous noise because of very little sound insulation. The underside is heavily undercoated. The outer sills and bottoms of the wheel arches are just plastic so stone chipping is irrelevant to that part of the bodywork.

Canadian cars got shorty mudflaps only on the FRS. I bought a set for my BRZ from my local Toyota dealer. Subaru dealers weren't even given access to the part numbers.

Scrappydoo · 05-30-2017, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubella2

Wow, a set of those are only $59 on FT86SF. I'm going to get them. Thanks!

I've got the front and rears. Not normally a fan of mudflaps but these look neat and seem to do the job.

Tcoat · 05-30-2017, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrappydoo

I've got the front and rears. Not normally a fan of mudflaps but these look neat and seem to do the job.

Since Canadian cars all get them stock (as well as heated mirrors like we drive in the winter or something) and whenever I see one without them it looks weird to me.

TheRoops · 05-30-2017, 09:06 PM

You guys should try out some parking lot entrances and rain gullies in LA. It sounded like it tore off both bumpers and my exhaust but not a scratch when I checked.

05-30-2017, 03:58 PM	#1
Jarrid'sBRZ Member Join Date: May 2016 Drives: 2016 Black subaru BRZ limited Location: Wiconsin Posts: 30 Thanks: 18 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Gravel Roads Hello all, This past weekend I was shooting through some canyon/bluff roads when suddenly I ended up on some unpaved all gravel roads... I drove slowly since this BRZ is my baby and I didn't want to damage her. I haven't gotten a chance to check the undercarriage for damage yet, but I was curious if anyone knew how durable the undercarriage is?

05-30-2017, 04:48 PM	#6
Mr.ac [insert cool phrase here] Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: BRZ Premium Location: Central Coast CA Posts: 2,368 Thanks: 709 Thanked 1,559 Times in 930 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	How dare you drive this car like a car! Your car is totaled I would not drive it again till you take it to a dealership in a flatbed. And then proceed to announce to everyone working there exactly what you did and demand repairs. Don't forget to get this all on video and share. __________________ New daily driver - Subaru BRZ Premium Weekend fun/track car - '91 MR2 Turbo Gen3 Old daily driver - '88 MR2 Supercharged

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Rough and gravel road suspension setup	BRZdart17	Suspension \| Chassis \| Brakes -- Sponsored by 949 Racing	57	05-31-2017 03:35 PM
Rota Gravel Hyper Black 18x8.5 5x100 +44	brzsubarusti13	Wheels and Tires	22	02-08-2016 04:42 AM
Fr Susp noise on gravel or bad pavement.	Ozzman	Issues \| Warranty \| Recalls / TSB	17	11-03-2015 07:29 AM
FS: Rota Gravel Gold 18 x 8.5 SoCAL	brzsubarusti13	Wheels and Tires	15	05-26-2015 10:13 AM
Gravel roads in the styx	regal	Scion FR-S / Toyota 86 GT86 General Forum	37	08-04-2013 10:54 PM

05-30-2017, 04:11 PM	#3
jubella2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Drives: DGM BRZ Location: MN Posts: 176 Thanks: 126 Thanked 78 Times in 60 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If you have stock wheels on you're most likely fine. Wide front wheels with more poke will throw rocks right behind the doors where the fender flares out. That's where I have the most paint chips.

05-30-2017, 04:12 PM	#4
gramicci101 Off Topic Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Vegas, baby! Posts: 4,610 Thanks: 2,369 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,170 Posts Mentioned: 43 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	The undercarriage is fine. What you should worry about is your tires kicking up rocks into the paint on the sides of the car. If gravel roads are going to be a habit, you should invest in mud flaps.

05-30-2017, 07:35 PM	#10
thomasmryan Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Drives: hyper blue Location: east tn Posts: 406 Thanks: 169 Thanked 264 Times in 158 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	gravel is fun but i do have the Scion OEM flaps. handling can be the same as driving on ice/snow so don't get too crazy.

05-30-2017, 09:06 PM	#14
TheRoops Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Drives: 2015 Subaru BRZ Series.Blue Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 211 Thanks: 117 Thanked 110 Times in 66 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	You guys should try out some parking lot entrances and rain gullies in LA. It sounded like it tore off both bumpers and my exhaust but not a scratch when I checked.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password