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Passenger Side Underbody Cover Interfering with Jacking Rail Install
I have a 2018 Ecoboost Mustang that I am attempting to install BMR Low Profile Jacking Rails on. I got the car on jack stands and found what appears to be a cover made of a felt type material that runs the length of the passenger side door, inboard of the pinch welds that is held in place with a couple of plastic push pins and quite a few metal screws. Because the panel runs inboard of the pinch welds, it interferes with the installation of the passenger side jacking rail. There are several metal screw heads and the edge of the felt panel itself where the rail needs to be installed. Unfortunately, this is no longer a 20 minute install as advertised by most jacking rail manufacturers. One of the screws that holds the panel in place even comes from the passenger side rear floorboard. Wasn't planning on pulling up carpeting to remove this panel! So my questions are:
What is the purpose of this panel? I performed a web search and can't find this panel mentioned anywhere.
Is it ok to remove this panel to install the passenger side jacking rail?
Why is it that neither Steeda or BMR ever mention this panel when I look at their videos or instructions for jacking rail installation?
Got antsy today and removed it. Nope, no fuel filter. Just a hollow void. I'm thinking this is just some kind of "Aero Panel" used to reduce drag for better fuel economy. My passenger side jacking rail is now installed.
Most new fords and every other vehicle have aero/noise insulation panels under them now. That's what they are.
My daughters 2017 Escape similar panels as does my wife's 2013 VW turbo beetle and my sons 2013 Fusion. The panels are NOT required if you want to remove them. If you remove them you may find it a little noisier in the passenger compartment or perhaps a 0.25 mpg reduction in fuel economy. If you do a lot of highway driving, maybe more significant.
A 10 minute oil change on the escape turns into a 25 minute change due to the panel removal and reinstall. It's not hard but the number of screws and tabs that hold it is ridiculous.
I have two on my Jetta each side, and they're just covers for road noise. The one on my '08
Mustang, the fuel filter is under it. Just thought maybe Ford kept it there on the S550s.
Charger had them too...
Thought I would have to pull the interior carpet to remove what I thought were screws holding the panel from inside the car. They were in fact welded studs on the bottom of the floor pan with "quick nuts" on them. I ended up removing the panel. Similar to what Derf00 stated above, according to people at work I queried about this panel, it serves as an "sound insulator" due to it being made out of felt instead of plastic. I took some pics of it hanging in my garage.
What I don't get is why some folks on another forum told me they bought a new '19 Ecoboost and it didn't come with this panel. Some do and some don't??? I'm not understanding Ford's logic.
Also, this panel attaches to the rear bottom of the passenger's side plastic wheelwell. Now where it attached the wheelwell, the bottom of the wheelwell hangs loose. Would like to know how the rear bottom of the passenger side wheelwell is attached in the S550 mustangs that didn't come with this panel! Pics are always helpful!
Last edited by Hicompression; 02-23-2019 at 11:12 AM.
02-17-2019, 08:43 AM
Passenger Side Underbody Cover Interfering with Jacking Rail Install
