Hi everyone! I just got my 06 350Z Enthusiast (Silver Coupe) about a month ago. I love the car, and I have a question about scraping the botton of the car when I go up my driveway. The ramp is pretty steep, and I scrape a little in front on the plastic, which doesn't bother me too much, but every now and then if I hit at the wrong angle, I also scrape a little on the undercarriage on the left side (pretty much right below the driver).

I go very slow when I go up my driveway, but I am worried about what kind of damage I may be doing. When I look down there, it looks like there is a tubular part that is wrapped in a black braided covering that is scratched through to the metal just a little bit. I am obviously not a mechanic. Anyone have any insight on this?

 

The driveway is what it is, and the 350Z height is the height. It would be borderline absurd to raise the car height. If you are greatly concerned about the undercarriage, consider having a shop build you a skid plate.

 

I have the same problem and most folks with cars as low as ours will have to angle the car to avoid scraping the front and undercarriage of the car. in other words as you approach your driveway turn your wheel so that either the right or left front tire goes up your driveway first. then keep driving in that diagnol direction until you have the front half of your car on the driveway, then turn your wheel in the opposite direction to correct yourself. this also helps in coming off steep inclines or going over large bump or dips. try doing a search and you should find more info or maybe even a diagram showing what I'm talking about. I'm sure you've seen guys with dropped cars doing this before at shopping malls and such.

 

I agree with this. I live on a hill and have the same problem. Go at an angle and you should be good.

 

you should see our school construction... HUGE speed bumps.. and a dip right after it... its rediculous.. im fine at passing it.. just pisses the other 10 cars behind me waiting cause i take up 2 lanes to do this lil 1 wheel first manuver

 

 

with this car, (Stock exhaust) you do not scrape anything that will damage anything...

with an aftermarket exhaust, you may *will* scrape the y-pipe flex joint cover, as well as mid-pipe...

besides that.. it wont harm much..

 

there is a plastic guard on the front underneath the bumper that sticks out another inch. thats likely what is scraping. double check to make sure. it wont hurt anything so long as you dont hit paint.

 

I have the same issue on my driveway, easy answer is back up your driveway. I'm guessing you don't scrape when you are leaving (I don't)

 

The part you are describing is a section of your exhaust. Immidiatly after your catalytic converters is a y-pipe with a braided covering. Mine's not black though, it was silver originally and now it's dark grey. I've scraped mine pretty good but not "through to the metal." A little scraping here and there is fine (I prefer none at all if I can help it), but if you keep hitting that same spot you could wear all the way through.

 

I have to back into my driveway at an 45 degree angle. Once I am on the slope going up to the garage I can straighten it out and go right in.

 

I have Tanabe GF 210's on my car and am lowered about an inch and a half and as long as I angle I don't scrape on anything.

 

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of going up this particular ramp at an angle. It's a very small driveway in Hollywood that goes into a small garage.

The front scrape doesn't worry me. It's just the plastic below the front bumper.

The back (undrecarriage) scrape sounds like the part right behind the catylitic converter.