Ok I've pretty much decided to get a top Secret front lip diffuser. However..i want to paint it to match the car. I belive that CF is stronger and lighter than fiberglass,correct? But...can it be painted properly, or do i need to go with the fiberglass lip if i want to paint it?

 

Go w/ the CF. it's stronger, lighter, and yes, you can paint it.

 

i have the top secret front diffuser.

the only portion that is true carbon is just the front lip, the diffuser is in fiberglass still.

i am redoing my TS diffuser in full carbon, and adding on the front nose piece that comes up and over the nose section of the stock front bumper and etending the splitters forward more..
it will be 10x stronger and alot cheaper.

if interested. email me.

thanks
--cheston

 

Go with fiberglass.

The fiberglass component has the same stiffness as the CF and since there is hardly any load (only aerodynamic) you won't have to worry about strength. Fiber glass should be cheaper as well. If it isn't cheaper, then the CF is not a good quality anyway. Plus, that front diffuser will get scratch and nicked from driving, being as it is way the hell down there. It's also going to get hit by rocks all the time. If you still want to go with the strength issue, CF does not like impact laods (ie little rocks at 70-159mph). All these little impacts will decrease it's strength.

As for weight, I'd like someone to make a front diffuser with FG and one with CF. Make them have the same stiffness. Then weigh them. My money is on zero difference.

I have had two college courses on composites. You can trust me or not.

FYI - The nose cone of aircraft are usually fiber glass because they don't take any load, and they get messed up all the time from hail/birds/etc. and it's really easy and cheap to replace.

 

..interesting..I appreciate the responses...my main concern was stress fractures where the lip is bolted to the bottom of the car as it seems the main load iwll be the lip moving at a diagona/perpendicularl to the plane of the bolts as it is forced downward at the higher speeds,it was my understanding that CF was less prone to stress fractures than fibreglass?

I dont see weight being a big factor, actually a little weight up front is good I think,as its the whole point of the nose lip right to impart downaward force to counteract lifting of the front end, is that correct?

also i have never had a CF part painted and was real curious about that...

all things being equal( cost is not really an issue for me) I just wanted to go with a structurally sound piece...if the TS diffuser is a CF/fibreglass composite then , it seems no point in getting it since that must just be for looks...so logic says,if I paint it, who cares about CF since the rear attachement area is FG anyways.

but if Chebosto is maken an entire '1 piece' CF unit that is more rigid....

that sounds pretty cool.

 

CF has the same problems with point loads and stress fractures. CF (like most composites, excluding 3D weaves) are terrible with loads through the material.

You can paint it just like FG.

The stiffness (not strength) of CF and FG are pretty much the same. Not to say Chebosto is wrong, but there is probably very little difference if any between a CF and FG rigitity.

But, if you say cost isn't a concern, then you can get whatever you want, they are going to serve you just the same.