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Removing "Carpeted" Wheel Well Liners

23K views 22 replies 13 participants last post by  esox07  
#1 ·
I know there has been some discussion on this subject and it seems most folks leave them installed. But here's a thought for us in areas where the DOT folks aren't shy at all about salt use in the winter. I've hosed my wheel wells out when I can after a trip in the slush and snow. But I can easily see and feel where I think salt, grime and grit could get trapped near the outer edge of wheel well. By removing them, I could easily flush the entire wheel well, especially that small seam just inside the edge where two metal edges meet but aren't "sealed up."

So other than keeping road noise down including stones slung up, I'm inclined to remove the liners on my '18 Silverado. In the seven years I owned my 2011 (from new), I had zero rust issues, even on the inside of the wheel well.

So what say you guys? Anyone with personal experience after having removed theirs that live in a high salt usage area?

Thanks in advance!
 
#2 ·
I put smooth ones on my 2013 soon after I bought it. It doesn't hold or trap any of the Wisconsin salt, snow, slush and ice. I agree that the "carpeted" ones they started putting in the 2014's and up are not good for the snow belt.

The gunk doesn't hold to the smooth ones and makes clean up quick and easy.
 
#6 ·
No kidding, our 2015 1500 has those things and I HATE how they hold road salt & sand. I'm guessing GM thought it would dampen road noise, but never did real-world testing outside of places with ideal weather conditions.
 
#9 ·
That Line-X is a way to do it for sure. That would truly seal the elements out. No edges to get under. I don't see how a smooth liner will stop the junk from accumulating along the edge of well and liner any different than the carpet ones do. I understand how the smooth material itself would not cater to snow sticking to the surface, but from getting under it and into the edge seam? Seems that issue would still be an issue with both liners. I guess I am just not sold on that really helping keep junk from getting under it. It covers the same area correct? Goes to the edge the same as carpet?
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the replies men. My 50' garden hose on a reel is in the shed for the winter. But I have a 25' hose I keep out for winter use when it's not too cold. That's what I use to spray the wheel wells and rockers after they get salt, grit, mud...anything on them. I'm borderline OCD about it and my 2011 showed it. I just want to stay ahead of it on this new truck. I think I'll be removing them when it warms up some.
 
#12 ·
I didn't want to start another thread on this, but I like the function and look of the carpet liners when they're "relatively" clean.......but cleaning them is obviously not easy.
So has anyone found any tricks for cleaning them while still installed? Some kind of medium-bristle brush, perhaps?
Also, wondering if I could maybe get the carpet ones Line-X'd? Or is that a dumb idea? ;)
 
#22 ·
I have a '14 Silverado and every spring i take a small hose and stick up in the wheel well as far as it goes. I also use a paint stick to pry the liner away from the body and spray water in there. A lot of junk comes out and seems to rinse out good. Like the carpet liners for noise control but they do hold the slush when the melting begins and roads are sloppy. GM should have put in some kind of removable grommet to stick a hose in to wash them out. If you don't wash them out regularly you will see rust sooner than you want.
 
#23 ·
I look forward to that first good rain storm in April every year and I go out and drive in it when it is still raining hard. I aim for the puddles and it seems to do a really good job of cleaning off the undercarriage and hard to reach places.