Under body panels

[SteveCo]

When I had my underbody panel off, the material stiffness reminded me of pressed cardboard, and had it had a slightly fuzzy almost 'flocked' texture to it. I have no idea what they are actually made of, or their permeability - but I can't see them lasting very long under the car if they absorbed water and degraded - they'd simply tear out the attachment points and fall off.

There was a poster probably a year ago who showed an OEM Kia underbody tray of formed metal that was sold in the Russian market - even had a KIA part number for it, but it wasn't something that could be purchased here unfortunately.

Edit: Found the old thread. Here's a picture of the metal tray installed:

Front skid plate

 

[Kazz]

I've installed more than one Beatrush underpanel on cars over the years...

 

[SteveCo]

I've installed more than one Beatrush underpanel on cars over the years...

Looks like some nice products - nothing for the Stinger at this point, unfortunately.

 

[Manaz]

Looks like some nice products - nothing for the Stinger at this point, unfortunately.

I'm pulling a Beatrush undertray off my Liberty (Legacy for those of you outside of Australia) this weekend funnily enough (taking it back to stock in preparation for the Stinger replacing it). In a rare win, I'm selling it second hand for more than I paid for it (I bought it at the peak of the AUD rally against the USD).

I'd love that option for the Stinger, I'd buy it in a heartbeat, the Liberty one has been brilliant.

 

[Billy68aus]

You (in Australia) may have different panels under the car. My panels were replaced under warranty after a large oil leak soaked them. The oil couldn't be removed from them because it soaked into the material that lines the panels.

It caused me to have to spend an extra day in a Nissan Altima rental while they waited on the new panels to arrive.

What was the oil leak???

 

[G-263902]

I just returned from the dealership still with my torn Front under shield lower deflector, underbody. It will cost $720 to replace both front and back.

 

[CKeeler]

I just returned from the dealership still with my torn Front under shield lower deflector, underbody. It will cost $720 to replace both front and back.

$400 from here:
2018 Kia Stinger Under Cover - Kia Parts Now

 

[rocket23]

I recently had to remove my bumper cover and a few of the push pins broke. Do you know what size we need for the Stinger?

So while pondering life and my golf game I noticed the exact same push pins in the floor of the golf cart......a few more rounds and I'll have a fist full lol

 

[rocket23]

I just returned from the dealership still with my torn Front under shield lower deflector, underbody. It will cost $720 to replace both front and back.

screw it go without til you find one at a pick an pull....

 

[Rynil2000]

If you find exact replacements, please let me know! Mine are holding up quite well after a number of oil changes, suspension changes, etc. But two have come up missing throughout the car and I'd like to make it whole!

Just want to jump on this thread and mention a couple of things:
1) I found some OEM replacement push rivets/body clips/push clips on Amazon for a decent price IMO ($13/20 clips).
2) The headlights are aimed a bit low for my preference.
3) F*@& raccoons.

 

[Stinger @ JSC]

The panels underneath feels a lot like the one under the hood too me. Is it possibly plastic with this stuff as a coating for sound?

 

[Roarbomb]

I had to have both sides re-pinned after a downpour. I could hear what sounded like rumbling when I accelerated. I pulled over and checked to see if I was dragging something and there was nothing.

got back in the car and no noise till I had another puddle, then return of the rumble (again only when accelerating, not sure why)

the dealership replaced the pins on both sides but I didn’t check further and figured it was fixed.

a week later, rain storm. It seemed to fix the issue till a guy in front of me splashed enough water to “trigger” it again. Rumble while accelerating. Pulled off and let water drain out (I guess???) and made it home.

I do have ssr downpipes but I don’t see how that can be the issue. Makes me worry for the upcoming snow/rain we usually get. Haven’t had time to take it in again because it’s a 30 minute drive and kids make it difficult.

 

[moinmoin]

possibly plastic with this stuff as a coating for sound

You are on the right track.
The material is a foam sandwich and the fluffy stuff is probably for sound absorption. I took them off last year and after cleaning and degreasing them (Dawn!), painted them.
I tried a two-component paint, that virtually disappeared in the material and that not working, succeeded with garage floor paint, which seemed to have a much higher content of solids.

I also took the opportunity to cut an opening under the oil drain plug (Fujimoto valve), making the access hole under the oil filter my template. I also fashioned a cover for it.

All metal fasteners were replaced with stainless replacements. Plastic pins were cleaned and put in very hot (boiling?) water for a while in the "open" position = center pulled out.
That seemed to relax the plastic and brought it back to the original shape and ready for future use. Pins can be had via the dealer, but surprisingly, they don't seem to have them on hand - the packages containing 10 or so have to be ordered and are not cheap.

At present, the panels are off the car, because I had an oil spray for rustproofing purposes done, but they will be going on soon.
BTW, the metal fasteners I used could not be had in the exact configuration as the rusting original ones, which have a locking type head. I compensated by adding a regular washer and a locking washer between the washer & head and then kept the three parts together with a small O-ring over the bolt, which makes for an easier assembly.

 

[Richdrum007]

Oo! Undead under panels discussion. My front ones are newer than the car by c. half a year. They're not plastic, but a flexible, weather proof compressed board of some kind: probably very standard material (with an accurate name I do not know). No pins have fallen out that I have seen.

Clearance is more like seven inches for stock. That battery box? It's higher than that, but dropping after a speed bump will possibly scrape it; and you'll lose your "vent plug" and scrape up your weatherized coating, etc. The same can happen if you drop directly (not angled) from a drivable, low profile curb into the gutter. (Ask me how I know.)

It sounds to me that they should design better under panels for the Stinger. My 2020 Stinger only 12,000 miles on it and when I start the car, I hear a rattling noise. The other vehicles that I had in the past have had a form of a hardened plastic. The "compressed board," just seems to be cheaply made and not meant to hold up to the normal wear and tear of every day driving. Objects in the road are often times unavoidable and therefore the design should be to blame.

 

[nhcowboy28]

It sounds to me that they should design better under panels for the Stinger. My 2020 Stinger only 12,000 miles on it and when I start the car, I hear a rattling noise. The other vehicles that I had in the past have had a form of a hardened plastic. The "compressed board," just seems to be cheaply made and not meant to hold up to the normal wear and tear of every day driving. Objects in the road are often times unavoidable and therefore the design should be to blame.

Interesting.

everyone here raves about how much more affordable the stinger is compared to similar German cars.

yet demand the same level of engineering/materials.

something’s gotta give y’all.

you won’t have billet knobs/plastic underpans/rattle - squeak free cars for this money.

the stinger is amazing for what it is.

 

[MerlintheMad]

It sounds to me that they should design better under panels for the Stinger. My 2020 Stinger only 12,000 miles on it and when I start the car, I hear a rattling noise. The other vehicles that I had in the past have had a form of a hardened plastic. The "compressed board," just seems to be cheaply made and not meant to hold up to the normal wear and tear of every day driving. Objects in the road are often times unavoidable and therefore the design should be to blame.

Howdy. Don't tear the "pressed board" undercarriage panels and everything will last just fine. It's not like they wear out or anything. They're weather proof, unless they are damaged.

 

[Kamauxx]

Interesting.

everyone here raves about how much more affordable the stinger is compared to similar German cars.

That's Kia's fault. The comparison to German cars started with Kia. If Kia wants to be in the same discussion as more prominent players they'll need to adjust their build quality to match the cars they are targeting. Rattles and squeaks happen, but for $50k they shouldn't be unrepairable.

How is the material of the underbody panels a money saver anyway? I've had plastic panels on POS cars that were given to me up to those that cost $70k. I always thought plastic was about as cheap and practical as someone could use for the job--I wonder why Kia opted for fiberboard.

 

[Richdrum007]

Howdy. Don't tear the "pressed board" undercarriage panels and everything will last just fine. It's not like they wear out or anything. They're weather proof, unless they are damaged.

Standard wear and tear along with road hazards can cause it to tear and sheer off i.e. potholes, roadkill etc. He will have to beef it up by using plastic from a different vehicle or design, poor design on Kia's outset shouldn't be the consumers responsibility to find a better replacement.

 

[MerlintheMad]

Standard wear and tear along with road hazards can cause it to tear and sheer off i.e. potholes, roadkill etc. He will have to beef it up by using plastic from a different vehicle or design, poor design on Kia's outset shouldn't be the consumers responsibility to find a better replacement.

Lol. You're amazing: three comments all about the shortcomings of Stinger undercarriage panels. Anyone who drives over roadkill and into potholes and through road hazards is going to need more than a "beef it up": you'll be needing massive clearance and something like light armor underneath. Get a Humvee. Hah.

 

[Richdrum007]

Lol. You're amazing: three comments all about the shortcomings of Stinger undercarriage panels. Anyone who drives over roadkill and into potholes and through road hazards is going to need more than a "beef it up": you'll be needing massive clearance and something like light armor underneath. Get a Humvee. Hah.

I will contact Kia. Because it is a design flaw that should be addressed.