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Rear spoilers and wings are often interchangeable as far as after-market car modifications, but they’re actually very different when it comes to aerodynamic applications. First we’ll discuss spoilers, which can be located on the trunk of the car or the spot where the rear window and the roof meet. A rear spoiler looks like a raised, protruding flap or horizontal fin.
How Rear Spoilers Improve Performance
The rule of thumb called ‘The Bernoulli Effect’ states that the higher the speed that a gas or liquid flows around an object, the lower the pressure and the lower the speed of the molecules, the higher the pressure. The sides, top and bottom of the car tend to be lower pressure, where the front and rear of the car have higher pressure. When the car makes a hole in the air molecules, the molecules travel quickly over the hood and roof, creating a lower pressure lift on the top and behind the car. The air can then tumble down behind the car, creating lift, drag and turbulence. The spoiler helps to dam the air and slow it down, creating a higher-pressure area with downforce instead of lift. It also keeps the air from becoming turbulent behind the car. Downforce on the rear of the car and the absence of turbulence helps with traction and handling.
Rear Spoiler Buying Guide
Spoilers can be found in fiberglass, polyurethane and carbon fiber and come in many different styles and types. What you choose will depend on your planned usage of the car and how the item looks and blends with the other chosen body works. Plan on spending anywhere from $130.00 to $260.00, depending on the style and material. Once again, the fiberglass or polyurethane models will need to be painted, while the carbon fiber is ready for installation. VIS Racing, Carbon Creations and APC are popular brands. |
