The rear fender includes this flap of metal right behind the wheel. It has an attachment point for the rear bumper cover. Anyone know how heavy it is and whether it's worth cutting off?

I didn't think much of it until I lost a rear wheel and it bent that piece all the way back. It took a good amount of force to bend it back into place. I don't particularly care if the wheel pelts the exhaust and rear bumper cover with stuff, but maybe it serves some other useful purpose on the track.

 

I'm not sure how much it weighs, have been considering taking out part or all of it myself. I'm sure though, in Mazda's sometimes frustratingly good job of making most bits on the miata pretty lightweight, it is probably not that heavy - it doesn't look very thick, which means we won't save much by chopping it off.

However, getting rid of that back section and running no rear bumper is probably better aerodynamically...

-Ryan

 

I think some people cut the rear fenders for better airflow, I did one side the old fashioned way by hitting a tire wall

 

Not sure exactly what you're referring to but the inner quarter tub does help keep things stiff. There is a reason it's heavy metal. I would not cut it out.

 

Not what he's referring to. There is a metal fender liner that extends below the tub itself behind the wheel which is thin steel. That is what he's asking about. I don't have any good pics of this area unfortunately to illustrate it.

p.s. I heart your rear wing.

-Ryan

 

Inner fenders just extra weight.

 

^^ Steady trollin.