the AirAid intake tore the 2 grommets from the OEM air box

on the 2 grommets in the back that hold the AirAid down, you use the standard grommets from the OEM air box. well i have noticed it kept popping up and now i noticed it tore the 2 rubber grommets. I

thought they were just coming loose but it actually tore them. so the design there is weak and sharp or not the right size.

i am going to email AirAid today about it

Odd... I pulled mine yesterday and noticed no problems. Nor did it ever pop up. I'm most interested about what Airaid has to say about this, and I hope you get it cleared up. Let us know, Charlie! :D

yes, please post their reply. I just checked my setup after reading your post and everything looks in place.

Just checked mine and they are fine. One thing I did notice was that the stock air hose that goes to the Airaid box was somewhat collapsed (oval shaped instead of round) near the fender. I switched it out with a universal aftermarket hose I bought at Pep Boys Ricer section. I'll let you know if it makes a difference after I drive it on the weekend.

BTW...If you have your hood open, check the stock air hose near the fender. Mine was oval instead of a true round shape. I'm curious if the length of the stock air hose is too long for the Airaid...

Ng

no torn gromments noticed..
I used nascar/race car silicone tube reinforce.. no collapse...

no torn grommets here either CJ

no reply as of yet

ok
got a call from AirAid just now from the guy that actually designed it
guys name is Sam.

got his email and direct phone #
they are overnighting a hardware kit w saturday delivery. My kit was 1 missing a bolt that held on the MAF tube and i emailed them and the guy at AirRaid named Bill told me to get in touch w AutoAnything and get the part.

i called them and they didnt have parts so i was going to have to go to a hardware store, remove the tube off the box and go find a bolt and lock washer that fit it. kind of ticked me off

what Sam told me was is the tabs have to be on back and under the box so the box looks smooth on the inside looking at it from above. i had them on back but not under on the bottom. he also told me it is just supposed to barely touch the hood. mine has a definite imprint.

so i will fix that, finally get my MAF sections bolted down right which i now found out lost the 2nd one since 2 days ago when i last checked it.

had pretty much decided to sell this one till this phone call
will see what happens

<<<< hmmmm always use some type of mechanical locking device if possible.. Blue color loctite or lock washer or self locking nut where the applications allow it..

[QUOTE=cj krause]ok
got a call from AirAid just now from the guy that actually designed it
guys name is Sam.

got his email and direct phone #
they are overnighting a hardware kit w saturday delivery.

Pretty good customer service I would say.

CJ, I had my box assembled the same way first, I have to say the directions were not that clear and the illustrations not very sharp, I re-assembled mine but I still have a small "crack" at the bottom, not a complete seal. I am emailing and in conversation with them about the indentation thing , will keep you posted on it.

here is a pic of the torn grommet. the 2 are tore exactly alike

I found some grommets at Turner hardware store that cost me .99 cents each. they are thinner, better made and got to be more durable. the standard OEM ones are on the inside and the new ones are in the holes and ready to go

they are not as thick which should lower it a little more and make it even better. the fit is awesome and better than the OEM grommets. i will get the # off the box tomorrow so i can put it here if you ever want to find them.

The new ones also push farther down on the posts on the back of the engine to hold better as well

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j313/cjkrause/100_0907.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j313/cjkrause/100_0906.jpg

WOW!
That must be from the force when the engine moves. The air raid will be forced to stay in one spot as it is hitting the hood?

here is a pic of the torn grommet. the 2 are tore exactly alike

I found some grommets at Turner hardware store that cost me .99 cents each. they are thinner, better made and got to be more durable. the standard OEM ones are on the inside and the new ones are in the holes and ready to go

they are not as thick which should lower it a little more and make it even better. the fit is awesome and better than the OEM grommets. i will get the # off the box tomorrow so i can put it here if you ever want to find them.

The new ones also push farther down on the posts on the back of the engine to hold better as well

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j313/cjkrause/100_0907.jpg
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j313/cjkrause/100_0906.jpg


No problems on my gromments..

well i was told by Sam that the tabs need to go under and that would have helped more and gave it better alignment. needless to say, it happened on mine so i was just telling people what to look for.

the new grommets i put in seated allot better and more firmly and lowered it and for $2 a worthy and inexpensive fix.

the grommets u see in the holes worked great, easy to put in, tight in the holes on the AirAid and great fit and lower on the 2 posts. better than the chevy OEM grommets and it makes the whole thing lil lower.

the grommets are made by Av-Ve-Co
4428 is the part #
stats are
1/2 inch bore
3/32nds grove
3/4 groove diameter

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j313/cjkrause/100_0906.jpg

well i was told by Sam that the tabs need to go under and that would have helped more and gave it better alignment. needless to say, it happened on mine so i was just telling people what to look for.

the new grommets i put in seated allot better and more firmly and lowered it and for $2 a worthy and inexpensive fix.
Since your airaid is on its way to me, i was wondering what tabs you are talking about. i pulled up the install sheet on airaid's site and printed it out but it says nothing about tabs. if you could post and possibly email me pics of these tabs that would kindly be appreciated. And a big thank you again for everything CJ ;)

a post would be great for er'body

I get mine tomorrow...wanna put it on right the first time

Since your airaid is on its way to me, i was wondering what tabs you are talking about. i pulled up the install sheet on airaid's site and printed it out but it says nothing about tabs. if you could post and possibly email me pics of these tabs that would kindly be appreciated. And a big thank you again for everything CJ ;)
your box is already put together so you dont have to do anything but remove ur MAF housing off ur tube, put it on the black tube, bolt the tube to the housing, then put the MAF plug in thru the grommet, then hook up the black hose to the wheel well and then push the box onto the studs on back and you are done

smiles
i will see if i can find a pic w them showing. on hvrods pic, you can see the overlap on the inside of the box instead of under and that is what he calls the tabs

your box is already put together so you dont have to do anything but remove ur MAF housing off ur tube, put it on the black tube, bolt the tube to the housing, then put the MAF plug in thru the grommet, then hook up the black hose to the wheel well and then push the box onto the studs on back and you are done

smiles
i will see if i can find a pic w them showing. on hvrods pic, you can see the overlap on the inside of the box instead of under and that is what he calls the tabs
cool, thanks CJ, hell you are going to get sick of the thanks here soon.

I think cj was referring to the lines running across the sides. The whole bottom plate should be sitting on those "tabs" and not below them.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/9/1/6/AirAidstg1md.jpg

Those are the ones

I think cj was referring to the lines running across the sides. The whole bottom plate should be sitting on those "tabs" and not below them.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/9/1/6/AirAidstg1md.jpg

Excellent. (c) Montgomery Burns

got my airaid in...

and its good! Chirped the tires a few times, just for good measure. I didn't hear "the noise" that everyone describes....at least not at startup and idle. The car is noisier from gear to gear though.

One question: anyone else have problems with the hood closing? I put it together correctly, with the tabs on the bottom, but the hood still closes very tight. :confused:

you can adjust the metal arm closest to the front of the car (3rd grommet being used) downwards. See if that helps.

Make sure the intake is down all the way on the posts in back all the way. i used a lil vaseline to help them go down

and he is right, adjust the arm to make the box go as low as u can in front.

Thanks. I'll look at that. One other thing: Should I hold onto the OEM? Im moving soon and looking to trim down my load. If I really won't need it anymore for the life of the car, I'll toss it.

I suggest holding on to it. Who knows, you might need it again.

I'd keep it; you can always wear it as a hat on Halloween.

Toss it unless you plan on going back to stock someday. I had a whole pile of Mustang parts I tossed away when I moved because I was keeping all of the OEM parts just in case the next owner wanted to go back to stock. Finally I realized that I was just being stupid because who would actually want the stock exhaust or intake and so forth, there was a good reason I took them off and went aftermarket. Besides the next owner would probably buy my Mustang because it already had a bunch of money put into it, not because I had all of the stock parts.

I didn't know if I'd need it for warranty issues or any other funny kind of business...lord knows as nervous as I was putting it in, Id hate to have to take it off. Keep in mind I've never modded a car before....hell I don't even own any power tools.

Any reason I'd have to put it back on?

:laughabov :rof: :nuts: @ Mike from SoCalHHR's. Hat for halloween :rof: :nuts:

I'm holding on to the OEM because I'm not sure if the Airaid is CARB approved. Once I see that it is I'll get rid of the OEM. Cali requires smog checks on vehicles 5 years and older every two years. So Airaid has 4 years to do so :D Once I see CARB certification, if anyone knows otherwise let me know so I can get rid of this ugly thing, I'll get rid of the OEM crap!

Ng

I'll take it NG. I can always use another hat.

I'll take it NG. I can always use another hat.

Once it's CARB approved, it' all yours buddy! :lol:

Well i got CJ's old airaid installed on my HHR yesterday, and well i cant complain. The car feels smoother and moves through out the powerband better IMO. i went out and beat on her pretty good after it was installed, which only took 20 minutes. I like it, no fittment problems here at all. As for the loudness, yes it is louder after 3 grand, but the wifey and i are used to that sound since both of our cars had CAI on them. I dont feel this hesitation that everybody seems to be talking about. It was 91 degrees yesterday with humidity in the 80% percent range, and the car didnt seem to be affected in any way.

I think the grommets i put on from the Hardware store make a big difference. it make it fit lower and more snug and less pressure on the hood.

i am glad you like it

I think the grommets i put on from the Hardware store make a big difference. it make it fit lower and more snug and less pressure on the hood.

i am glad you like it
i had a torn grommet on the factory box. i would be on AIM but i must say i work with a bunch of morons CJ. These guys in here have dropped the ball on alot of crap so they took away my AIM, pretty much all of the net, minus here of course, no personal laptops anymore, and some other things. My boss wanted me to step up and be a leader a little bit more so they should see the new set of rules i came up with and fired off, with his approval of course. Man there are going to be some pissed off people come monday.