Lyon's free adjustable spoiler mod!
#1
Lyon's free adjustable spoiler mod!
Let's face it, if you're like me, you think the stock spoiler makes the rear end look a little ugly. So I decided I wanted to give the spoiler a more aggresive angle. However, I wasn't sure how I was going to do it. So one day I removed the spoiler and in my haste I managed to drop it and then even worse I managed to break one of those cheap plastic clips. In the end I gave up and bolted it back on but in the process I managed to over torque one of the bolts and snapped the bolt in half. Several days passed. I finally attempted extraction but failed. So I had to bust out helicoil. At this point I realized I needed to fix the plastic clip...
That's when it hit me:
I replaced the plastic clips with bolts that fit perfectly in their respective reciever in the hatch. I also used nuts that where wide enough to prevent the bolts from sliding past the nut's position. (might need some washers to get a tight fit on the spoiler end)
So I painted the white reciever clips on the hatch black. Then slid the 4 bolts into their holes along with the spoiler and bolted down the spoiler on top. I could still reach the nuts under the spoiler with a wrench to adjust the angle of the spoiler. Like so:
As you can see the bolts aren't an eye sore even at this extreme angle where you can see them.
The results:
^^^This is the main angle I wanted to improve. From dead on behind (i.e. a car sitting behind you) stock doesn't look the best imo with a spoiler that covers the top of the window.
Stock for comparision:
Looks a bit better IMO and more importantly still not rice.
Best part is, you can lower it more or raise it up a bit more. There is a limit to how high you can go before it starts to look ugly but anyone should be able to find a level they are happy with.
That's when it hit me:
I replaced the plastic clips with bolts that fit perfectly in their respective reciever in the hatch. I also used nuts that where wide enough to prevent the bolts from sliding past the nut's position. (might need some washers to get a tight fit on the spoiler end)
So I painted the white reciever clips on the hatch black. Then slid the 4 bolts into their holes along with the spoiler and bolted down the spoiler on top. I could still reach the nuts under the spoiler with a wrench to adjust the angle of the spoiler. Like so:
As you can see the bolts aren't an eye sore even at this extreme angle where you can see them.
The results:
^^^This is the main angle I wanted to improve. From dead on behind (i.e. a car sitting behind you) stock doesn't look the best imo with a spoiler that covers the top of the window.
Stock for comparision:
Looks a bit better IMO and more importantly still not rice.
Best part is, you can lower it more or raise it up a bit more. There is a limit to how high you can go before it starts to look ugly but anyone should be able to find a level they are happy with.
Last edited by Lyon[Nightroad]; 04-10-2010 at 09:14 PM.
#13
I have read this thread a few times string to figure out what you did.
First is the spoiler in stock form held on by the two bolts which I take you get at by popping the tabs open on top and also 4 clips? How did you get the clips off?
After your mod is the spoiler secure enough with only the two bolts holding it? I take it the bolts you have added just sit in the holes where the clips would have gone right?
A spoiler is worth $432 as an option here so I would not want to mess mine up.
thanks
First is the spoiler in stock form held on by the two bolts which I take you get at by popping the tabs open on top and also 4 clips? How did you get the clips off?
After your mod is the spoiler secure enough with only the two bolts holding it? I take it the bolts you have added just sit in the holes where the clips would have gone right?
A spoiler is worth $432 as an option here so I would not want to mess mine up.
thanks
#15
Does it touch the antenna when you open the hatch all the way? I remember a few other threads where people were playing around with adjusting their spoilers and they kept running into that problem.
Looks like a simple solution you came up with though.
Looks like a simple solution you came up with though.
#16
Yep, I popped off the 2 covers on the spoiler and removed the 2 bolts underneath. I then removed the spoiler and the 4 plastic clips youvwill see on it. I replaced those with the bolts pictured. I slide the bolts in to the plastic receiver clips on the hatch until they hit the nut on the bolts. Then I put in the bolts on the top and tighten them up. Fine adjustment is necesarry withba 10 mm wrench to even out the spoiler by tightening or loosening the nuts. I make sure all of them are applying support to the spoiler. Holds on suprisingly tight. Even the 150mph blower in the automatic touchless carvwash didn't take it off. The spoiler mostly only experiences down force and the bolts will brace it against that. Also the bolts are tight enough to click into the holes so there is lift resistance too. It's not going anywhere.
Subs are Kicker CVRs. Great bang for your buck and good sq with the right box.
Does not hit antenna even at highest angle.
Subs are Kicker CVRs. Great bang for your buck and good sq with the right box.
Does not hit antenna even at highest angle.
Last edited by Lyon[Nightroad]; 05-05-2010 at 03:38 PM.
#18
A bump and a couple more questions Lyon.
Bolt size. Are they 1 1/2 x 3/16ths or 5/16ths?
See if I have this right.
Take two bolts out and the pull up on spoiler to pop the clips. Do not drop spoiler!
I may not paint clip holders as I am TW.
The bolts are slid onto the spoiler and the nuts tightened just enough to hold them in place.
Place spoiler back on car and put in the two original bolts from the top. Tighten just snug and then adjust height by turning the nuts on the stove bolts. This will cause them to loosen the bolts from spoiler clip but they stay in place as the end of the bolts are in hatch clip recesses and the nuts are tight to the spoiler clips right?
Once adjusted to the perfect height tighten the two bolts and put their covers on.
Am I on right track Lyon?
Bolt size. Are they 1 1/2 x 3/16ths or 5/16ths?
See if I have this right.
Take two bolts out and the pull up on spoiler to pop the clips. Do not drop spoiler!
I may not paint clip holders as I am TW.
The bolts are slid onto the spoiler and the nuts tightened just enough to hold them in place.
Place spoiler back on car and put in the two original bolts from the top. Tighten just snug and then adjust height by turning the nuts on the stove bolts. This will cause them to loosen the bolts from spoiler clip but they stay in place as the end of the bolts are in hatch clip recesses and the nuts are tight to the spoiler clips right?
Once adjusted to the perfect height tighten the two bolts and put their covers on.
Am I on right track Lyon?
Last edited by Black3sr; 10-01-2010 at 07:30 AM.