Help with Remounting Right Side Front Spoiler
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,084
Likes: 3,056
From: CA
Help with Remounting Right Side Front Spoiler
Apparently I hit something harder than usual on the right side with the front spoiler, although not hard enough for me to even remember hitting anything. The right side spoiler is bolted directly to C-clips which clamp onto the front facia. I've got to say, this is a "horse's @ss" design, because what's happened is the C-clips are tearing through the flexible front facia material, and now the spoiler is falling down. The rubbery facia material has no strength at all for mounting something like this. I don't know how they expected this to last over time. At least the front center section is done right, and is spring loaded.
Anyway, I know we have a lot of creative people on this forum, so I am looking for ideas on how to remount the right side spoiler given the front facia is torn at each C-clip. I'm afraid if I just use metal washers they will tear through the front facia making even bigger holes. It is almost like I need something semi-flexible that won't cut through the facia. Let me know what you guys have done (I'm sure I am not the first with this problem).
Michael
Anyway, I know we have a lot of creative people on this forum, so I am looking for ideas on how to remount the right side spoiler given the front facia is torn at each C-clip. I'm afraid if I just use metal washers they will tear through the front facia making even bigger holes. It is almost like I need something semi-flexible that won't cut through the facia. Let me know what you guys have done (I'm sure I am not the first with this problem).
Michael
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,058
Likes: 9,821
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
I had an incident at an autocross with my 97 where I tore the spoiler off the car. The fascia was torn in multiple spots where the C clips fastened. I cut a piece of sheet metal to fit above the fascia and strengthen it at each one of the holes. Sort of like a rectangular washer.
Bill
Bill
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
How about some 1/8" ABS plastic after fabbing with a pattern with cardboard first? It's pretty rigid, but still forgiving to impact and you could even use SAE "nut serts" (basically threaded rivets) to mount the air damn into the plastic.
Last edited by hotwheels57; Dec 31, 2006 at 06:35 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
.... I've got to say, this is a "horse's @ss" design, because what's happened is the C-clips are tearing through the flexible front facia material, and now the spoiler is falling down. The rubbery facia material has no strength at all for mounting something like this. I don't know how they expected this to last over time. At least the front center section is done right, and is spring loaded. ....
Michael
Michael
I believe Chevy designing it this way was actually a smart move. If they'd designed it so that a large force striking the air dam didn't easily tear off the dam itself (which is what yours did), then damage would occur to the fascia itself, which would be MUCH more expensive to replace.
The GM part number for the right front spoiler is:
10419313
Look it up on various vendor sites and you'll see the dam only costs about 8 bucks. MUCH cheaper to just replace it rather than having the fascia itself damaged.
HTH
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 460
Likes: 12
From: Gulf Shores AL
Michael,
I believe Chevy designing it this way was actually a smart move. If they'd designed it so that a large force striking the air dam didn't easily tear off the dam itself (which is what yours did), then damage would occur to the fascia itself, which would be MUCH more expensive to replace.
The GM part number for the right front spoiler is:
10419313
Look it up on various vendor sites and you'll see the dam only costs about 8 bucks. MUCH cheaper to just replace it rather than having the fascia itself damaged.
HTH
I believe Chevy designing it this way was actually a smart move. If they'd designed it so that a large force striking the air dam didn't easily tear off the dam itself (which is what yours did), then damage would occur to the fascia itself, which would be MUCH more expensive to replace.
The GM part number for the right front spoiler is:
10419313
Look it up on various vendor sites and you'll see the dam only costs about 8 bucks. MUCH cheaper to just replace it rather than having the fascia itself damaged.
HTH
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...dept%5Fid=1460
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,847
Likes: 795
From: Longview Texas
If you don't want the holes to tear out, cut a curved strip of heavy gage metal to match the top of the spoiler, drill holes to match the spoiler, and bolt it on using the metal as a backing plate.
That ties all the holes together the length of the spoiler.
Of course, if you ever hit anything, it will probably rip the whole nose of the car off!
That ties all the holes together the length of the spoiler.
Of course, if you ever hit anything, it will probably rip the whole nose of the car off!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 460
Likes: 12
From: Gulf Shores AL
If you don't want the holes to tear out, cut a curved strip of heavy gage metal to match the top of the spoiler, drill holes to match the spoiler, and bolt it on using the metal as a backing plate.
That ties all the holes together the length of the spoiler.
Of course, if you ever hit anything, it will probably rip the whole nose of the car off!
That ties all the holes together the length of the spoiler.
Of course, if you ever hit anything, it will probably rip the whole nose of the car off!
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,084
Likes: 3,056
From: CA
Michael,
I believe Chevy designing it this way was actually a smart move. If they'd designed it so that a large force striking the air dam didn't easily tear off the dam itself (which is what yours did), then damage would occur to the fascia itself, which would be MUCH more expensive to replace.
The GM part number for the right front spoiler is:
10419313
Look it up on various vendor sites and you'll see the dam only costs about 8 bucks. MUCH cheaper to just replace it rather than having the fascia itself damaged.
HTH
I believe Chevy designing it this way was actually a smart move. If they'd designed it so that a large force striking the air dam didn't easily tear off the dam itself (which is what yours did), then damage would occur to the fascia itself, which would be MUCH more expensive to replace.
The GM part number for the right front spoiler is:
10419313
Look it up on various vendor sites and you'll see the dam only costs about 8 bucks. MUCH cheaper to just replace it rather than having the fascia itself damaged.
HTH
I think you misunderstood my description. It DID damage the facia The spoiler is stronger than the facia, and the C-clips just ripped right through the facia material. The spoiler looks fine, and I don't even see where it hit. I wish they had designed it so the spoiler would "tear away" as you stated, and leave the facia intact.
Michael
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