front splitter
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 47
Likes: 1
From: Elmira, Ny
front splitter
Trying to decide whether to buy fiberglass or plastic splitter. I know either one you would have to be careful. just wondering if anyone has had good or bad experience with either? the plastic looks kind of cheap. Either way I would paint it but which one is more durable?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,591
Likes: 1,669
From: Pearland / Houston Tx
I have had both. I have a base narrow body. The fiberglass one looked just like the ZR1 splitter.
If you are prone to scraping like me, the fiberglass is more forgiving. It can flex somewhat to the terrain and it is also repairable. My body colored one eventually got the corner broken off. I did a fiberglass repair and painted it with PlastiDip paint. It eventually got too ugly after a hard scrape taking a slope into the Quickie Mart, so I replaced it with the eBay $150 ABS plastic one. In between splitters I installed the ABS side skirts. They look and work well.
No so much on the ABS splitter. For one, the base splitter looks nothing like the ZR1 spliiter they make for the GS. It looks like a generic spoiler. For twice, the ABS is less forgiving. When I go into a dip and it drags, it seems the plastic vibrates so much that little chunks break off. Didn't do that with the FG one.
Likely not replace it when it fails, so I will be the goober driving down the road with side skirts and no splitter.
If you are prone to scraping like me, the fiberglass is more forgiving. It can flex somewhat to the terrain and it is also repairable. My body colored one eventually got the corner broken off. I did a fiberglass repair and painted it with PlastiDip paint. It eventually got too ugly after a hard scrape taking a slope into the Quickie Mart, so I replaced it with the eBay $150 ABS plastic one. In between splitters I installed the ABS side skirts. They look and work well.
No so much on the ABS splitter. For one, the base splitter looks nothing like the ZR1 spliiter they make for the GS. It looks like a generic spoiler. For twice, the ABS is less forgiving. When I go into a dip and it drags, it seems the plastic vibrates so much that little chunks break off. Didn't do that with the FG one.
Likely not replace it when it fails, so I will be the goober driving down the road with side skirts and no splitter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,001
Likes: 988
From: lake havasu city arizona
Trying to decide whether to buy fiberglass or plastic splitter. I know either one you would have to be careful. just wondering if anyone has had good or bad experience with either? the plastic looks kind of cheap. Either way I would paint it but which one is more durable?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 792
Likes: 127
From: Dallas Texas
Last edited by R_W; Nov 5, 2018 at 09:36 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,756
Likes: 267
I went with a fiberglass gloss black splitter and skirts on my torch red GS 6 years ago. I'm not sure if plastic was available back then .... but I'm happy with the fiberglass. You just have to be careful. I've had a few minor curb 'dings' to the front but a little touch-up and it's good to go. I'm sure either would look great. Your call!
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,045
Likes: 3,588
From: Central MO
I'll take the flexible plastic like the OEM parts. They simply grind down a little at a time. All you need to do to them is run a file across the contact areas a couple of times a year to get rid of the "whiskers". They are relatively inexpensive and easy to replace when they start looking bad.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 2,622
Likes: 165
From: US CA
Trying to decide whether to buy fiberglass or plastic splitter. I know either one you would have to be careful. just wondering if anyone has had good or bad experience with either? the plastic looks kind of cheap. Either way I would paint it but which one is more durable?
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Advanced
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 68
Likes: 4
From: Bothell, Washington
I just received a replacement ZR1 style plastic splitter from ExtremeOnlineStore painted in carbon flash. It looks excellent.
I had another one previously before the careless techs at Firestone destroyed it by driving my lowered car over the lift arms of the lift. (Fun story, they denied my claim and said that the damage resulted from me driving into a curb. LOL. I went back to the shop and they had the massive broken off section of splitter, yet my claim was initially denied. Their mental gymnastics to avoid paying for it are impressive.)
I had another one previously before the careless techs at Firestone destroyed it by driving my lowered car over the lift arms of the lift. (Fun story, they denied my claim and said that the damage resulted from me driving into a curb. LOL. I went back to the shop and they had the massive broken off section of splitter, yet my claim was initially denied. Their mental gymnastics to avoid paying for it are impressive.)
