Front splitter removal

[Edinburgh 111s]

Hey,

some advice if possible... looking to add a front rubber lip inspired by @MrP_ recent thread. 

Seems like the best way to install this is remove the splitter. Any tips on this ? 

[MrP_]

Remove the 3 clips from each wheel arch liner (Phillips head centre), then remove the 17 M5 bolts. Heads are torx, T25, or T27 I forget which. Then remove the bolts that go through the splitter, through the number plate mount and into the clam. These have a 4mm Hex head, and there are only two of them

Either get the car up on ramps or jacks, and support the splitter with jacks/lumps of wood/child at each end to stop it all being supported by a single bolt as you take them out.

Once all bolts are out you end up with the plastic splitter and a metal support panel that sits underneath

Thats about it really. You can easily remove without jacking if you want, but access is obviously easier if off the ground.

Refitting is the reverse.

For mounting the lip: The support plate does not hit the edge of the splitter, so it may be worth adding an additional ply plate that butts up against the edge to allow you something to mount to as the splitter itself is a curved thin piece. This will of course be a bunch more work, and will add depth so you will need to increase the bolts to maybe 30mm to cope with the additional depth. It'll make sense when you have it apart

 

[Edinburgh 111s]

Thanks for that. Really helpful. 

I am wondering if I would be able to instal the rubber lip with the splitter in situ. I only plan on using really strong tape to secure it. ?

[MrP_]

7 minutes ago, Edinburgh 111s said:

Thanks for that. Really helpful. 

I am wondering if I would be able to instal the rubber lip with the splitter in situ. I only plan on using really strong tape to secure it. ?

Give it a shot, worst thing that can happen is you get it wrong and waste a couple of metres of tape.

I'd still jack the front up, and remember to wipe down both sides with IPA before sticking.

Also if not sticking, 3M adhesion promotor is always a good bet, but expensive unless you can find the wipes on eBay otherwise you need a whole bottle

[Mark030358]

2 hours ago, Edinburgh 111s said:

Thanks for that. Really helpful. 

I am wondering if I would be able to instal the rubber lip with the splitter in situ. I only plan on using really strong tape to secure it. ?

It wont last, really needs the bolts to hold it on. I've scraped mine a few times and for sure the rubber lip would have been off.

cheers

Mark

[MrP_]

5 minutes ago, Mark030358 said:

It wont last, really needs the bolts to hold it on. I've scraped mine a few times and for sure the rubber lip would have been off.

cheers

Mark

Id agree with that, mines done its job of  protecting the splitter and I don't think it would stay with just tape. Mines bolted, but with the standard splitter on the 350 there is nothing to bolt to so you're need a ply plate to mount to. But @alias23 has had good results with just taping so I might be wrong

[RedViper]

I have a V6S and all the bolts for removing splitter are underneath. 

[MrP_]

10 minutes ago, RedViper said:

I have a V6S and all the bolts for removing splitter are underneath. 

Correct (plus wheel arch clips) but we're talking about bolts holding a front lip to the splitter. Factory does this with scritvits on the 380 up, By default the splitters themselves are bolted to the clam with Spire nuts directly in the clam

[alias23]

1 hour ago, MrP_ said:

Id agree with that, mines done its job of  protecting the splitter and I don't think it would stay with just tape. Mines bolted, but with the standard splitter on the 350 there is nothing to bolt to so you're need a ply plate to mount to. But @alias23 has had good results with just taping so I might be wrong

HAD unfortunately it’s now fallen off

[MrP_]

42 minutes ago, alias23 said:

HAD unfortunately it’s now fallen off

Oh dear - mines holding up with the screws and tape, but to be fair it's not left the garage since I remounted it, so probably not a fair comparison 😂

[RoflOnMyWaffle]

Take it down country lanes in Plymouth, ripped mine right off 🤣

[MrP_]

2 hours ago, RoflOnMyWaffle said:

Take it down country lanes in Plymouth, ripped mine right off 🤣

Ah you mean your old one, I thought you meant the shiny carbon one but then realised thats probably why you switched to the shiny carbon one  

[RoflOnMyWaffle]

13 minutes ago, MrP_ said:

Ah you mean your old one, I thought you meant the shiny carbon one but then realised thats probably why you switched to the shiny carbon one  

Yes sir should be ready in a few days.

[Edinburgh 111s]

7 hours ago, alias23 said:

HAD unfortunately it’s now fallen off

What caused it to fall off? Did it come in to contact with something or was it driving forces ?

[alias23]

14 hours ago, Edinburgh 111s said:

What caused it to fall off? Did it come in to contact with something or was it driving forces ?

Not really sure it survived Silverstone and some high speed runs no problem... then during normal driving it decided to fall off...

[Edinburgh 111s]

@MrP_

@alias23

i have now purchased the same rubber lip as you both have. 

The way it was packed meant that there were kinks in the rubber lip. Was this the same as yours, and if so how did you smooth / straighten the lip ?

thanks for your help. 

[alias23]

3 minutes ago, Edinburgh 111s said:

@MrP_

@alias23

i have now purchased the same rubber lip as you both have. 

The way it was packed meant that there were kinks in the rubber lip. Was this the same as yours, and if so how did you smooth / straighten the lip ?

thanks for your help. 

I left it out unwound on the floor over night (not that it made a differance), on fitting it seems to straighten itself out 😉

[Edinburgh 111s]

Thanks @alias23

will give it a go. Tried heating it up a bit to reshape but with limited success 

[MrP_]

23 minutes ago, Edinburgh 111s said:

Thanks @alias23

will give it a go. Tried heating it up a bit to reshape but with limited success 

Once mounted it’s fine, it takes the kinks out one in position 

[Edinburgh 111s]

47 minutes ago, MrP_ said:

Once mounted it’s fine, it takes the kinks out one in position 

Thanks 🙏🏻 

will give it a go tomorrow 

[TBD]

On 07/03/2019 at 11:45, Edinburgh 111s said:

Thanks for that. Really helpful. 

I am wondering if I would be able to instal the rubber lip with the splitter in situ. I only plan on using really strong tape to secure it. ?

I installed the lip without removal. I did lift the front up in order to get sufficient access.

However, I very sceptical if tape will suffice to hold the rubber lip. It certainly won't hold if you ever scrape the lip on a bump or such.

Actual clearance is about 7 cm on a level surface.

[alias23]

Strong double sided tape even the 3M industrial stuff works for a while but then dies and the lip falls off... I know as lost another lip trying this technique. Still unsure about screws, I did this originally but after an off at Anglesey, didn't really like the trailing rubber lip with screws popping out of it!

[Edinburgh 111s]

22 hours ago, alias23 said:

Strong double sided tape even the 3M industrial stuff works for a while but then dies and the lip falls off... I know as lost another lip trying this technique. Still unsure about screws, I did this originally but after an off at Anglesey, didn't really like the trailing rubber lip with screws popping out of it!

Well I tried the 3M VHB tape. It seemed to take well. Before I reattached the splitter I tested to see the strength. It wasn’t long before I realised I could pull it off and it didn’t have the initial strength I had hoped for. 

Back to the drawing board! 

At  present I have the standard splitter so screwing it on is not an option, unless I make a plywood strengthening plate as suggested by @MrP_ but to be honest I wouldn’t know where to start! I don’t have the skill set or tools ! Unless anyone has advice or a work round?

the only other option I can think of is some kind of other adhesive that’s more akin to bonding rubber to plastic. @TBD you mentioned in another post about a sika bind product. What was it and how did it work? Has anyone else got any ideas? Seems a waste now I have bought the rubber and have the splitter off not to at least trial something else other than the tape. 

Thanks in advance 😀

[MrP_]

21 minutes ago, Edinburgh 111s said:

Well I tried the 3M VHB tape. It seemed to take well. Before I reattached the splitter I tested to see the strength. It wasn’t long before I realised I could pull it off and it didn’t have the initial strength I had hoped for. 

Back to the drawing board! 

At  present I have the standard splitter so screwing it on is not an option, unless I make a plywood strengthening plate as suggested by @MrP_ but to be honest I wouldn’t know where to start! I don’t have the skill set or tools ! Unless anyone has advice or a work round?

the only other option I can think of is some kind of other adhesive that’s more akin to bonding rubber to plastic. @TBD you mentioned in another post about a sika bind product. What was it and how did it work? Has anyone else got any ideas? Seems a waste now I have bought the rubber and have the splitter off not to at least trial something else other than the tape. 

Thanks in advance 😀

Assuming you have 5m or whatever the minimum order was. Cut to length (you have enough to do two splitters), then cut the whole thing lengthways at the right angle, giving you 2 flat strips. 

Take one of these flat strips and epoxy it to the underside of the splitter, this will give you a surface you can screw into, that sits roughly in line with the bottom of the lip on the splitter. From here you can either epoxy another strip on if you need more depth. 

Then double sided tape and 4mm screws to screw the ribber lip to your new 'rubber mounting platform' - this allows you to take it off, or you can just bond it on properly.

Hopefully makes sense

[MrP_]

8 minutes ago, MrP_ said:

Assuming you have 5m or whatever the minimum order was. Cut to length (you have enough to do two splitters), then cut the whole thing lengthways at the right angle, giving you 2 flat strips. 

Take one of these flat strips and epoxy it to the underside of the splitter, this will give you a surface you can screw into, that sits roughly in line with the bottom of the lip on the splitter. From here you can either epoxy another strip on if you need more depth. 

Then double sided tape and 4mm screws to screw the ribber lip to your new 'rubber mounting platform' - this allows you to take it off, or you can just bond it on properly.

Hopefully makes sense

This would work as a bonding agent. Remember to wipe down with IPA first on the splitter: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-body-repair/fillers-preparation/tigerseal-black-310ml-w-gloves

Back to the original plan, did you use adhesive promotor? Use of this takes the tapes from quite good, to stupid good: https://www.vikingtapes.co.uk/collections/adhesion-promoter?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj6qNvqz64QIVAwvTCh2lag6_EAAYAiAAEgK8OPD_BwE. Smaller pots are available