04 Side Splitter Install

[boozy04]

someone give me an answer on the splitters workin on a wagon! I think i've seen it done before....

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[cefoskey]

if you leave that tab, I am not sure if it would still fit flush. you will need to test fit it first.

I can tell you that if you use the 3 main clips at on the upper portion into holes you make in your bumper, you wont need tape or any other type of extra adhesive device. The clips plus the included hardware are more than sufficient.

[cefoskey]

Originally Posted by boozy04

someone give me an answer on the splitters workin on a wagon! I think i've seen it done before....

why wouldnt it work? I dont think the sedan and wagon bumper cover P/Ns are different (ask jamie, she will know for sure) so the splitters should work the same on either one.

[jacobsen1_]

Originally Posted by boozy04

someone give me an answer on the splitters workin on a wagon! I think i've seen it done before....

I've seen plenty of pictures of wagons with the splitters, but not having a wagon I don't know what you need to do to get it to work. I've heard they need to be "modified" but to what extent I don't know...

Originally Posted by cefoskey

if you leave that tab, I am not sure if it would still fit flush. you will need to test fit it first.

I can tell you that if you use the 3 main clips at on the upper portion into holes you make in your bumper, you wont need tape or any other type of extra adhesive device. The clips plus the included hardware are more than sufficient.

It won't fit flush. That is why I removed them. I felt more comfortable with the chance of wrecking a $125 part because it didn't work with those tabs removed than drilling whole in my bumper with the chance of wrecking a much more expensive part... Also I have had mine on for 2.5 years, and the only issues I've had is with hitting stuff... Mine are black plastic from scrapes on the inside edges, but they have never moved even with rinning into stuff about once a month. Also my car is lowered so it's obviously worse once lowered.

Just cut the tabs and use the provided hardware. You'll be fine.

Ben

[Subie Gal]

Originally Posted by cefoskey

why wouldnt it work? I dont think the sedan and wagon bumper cover P/Ns are different (ask jamie, she will know for sure) so the splitters should work the same on either one.

splitters work just fine on the wagon
even though the bumpers are different...

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=442471

Jamie

[cefoskey]

wow, youre right, the wagon bumper clearly wraps around the front and towards teh wheel by about an inch more than the sedan. great info.

[boozy04]

thanks jaime

[D-Speed 2.5]

Originally Posted by Subie Gal

splitters work just fine on the wagon
even though the bumpers are different...

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...hreadid=442471

Jamie

You should stop linking this thread. No offense to the guy who installed those splitters, but he went about it the wrong way. I fitted from back (wheel well) to front and I think the result is much cleaner.

[D-Speed 2.5]

Those are the best pics that I have. There are no gaps in my splitters and the fit is perfect. The only part I had to trim was about 3 millimeters off of the front skinny part of the splitter. I also shaved off the inner tabs but kept the top three tabs that go into slits in you bumper.

[joeyb7]

Just a few questions:

1 - will the splitters fit an 05? for $120 painted that sounds like an awesome deal.
2 - is the install method that the thread starter used the best? He didn't use any tape in his install, yet I'm reading that some people took off the tabs, some left them, some used tape, etc. I just want to know what's the best vs. what's just the easiest job and they might fall off.

thanks,
J

[cefoskey]

I did this on my 05 a couple weeks back. The OPs method worked fine, but I will tell you that cutting the slots with a steak knife would be pretty insane. I used a dremel, made things much easier.

I cannot stand the idea of having body parts taped onto my car.

[PinnacleChronos]

D-Speed mind posting your install method?

[J-Rex2004]

I cut all the tabs off and just used double sided tape where the tabs used to be. That thing is still held on by a crap ton of fasteners, it isn't coming off. Plus if I want to take them off I don't have any holes/slots in my bumper.

[joeyb7]

J-Rex... so let me get this straight. You didn't cut holes for the top tabs, you just took the top tabs off? Are the only bolts you have just the ones on the bottom? I would think that washing your car and all would loosen the adhesive after time.

Also, anyone can answer this... when you insert the top tabs in the bumper into the holes you've cut, is there then a fastener on the other side? How do they stay in the holes you've cut?

Thanks

[joeyb7]

Originally Posted by PinnacleChronos

D-Speed mind posting your install method?

i agree... what is this "back to front" install method?

[D-Speed 2.5]

Originally Posted by joeyb7

i agree... what is this "back to front" install method?

I wish I had pictures but I will do the best to explain it without them. THIS IS FOR A WAGON:


Before we begin, the only parts that need to be shaved are the 3 inner tabs and a few millimeters off the very tip of the skinny finger part of the splitter. DO NOT shave anything else or it won't fit right! Don't shave the skinny tip until you have it on the bumper. Ok here we go:

1. Shave off the 3 inner tabs on the splitters leaving only the three top tabs along the top of the splitter.

2. Test fit from BACK (Wheel well) to FRONT (Under front grill)

3. When you test fit, make sure that you are holding the back of the splitter flush against the wheel well.

4. Mark where you will need to cut the three top slits while holding the splitter flush with the edge of the wheel well. (I used a pencil to mark this)

5. Cut the slits, I used a dremel. Again, cut the back one (wheel well side) first then move forward.

6. With the three slits cut, now insert your top tabs working from back to front.

7. With the splitter now held on by the tabs, attach the splitter in the wheel well using one of the bolts provided. (There will be two holes that line up)

8. Now, you will see that the skinny part of the splitter (front, under grill) does not quite line up right. There is about 3x3mm of interference from the inside of the skinny tip of the splitter. This area will need to be trimmed.

9. Leaving the splitter attached to the bumper, try to line up the bolt tab on the splitter to the bolt hole under the bumper. (Pull on the splitter a bit to achieve this) If you do this, you will easily see the area on the very inside tip of the skinny part that needs to be trimmed.

10. Trim the previously described area very carefully with a dremel. Again, the part that I had to trim was literally 3 x 3 mm of material so if you find yourself cutting more than that, refit.

11. Now use a bolt provided to bolt up the skinny tip to the bumper. Everything should line up now.

12. Now you're done, grab a beer.


Note- The importance of the front to back method is that you get the wheel well portion of the splitter to sit flush. If this is achieved, everything else except the very tip lines up perfectly.

Also note- I used no tape. The only things holding my splitter on are the two bolts and three top tabs. This is pleanty though, the thing is really on there! 5 months and around 8k miles and these things fit as good as the day I installed them.

Also, you should go get touch up paint from your local dealer ~$6. You will need it! I scrape these things a lot and I am really careful about. I use the touch up paint every so often to coat the bottom of the splitter to reduce the visibility of these scrapes.

Hope that helps.

- D-Speed

[cefoskey]

Originally Posted by joeyb7

J-Rex... so let me get this straight. You didn't cut holes for the top tabs, you just took the top tabs off? Are the only bolts you have just the ones on the bottom? I would think that washing your car and all would loosen the adhesive after time.

Also, anyone can answer this... when you insert the top tabs in the bumper into the holes you've cut, is there then a fastener on the other side? How do they stay in the holes you've cut?

Thanks

A cross section of the tabs would look like this: _>

You can insert the tabs into the slots because the top up-bent "flap" compresses and allows it to be inserted. Once in position, it springs back into place and prevents you from pulling it back out.

[J-Rex2004]

Originally Posted by joeyb7

J-Rex... so let me get this straight. You didn't cut holes for the top tabs, you just took the top tabs off? Are the only bolts you have just the ones on the bottom? I would think that washing your car and all would loosen the adhesive after time.

Yes, I just took the tabs off.

The only fasteners are the ones on the bottom.

I wash my car plenty and the tape is still holding fine, as a matter of fact, I could go outside right now and mess with it and it doesn't budge. It's no different than the trunk letters, double sided tape is pretty stout.

[joeyb7]

Originally Posted by cefoskey

A cross section of the tabs would look like this: _>

You can insert the tabs into the slots because the top up-bent "flap" compresses and allows it to be inserted. Once in position, it springs back into place and prevents you from pulling it back out.

Thanks for the explanation, I was wondering if the tabs functioned this way.

Dspeed - thanks for the write up, I'm looking forward to getting them on in the spring, I may order the side strakes from the same site too.

My car isn't lowered yet, so I'm hoping I don't scratch the hell out of them too fast... perhaps some roadblocker type material on the bottom?

Thanks

[REVNU]

Just installed my side splitters and v-limited lip today on my WRX Sedan. Really easy to do if you just clip off the tabs. I didn't want to cut any holes in my bumper as I may want to uninstall the splitters and lip later. If you use a good 2-sided automotive tape (3M works well), then you should have no need for those clips. The tape along with the 3 bolts should hold it in place just fine. If you want a little extra peace of mind you could get one or two extra bolts/clips for each side and also put a bolt/nut on the top hole on the fender.

The install took me maybe 30 minutes to do and another 20 minutes to put on the lips. So about an hour total for both. I love the new look, front end looks much "meaner" now. I'll try and get some pics up here soon.

~REVNU

update: here's the pics

[WRXpiprezza]

can you guys tell me if theres suppose to be a gap in between like this. did i do something wrong. some of you guys said you drilled holes, and some of guys just put double sided tape. Let me know if this is correct.

[Bishop]

i shaved those tabs off...




resize your pic.

[0BlueSTi4]

Originally Posted by J*Bishop

i shaved those tabs off...

I didn't have to shave anything...my car came with those!

[Bishop]

Originally Posted by 0BlueSTi4

I didn't have to shave anything...my car came with those!

[WRXpiprezza]

so should i take those off, or is there suppose to be a gap like that on every sti