BRZ style spoiler on an FR-S
 

SO, I have to admit, I am a little nervous. I ordered a pre-painted BRZ-like spoiler last night to put on my FR-S. After calling a few body shops, no one is willing to do the work for me, so I will be doing a ste-by-step in this thread for you all when it comes in. In the meantime, does anyone have any tips for me?

By the way, I ordered it from carid.com, and paid $300.25 US for it. Comes with a three year warranty, and is supposed to have excellent instructions included:

http://www.carid.com/2013-subaru-brz...er-961541.html

I figure I saved at least $150.00 this way. :thumbup:

https://www.subaruonlineparts.com/pr...8ce2108391f058

Ok, it has been added to the car, here we go:

The spoiler came in a large box, and when I opened it, we found this:

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/.../unpacking.jpg

I flipped it over to show the screws:
http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...npacking-2.jpg

In the lid of the box, you will find some t-strips, along with VERY rudimentary instruction on installation:

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/spoiler/tstrips.jpg

From here, my next step was to find the tools I needed to do the job:

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...eded-tools.jpg

My trusty drill, with a 1/8" bit, a hex driver that fit the screw heads, my step-drill bit, masking tape, and silicone sealant.

*Not shown* touch up paint I got from Subaru just before this all started.

Now it was time to get to work.

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...ws-closeup.jpg

The first step was to take the screws out, but I noticed something:

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/.../stripping.jpg

The strip around the outside edges was not in place. Poor quality control, if you ask me. I carefully pulled it all off the spoiler and placed in back the way it should have been, around the outside edges. Once this was done, and all the screws were removed, I began installing the t-strips:

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...-installed.jpg

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...ed-closeup.jpg

Now, this bit is important ****MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE STRIPS ARE FLUSH IN THE HOLES.**** If you don't, the spoiler will not fit right, and I think you will end up with bad spacing when you drill. also, you MUST remove all the screws from the underside of the spoiler, or they will

A) scratch the crap out of your hood when you are fitting it onto the car
B) again, the fit will not be right when you put it on there.

Also, you might note that I did not put strips in all the screw holes. This was another quality control issue - they simply didn't send enough strips, and I felt that four would hold it just fine.

Once you have the tstrips in the holes tape them in place:

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...lled-taped.jpg

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...-taped-clo.jpg



Now, take the whole thing and set it on the trunk. Work out the fit carefully - make sure that you have it lined up the way you want, and tape the tstrips to the trunk to hold them in place

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...g-in-place.jpg

Double-check, triple-check, and check it again just to be sure. Once you are sure that it EXACTLY where you want it, remove the spoiler, taking care to leave the strips behind:

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...er-removed.jpg


Now, be afraid, be very afraid:

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/spoiler/fear.jpg

Take a deep breath, carefully insert the 1/8" drill bit into the t-strip holes and drill away:

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...r/drilling.jpg


Once this is done, remove the tape and the strips. (You can exhale now, too, BTW)

Next, take the step bit and de-burr the holes. This should give you a nice clean screw hole.

Now pop the trunk. Look at the holes you have created. On either edge of the lid, you will see that the holes went through a second layer of metal. The screws aren't long enough to reach all the way through, so you will need to use the step-bit to make them large enough to be able to put the screws through to the spoiler.

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...r/big-hole.jpg


Now, line up the spoiler holes with the ones you have made and screw it all down. I will warn you, the screws that I was sent were slightly larger than the 1/8" holes, so you will need to use a little elbow-grease, and you will have to expand them a bit to get through. Take your time on this part, and you will make it through.

Now, you have installed the spoiler, and all that is left is the cleanup. Cover the exposed screws with the silicone to lock them in place, and to lessen exposure to air/water.

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...n-silicone.jpg

Also, hit each of the big holes you made with some touch-up paint to cover the bare metal you exposed in drilling through the sheet metal. Close the trunk and step back to admire your handiwork:

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...r-finished.jpg

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...shed-above.jpg

http://www.chuckster.net/Images/FRS/...r-finished.jpg



I hope this helps you all. I will say that while I did not think the quality control was great from the manufacturer, I do think that the fit was perfect. The paint matches perfectly, and it looks really good, imho.

I would assume that it will come with templates for drilling any holes. Just double/triple check before drilling, especially on curved areas. Remember to use touch up paint on the drilled holes before you install the spoiler. Don't forget to use a small center punch to mark the holes before you drill so the drill bit doesn't walk. Only takes a light tap. Use some masking tape around the edges of the holes to be drilled in case the bit does walk. Take your time and go slow and you should have no problems.

Subscribed. Great find for sure. Very interested to see how well the paint matches.

Why didn't you go with the FR-S spoiler available on the same site?

http://www.carid.com/2013-scion-fr-s...er-961530.html

No need to be nervous...it's the same car! You'll be fine.:thumbsup:

Actually is an 86 spoiler

They didn't have the correct paint code for my car in the Scion. When I talked with their rep, they are the same anyway.

Huh, I'll be ordering a center punch today. Thanks for the tips!

I know, it's just.....drilling holes in the trunk, ya know?

:eyebulge:

So I just got an e-mai9l that the order is shipping. They apparently had one already painted, and it will be on it's way today. Talk about quick!

I have a BRZ type spoiler on my car, I had to drill and everything. Just make sure you have steady hands when drilling

First of all, thanks for posting this! I've been studying this for awhile as I'm installing mine.

how does it hold up in rainy conditions? does the weatherstripping tape prevent all water from leaking in? I'm installing mine right now and it's difficult to get all the weatherstripping tape to touch the trunk all around.

btw, it looks awesome! It really puts the finishing touch on the car.

There so many better looking wings. I am not a fan of the BRZ wing.

I have the BRZ wing, and I'm BEGGING for someone to swap with. I just want a clean trunk. :(

-Acree