GM Front Splitter Woes

majik755 · 05-22-2018, 02:29 PM

Recently took my 50th Anniversary RS for a 4 hour run up I95. Halfway up a truck kicks up a rock which proceeds to bounce along until I hit it going 75 and the result is a hole in my lower front splitter and a crack. Being hollow plastic the splitter did not put up much a of a defense. Ever since I got my car I've worried about scratching it on a curb and now this.

My dilemma is do I get it replaced $440 for the part plus labor for the GM part, or do I replace it with something more durable? After market carbon fiber or solid splitter. Anybody have any suggestions or options? Pics Follow:

oneredry · 05-22-2018, 02:58 PM

had to replace mine as well. I like the GM Front splitter seems to flow with the car better IMO.

JohnCobalt · 05-22-2018, 03:33 PM

Or you could go the cheaper route and fill, sand, and paint it. That’s what I’m going to do when mine gets all jacked up.

Bad Anvil Garage · 05-22-2018, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnCobalt

Or you could go the cheaper route and fill, sand, and paint it. That’s what I’m going to do when mine gets all jacked up.

Yup. I have a small chip and crack very low under the front edge from hitting an ice chunk or something last winter. Not visible from a standing position. I'm just going to bondo it, sand it and touch it up with a satin black paint.

CUPRA · 05-22-2018, 04:57 PM

I've been worried about this. I installed mine about 2 weeks ago now and love the look of it, but have been concerned about durability.

You could take it off, fill it, sand it and then vinyl wrap it if you wanted a little more durability out of it.

majik755 · 05-23-2018, 11:14 AM

Thanks for the input, may go with a replacement of the existing one, I do like the look of it. I just thought carbon fiber or a solid splitter would prove much more durable. Concerned about repair work, because of the hole and the additional crack running to each side, as well as I'm not sure what it's made of, might just have to take it to a body shop for an estimate. Cheapest I found a new one for, was $405, and that does not include removal of the old and installation.

SF Giants · 05-23-2018, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by majik755

Cheapest I found a new one for, was $405, and that does not include removal of the old and installation.

Just remove and replace it yourself, unless you aren't physically able to. It just attaches with some bolts and double-sided tape.

ctrlz · 05-23-2018, 11:42 AM

I replaced mine recently and followed Glen E's advice. There are several screws, a few rivets, and double-sided tape holding the old one on. That is easy. The tape is trickier. I used braided fishing line to cut the adhesive foam tape. The remaining residue I removed by hand.
Install new splitter without peeling red backing off the adhesive tape. I used plastic push rivets, again as per Glen E's suggestion. The combination of plastic push rivets and the screws is plenty strong. This allows the splitter to be removed more easily.

If your old splitter is just cracked, or you happen to have all the broken pieces, it can be glued with IPS weld-on #16. I experimented with what I had left from my damage, and that adhesive will work.

If I recall correctly, the plastic is straight up ABS. I posted the code in another thread.

here's that thread:
https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=434909

coruiz · 05-23-2018, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SF Giants

Just remove and replace it yourself, unless you aren't physically able to. It just attaches with some bolts and double-sided tape.

GM splitter has rivets as well

bpang1234 · 05-23-2018, 06:10 PM

It's not even a splitter just a chin spoiler and the damn thing is super-brittle. Mine is all jacked up.

I have a replacement one that I will throw on someday when the original one gets too bad to be on the car. Some store on here sells replicas for very cheap and there's nothing special about the GM one's construction to warrant paying the $350 to $400 for it.

coruiz · 05-24-2018, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpang1234

It's not even a splitter just a chin spoiler and the damn thing is super-brittle. Mine is all jacked up.

I have a replacement one that I will throw on someday when the original one gets too bad to be on the car. Some store on here sells replicas for very cheap and there's nothing special about the GM one's construction to warrant paying the $350 to $400 for it.

Please PM me the info about the replicas.

majik755 · 05-25-2018, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coruiz

Please PM me the info about the replicas.

Please PM me as well, if I'm going to be replacing this thing every couple of years I'd like a cheaper option.

craigss50 · 05-25-2018, 07:55 AM

Please PM me too!

majik755 · 06-05-2018, 10:58 AM

An update and a heads up. Over the last couple of weeks I noticed the cracks caused by the hole are spreading. I assume the flexing of the plastic due to air pressure is causing more damage. Temporarily, used spray foam insulation inserted through hole to add internal support until I decide on a replacement. After seeing how fragile the stock plastic is, I'm leaning towards a carbon fiber replacement.

05-22-2018, 02:58 PM	#2
oneredry HYPER SS Drives: 2016 Supercharged 2SS Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Troy OH Posts: 1,252	had to replace mine as well. I like the GM Front splitter seems to flow with the car better IMO. __________________ Ordered: 1/15/2016 2000 status 02/01/16 3000 status 02/29/16 3400 status 03/07/16 TPW of 03/14/16 4200 status 03/17/16 in transit! Delivered 03/23/16 2SS Hyper Blue \| 6M \| NPP \| Mag ride \| ceramic white Int. \| Black out bow ties \| P3 Gauge\| Front splitter. \| 6 pot upgraded brembo brakes. \| Magnuson Supercharger/95MM pulley \| Rotofab Intake \| ZL1 side skirts \| HRE FF04 wheels - Michelin PSS4 \| ZL1 add ons rock guards and lift points. \| AWE touring - resinated catback with link pipes.

05-22-2018, 04:57 PM	#5
CUPRA Drives: '21 Bronco OBX/'18 Jeep GC Altitude Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 1,413 View My Garage	I've been worried about this. I installed mine about 2 weeks ago now and love the look of it, but have been concerned about durability. You could take it off, fill it, sand it and then vinyl wrap it if you wanted a little more durability out of it. __________________ Order Placed: 04/30/22 Order Accepted: 10/18/22 TPW: 11/07/22 Built: 11/18/22 VIN received: 11/19/22 On a Train: 02/27/23 ETA: TBD 2023 Camaro 2SS Convertible/M6/Shadow Grey Metallic/Adrenaline Red Interior/Carbon Flash Wheels/NPP

05-23-2018, 11:42 AM	#8
ctrlz Drives: 2017 2SS, 50th pkg, M6, MRC, NPP Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ocean City, NJ Posts: 3,175	I replaced mine recently and followed Glen E's advice. There are several screws, a few rivets, and double-sided tape holding the old one on. That is easy. The tape is trickier. I used braided fishing line to cut the adhesive foam tape. The remaining residue I removed by hand. Install new splitter without peeling red backing off the adhesive tape. I used plastic push rivets, again as per Glen E's suggestion. The combination of plastic push rivets and the screws is plenty strong. This allows the splitter to be removed more easily. If your old splitter is just cracked, or you happen to have all the broken pieces, it can be glued with IPS weld-on #16. I experimented with what I had left from my damage, and that adhesive will work. If I recall correctly, the plastic is straight up ABS. I posted the code in another thread. here's that thread: https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=434909 Last edited by ctrlz; 05-23-2018 at 11:53 AM.

05-23-2018, 06:10 PM	#10
bpang1234 You can only YOLO once. Drives: '16 2SS & '15 Subaru Forester Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Albany, OR Posts: 1,677	It's not even a splitter just a chin spoiler and the damn thing is super-brittle. Mine is all jacked up. I have a replacement one that I will throw on someday when the original one gets too bad to be on the car. Some store on here sells replicas for very cheap and there's nothing special about the GM one's construction to warrant paying the $350 to $400 for it. __________________ 2016 Camaro 2ss -Summit White / Ceramic White -8A, NPP, MRC, Ceramic White package plus knee pads, black bowties. -1st Car to have the "full" SEMA High Performance Graphics kit from 6LEDesigns. -1st Car to have the 6LEDesigns Blade Spoiler. -Borla S-Type w/ custom H-Pipe -Procharger P-1X Stage 2

05-22-2018, 02:29 PM	#1
majik755 Drives: 2017 Camaro RS Fiftieth Anniversary Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 166 View My Garage	GM Front Splitter Woes Recently took my 50th Anniversary RS for a 4 hour run up I95. Halfway up a truck kicks up a rock which proceeds to bounce along until I hit it going 75 and the result is a hole in my lower front splitter and a crack. Being hollow plastic the splitter did not put up much a of a defense. Ever since I got my car I've worried about scratching it on a curb and now this. My dilemma is do I get it replaced $440 for the part plus labor for the GM part, or do I replace it with something more durable? After market carbon fiber or solid splitter. Anybody have any suggestions or options? Pics Follow:

05-22-2018, 03:33 PM	#3
JohnCobalt Drives: Camaro and Mazda CX3 Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Tampa Bay Posts: 181	Or you could go the cheaper route and fill, sand, and paint it. That’s what I’m going to do when mine gets all jacked up.

05-23-2018, 11:14 AM	#6
majik755 Drives: 2017 Camaro RS Fiftieth Anniversary Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 166 View My Garage	Thanks for the input, may go with a replacement of the existing one, I do like the look of it. I just thought carbon fiber or a solid splitter would prove much more durable. Concerned about repair work, because of the hole and the additional crack running to each side, as well as I'm not sure what it's made of, might just have to take it to a body shop for an estimate. Cheapest I found a new one for, was $405, and that does not include removal of the old and installation.

05-25-2018, 07:55 AM	#13
craigss50 Drives: 2017 Camaro SS Fifty Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Port St Lucie, Florida Posts: 966	Please PM me too!

06-05-2018, 10:58 AM	#14
majik755 Drives: 2017 Camaro RS Fiftieth Anniversary Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 166 View My Garage	An update and a heads up. Over the last couple of weeks I noticed the cracks caused by the hole are spreading. I assume the flexing of the plastic due to air pressure is causing more damage. Temporarily, used spray foam insulation inserted through hole to add internal support until I decide on a replacement. After seeing how fragile the stock plastic is, I'm leaning towards a carbon fiber replacement.

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