Help Removing S-Line Spoiler

[MxGaza33]

I've been looking for an S-Line spoiler and one came up on eBay which was still attached to the tailgate. I quickly snapped it up and it arrived today, although I can't get the spoiler to budge! I've removed 2 bolts located in the highlighted areas in the picture below but it's still not shifting.

I found a thread on here saying it's just double sided tape holding it in place, if thats the case it's the strongest tape I've ever seen! Does anyone have any tips to remove it without damaging it? Or is there any other bolts I've not seen still holding it in place?

 

[Rom]

They are bonded on. Very hard to remove without distorting them.

Try heat, levering up from one end.
Depending What they use, but generally spoilers use a polyurethane adhesive. Like sikaflex. They hold spoilers on, in all weather, winds, speeds etc for as long as the car is used. It not an easy job sadly.

How much did you pay if you dont mind? On my shopping list too.

 

[MxGaza33]

Dam that is not what I wanted to hear Was under the impression that they weren't bonded on from the factory as they had to be removed to replace the rear windscreen.

Paid £120 for it so really hoping I can get it off so its not wasted! Is there anything available that I can try and spray underneath to eat away at the adhesive?

 

[hades-]

use fishing line
or window screen wire

 

[MTRL]

I just used a thin knife to slowly slowly cut through it. I would be careful with too much heat on it as it can and will warp.
Just keep pulling up and cutting, it will come eventually.

I took the tail gate to bits and made my money back by selling the wiper motor and locking mechanism too

 

[TimG]

You'll never get it off it one piece, give it to me and I will throw it away for you

Fishing line.

 

[MxGaza33]

Thanks for the ideas, will have another go at it tomorrow!

Nice try tim, if I ruin it in the process your more than welcome to have it! Haha

 

[Ratzer]

take it to a safari park and see if a babboon can pull it off for you!

 

[TimG]

take it to a safari park and see if a babboon can pull it off for you!

Best answer yet

 

[moag]

Use a similar technique as you'd use to de-badge a car - fishing line and solvent

If its been stuck on with sikaflex or similar try petrol as the solvent

 

[leeds2592]

Let us know how you get on with this as I've done the same as you an got a whole tailgate with the spoiler still attached.

 

[tedward]

I remove spoilers like this all the time at work (work in a body shop). They are removable but forget trying solvents or petrol! They are Held on with polyurethane adhesive and it doesn't like to be removed!

Best way is to cheese wire them off with a Windscreen removal wire ( if there is enough gap not to wreck the edge of the spoiler)
Wiring a spoiler off is a fine art and they are easily destroyed, sometimes we end up just having to order a new spoiler if they have been fitted with crazy amounts of glue.

Another way is slow and steady with an extendable Stanley knife ( Windscreen removal spec) and loads of glass polish as a lube and slight levering to help the blade cut the glue.

Forget heat, it has no effect and you will melt the spoiler before the glue.

Forget fishing wire, it will heat up and snap, also the wire needs to be serated or braided to cut through polyurethane glue.


This is braided metal cheesewire and suitable T handles and a an OLFA retractable blade knife.

 

[MxGaza33]

Success! After 2 hours and a bit of teamwork with my brother its off!

First off as tedward said don't bother with fishing line, I tried it and the adhesive is far too strong and the line snaps way before the adhesive budges.

Got hold of a very thin blunt cutlery knife and pushed it in the gap along the top edge and through the adhesive, moved it along the width of the knife and pushed it though again and repeated this along the top edge and down the sides,avoiding the bolt hole recesses. In my case getting the knife through the adhesive required a hell of alot of force, but that was due to the knife I had being round at the top as it was the only one I had that was thin enough so it was able to bend through the gap.

This allowed the top edge to be pulled up slightly and if you shine a light in you can see the 2nd strip of adhesive. This is where my brother came in handy, he pulled up on the lower edge of the spoiler while shining a light in the gap at the top so I was able to see what bits were still stuck which I cut with the knife and your good to go!

I would avoid using wire as I can see it being difficult without eating into the edge of the spoiler itself. Definitely not an easy job but once you get the top edge free its fairly straight forward just takes a bit of patience.

 

[MxGaza33]

When I started I was wondering where the adhesive strips were, so here's a picture of the underside after it was removed for anyone else needing to do this!

 

[tedward]

Good result then! Looks like factory spec fitment on that one so it's not been off before.

It's a nightmare when they have been removed for whatever reason (new rear screen or painting) and then glued back on with polyurethane adhesive. It's a total pig to remove.

Good job.

 

[MxGaza33]

Any recommendations as to what I should use to stick it onto my tailgate? Not sure how easy it will be to line it up so something that doesn't stick immediately might be handy.

 

[tedward]

Any recommendations as to what I should use to stick it onto my tailgate? Not sure how easy it will be to line it up so something that doesn't stick immediately might be handy.

Best bet is to dry fit it first to see how easy it is. Once you are confident stick it on with double sided tape (old stuff cleaned off)

We use this stuff at work 3M *10mm Tape Car Truck Attachment Double Side Adhesive | eBay

With the bolts as well to hold it it should be fine and almost factory spec.

Hth.

 

[MxGaza33]

Unfortunately my current tailgate doesn't have the bolt holes so I can't bolt it on. Was thinking of using sikaflex or tigerseal to be on the safe side, shouldn't be taking it off again anyway!

 

[leeds2592]

As said, I did the same as you and got a whole tailgate with the spoiler in place.

From what I've read, Tigerseal and Sikaflex are both much of a muchness. I need mine spraying so I'm getting the bodyshop to stick it on as well, saves me a job!

 

[MTRL]

I used stickafex, does the job perfect