Front Splitter easy to replace?


drilling

GT Owner
Sep 13, 2018
395
That grey plastic piece under front bumper.

How easy is it to replace it? Can it be a DIy job?
 

twobjshelbys

GT Owner
Jul 26, 2010
6,211
Las Vegas, NV
Easy peasy. You don't need to jack the car...
 

Rick Mustang

GT Owner
Mar 29, 2016
111
Central Texas
Very easy
 

drilling

GT Owner
Sep 13, 2018
395
Very easy

Does it need bumper removed or anything? Or as simple as just removing the splitter with pins and call it a day?
 

partssmann

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jun 1, 2013
771
Scottsdale, Arizona
Remove 2 plastic push pins each end and then remove bolts.
 

fjpikul

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jan 4, 2006
11,705
Belleville, IL
It is usually best to let the splitter sit on the ground flat where it is warm for a few days. They are known to have a curve or bow in them.. When you mount it, it has a "smile" to it. The GT Guy has a new piece of metal to straighten it out on mounting. They don't all do this. There is an old thread about this.
 
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PeteK

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Apr 18, 2014
2,483
Kalama, Free part of WA State
Check the old thread for how to do it. Not hard, but there are screws further under the panel that are hard to access unless you jack the car up a bit. Put a floor jack under either the right or left from track point. Also check the 3 struts at the front that hold the splitter and front edge of the bumper cover down and parallel to the road. If the front edge of the splitter is noticeably higher in the middle than the edges, then one or more of those struts got bent. They often get bent by hitting speed bumps or parking blocks, bending them up. I've bent them several times. :cautious:

Chance are, since you want to replace the splitter, those struts are bent too. Last time I looked, new struts were about $48 each, but I was able to bend back the original ones by heating to anneal the aluminum, then very carefully bending them back to the correct angle.
 
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drilling

GT Owner
Sep 13, 2018
395
Check the old thread for how to do it. Not hard, but there are screws further under the panel that are hard to access unless you jack the car up a bit. Put a floor jack under either the right or left from track point. Also check the 3 struts at the front that hold the splitter and front edge of the bumper cover down and parallel to the road. If the front edge of the splitter is noticeably higher in the middle than the edges, then one or more of those struts got bent. They often get bent by hitting speed bumps or parking blocks, bending them up. I've bent them several times. :cautious:

Chance are, since you want to replace the splitter, those struts are bent too. Last time I looked, new struts were about $48 each, but I was able to bend back the original ones by heating to anneal the aluminum, then very carefully bending them back to the correct angle.

How easy of a fix is it? I see a lot of cars with front splitter bent upward (like a smile). Is that a damage to the body? Would there be any diy videos? Lol
 

drilling

GT Owner
Sep 13, 2018
395
How easy of a fix is it? I see a lot of cars with front splitter bent upward (like a smile). Is that a damage to the body? Would there be any diy videos? Lol
 

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PeteK

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Apr 18, 2014
2,483
Kalama, Free part of WA State
I think it's an easy fix. It's not damage to the body, other than those little struts. I don't know of any DIY videos. If you take off the splitter, it will be obvious.
 
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drilling

GT Owner
Sep 13, 2018
395
I think it's an easy fix. It's not damage to the body, other than those little struts. I don't know of any DIY videos. If you take off the splitter, it will be obvious.

Yeah ive seen some cars with a strong frown and scrape of the splitter. Wonder if it retained any internal damage sans the bent strut which seems like an easy replacement.

Do you know parts number by any chance?
 

PeteK

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Apr 18, 2014
2,483
Kalama, Free part of WA State
No on the parts number. Check with NorthwoodGT. That’s who I bought them from several years ago. It’s just a simple bar of aluminum, flattened and drilled on both ends. Then one end is bent into an “L”. You could make something from some aluminum stock from Home Depot if you needed it fast.
 

69b302

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Mar 13, 2021
116
Upstate NY
The three center support rods(one in each of the 06 grill vertices) are also slotted where they bolt to the back of the front bumper support. This allows some up/down adjustment of the center section of the splitter. On the 06 models this adjustment is easy, as the grill does not block access the upper rod screws. If the lower portion of the rod is bent up, the rods can be removed and straightened. Very easy on the open grill 06s, but need to remove splitter on 05s with mesh grills.
 

texas mongrel

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
May 3, 2009
1,677
Houston Texas
I'm on my third splitter, super-easy job, but every replacement was a "frowny" one. I actually used one of the damaged ones on our '98 Mustang race car, it was almost a bolt-on fit!
 

drilling

GT Owner
Sep 13, 2018
395
I'm on my third splitter, super-easy job, but every replacement was a "frowny" one. I actually used one of the damaged ones on our '98 Mustang race car, it was almost a bolt-on fit!
Is it because of just natural bend in plastic?
 

PL510*Jeff

Well-known member
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Nov 3, 2005
4,901
Renton, Washington
Is it because of just natural bend in plastic?
No - it was designed that way. Part of the underside aero set up.
 

69b302

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Mar 13, 2021
116
Upstate NY
I believe this is the part number for the three strut/support rods: 5G7Z-17C972-AC. In most cases the rods can be adjusted, or the rod foot bent flat again, to cure a frowned front splitter.
 

roketman

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Oct 24, 2005
8,095
ma.
rich brooks has a fix for warping issue
 

MTV8

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 24, 2010
1,021
Houston Texas
No - it was designed that way. Part of the underside aero set up.
The splitter should be flat. Otherwise, this may indicate the car has bent supports in the front fascia as previously mentioned.