Aftermarket Spoiler

[CardsFan]

A few weeks ago my spoiler was damaged by an access gate at the parking garage at my work. After the stealership's $911 + dollar estimate and a few others over $1k. Can you believe the stealership was cheaper than a few body shops??!! Anyway, I decided to look for different options. I found a replica factory spoiler, painted to order at www.thespoilerfactory.com for $209 delivered to my door. Well I finally installed it and I like it a little better than the stock spoiler. It uses LEDs for the collision light and looks more streamlined. Here's a few pics

 

[CardsFan]

another pic

 

[TranceKrayz]

nice job. i think that both spoilers look equally as nice. leds last longer so that's a plus,

 

[CardsFan]

Thanks. Install wasn't bad, but I dropped a piece of debris between the panels and every time I open the lift gate I hear it rattling around. Pisses me off a bit.

 

[TranceKrayz]

hehe...you can always take apart the inside panel of your gate.

 

[CardsFan]

Sounds like a good idea if I didn't have a prego wife and a honey do list a mile long and oh ya, the holidays and an over demanding job. I need a vacation.............

 

[tkr128]

Looks really nice!

I've been thinking about getting a spoiler for my truck and have been looking into the aftermarket ones. I like the location of the CHMSL on the factory spoiler better than the aftermarket ones, but I can't justify the cost since they're almost identical.

Thanks for the pictures, I think I'm going to go for the aftermarket spoiler in a few months.

 

[BlueGP]

That is the spoiler that I got when I bought my truck. I think is was added at the port, because my mother has a 04 Limited that came with a spoiler but it was not added at the port and it is the stock spoiler. Just some info.

Brian

 

[bryancos]

LEDS / Brake Light Flasher

How difficult was the installation? You already had holes from your stock spoiler, so I'm guessing it was cake compared to having to set a template and drilling... I'd like the spoiler, but will prob. end up having my favorite body shop do the job.

BTW, another nice thing about LEDs... they illuminite several milliseconds faster than a bulb, giving the guy behind you precious seconds to hit his brakes. At highways speeds, that makes the difference between a near miss and a collision. The LED on your spoiler looks nice and bright! You might also consider adding a brake light flasher to gain some extra attention... :awais: The CHMSL flashes several times then goes solid with this one:

http://www.comagination.com/bflasher.htm

I got the IBF-4 -- it flashes the third brake light 4-5 times, then it stays on solid when the brakes are applied. About the size of a quarter and tucks nicely into the light housing out of sight.

 

[CardsFan]

Thanks for the info. Looks like a good idea with a new little one on the way. Install was easy due to the holes already being there, as you stated the spoiler came with 3 holes on each side and double sided tape. I didn't use all the holes, spliced the 2 brake light wires and it went on relatively easy. Definitely a better value than the stock spoiler. In fact, when I chatted with the guys from the spoiler factory, they said that dealerships often order spoilers from them. I'd be pissed if the stealership bought an aftermarket spoiler for $209 and charged me $750. I would have to agree, if you don't have a spoiler now, let your body shop do it. Not the easiest place to match up holes.

 

[HuntRunner]

Thanks. Install wasn't bad, but I dropped a piece of debris between the panels and every time I open the lift gate I hear it rattling around. Pisses me off a bit.

Easy fix when you get around to it.
Just pop out the access panel pieces (one around the pull down handle and another one). Remove the pull down handle and start popping off the back panel. It just has plastic clips holding it on so be carful when installing it back; go easy and start in the middle. There is a clear plastic dust cover inside that peels back (it will re-stick when you're done). Now you can clean out the lift gate!

 

[CardsFan]

Thanks HuntRunner. I'll hopefully get to that project on Friday. I have this annoying vibration in the back and I suspect the debris in the lift gate is the cause. I appreciate the advise. Happy Holidays.

 

[dsongalong]

what did you do with the original 3rd brake light? Do you just cut the wire going to it? It wouldnt look too good if both lights were on. i think...

 

[TranceKrayz]

the original 3rd brake light was on his original spoiler which he already took off to install this one. your 3rd brake light is actually on your tailgate because your truck did not come with an OEM spoiler. trucks with the OEM spoiler do not have the 3rd brakelight on their tailgates....only a slight indentation where it's supposed to be.

 

[dsongalong]

so to install the aftermarket spoiler, do i have to remove the 3rd brake light on the tailgate?

 

[TranceKrayz]

no...then you'll have a big hole in your tailgate. you just leave it there but like you said.....cut the wire going to it and wire it to the spoiler's light. the spoiler will cover up the original light pretty well.

 

[ZonaT4R]

No, you don't have to remove the 3rd brake light, there is a gap between the hatch and spoiler so that isn't a problem. You may want to disconnect it or de-bulb in though.

 

[ZonaT4R]

ooops... didn't see Trance's post

 

[bryancos]

No, you wouldn't remove the light... but you'd tap the wiring for the spoiler brake light and possibly disable the factory brake light entirely since it wouldn't be visible anyhow...

 

[Hitman]

Re: LEDS / Brake Light Flasher

BTW, another nice thing about LEDs... they illuminite several milliseconds faster than a bulb, giving the guy behind you precious seconds to hit his brakes.

It is true that the LEDs illuminate quicker, but the difference is hardly perceptible.

Like you said, the difference is in milliseconds.....

My old Mazda MX-6 had a factory spoiler with LEDs (and regular brake lamps) and I always thought it would be great to use LEDs for all rear lamps. It is true that they last longer, but they can also be problematic, especially in a spoiler. On my Mazda, the connects between the LEDs were starting to corrode, which caused several of them to go out....

Nevertheless, there are quite a few cars out now that use LEDS for taillights and brakelights now....