Sponsored

Incorrectly installed splitter?

proeagles

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
293
Reaction score
177
Location
Covington, LA
First Name
Scott
Vehicle(s)
2019 Shelby GT 350, 2019 BMW X3, 2019 Honda Civic
There are no screws from underneath, hence the term remove the inner panel inside the wheel well. These are plastic push pins specifically designed for this application. Take the car to the dealer. You will regret fixing it yourself.
Sponsored

 

JAJ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2016
Threads
4
Messages
2,221
Reaction score
1,973
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle(s)
2016 GT350 Track Pack
There are no screws from underneath, hence the term remove the inner panel inside the wheel well. These are plastic push pins specifically designed for this application. Take the car to the dealer. You will regret fixing it yourself.
Well, maybe the 2019's are different, but on the 16's there's a row of steel screws both straight up and in at an angle that are accessed through a row of oval holes on the bottom of the splitter. They are structural and they hold the splitter on. The GT350 splitter produces significant downforce and if it's not secure it'll come off.

If you look underneath and you do see the row of oval (well really a slot with rounded ends) holes and you don't see any screw heads inside them then there's an excellent chance your splitter isn't properly installed. If there is no row of holes, then the splitter has been redesigned for 2019. However the online parts sites show the 2019 splitter with an FR3Z part number, which is the same as the 2016 part.
 
OP
OP
09cs

09cs

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Threads
28
Messages
959
Reaction score
684
Location
CA
Vehicle(s)
2019 GT350
There are no screws from underneath, hence the term remove the inner panel inside the wheel well. These are plastic push pins specifically designed for this application. Take the car to the dealer. You will regret fixing it yourself.
On my 19, it looks like there are screws underneath?

Well, maybe the 2019's are different, but on the 16's there's a row of steel screws both straight up and in at an angle that are accessed through a row of oval holes on the bottom of the splitter. They are structural and they hold the splitter on. The GT350 splitter produces significant downforce and if it's not secure it'll come off.

If you look underneath and you do see the row of oval (well really a slot with rounded ends) holes and you don't see any screw heads inside them then there's an excellent chance your splitter isn't properly installed. If there is no row of holes, then the splitter has been redesigned for 2019. However the online parts sites show the 2019 splitter with an FR3Z part number, which is the same as the 2016 part.
I saw straight up screws and felt inside the angle holes, and did not feel a screw head
 

JAJ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2016
Threads
4
Messages
2,221
Reaction score
1,973
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle(s)
2016 GT350 Track Pack
On my 19, it looks like there are screws underneath?



I saw straight up screws and felt inside the angle holes, and did not feel a screw head
If you have a phone with a selfie camera, put it in that mode and slide it on the ground under the splitter looking up. You should be able to see what's going on that way. There should be screws up inside those openings.
 
OP
OP
09cs

09cs

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Threads
28
Messages
959
Reaction score
684
Location
CA
Vehicle(s)
2019 GT350
If you have a phone with a selfie camera, put it in that mode and slide it on the ground under the splitter looking up. You should be able to see what's going on that way. There should be screws up inside those openings.
Will try that, I was just on my back without the car in the air
 

Sponsored

proeagles

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
293
Reaction score
177
Location
Covington, LA
First Name
Scott
Vehicle(s)
2019 Shelby GT 350, 2019 BMW X3, 2019 Honda Civic
If you
Will try that, I was just on my back without the car in the air
If you have a 2019, you have the same splitter I have and it can't be fixed from underneath the car. Last time, take it to the dealer, it's under warranty.
 
OP
OP
09cs

09cs

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Threads
28
Messages
959
Reaction score
684
Location
CA
Vehicle(s)
2019 GT350
If you

If you have a 2019, you have the same splitter I have and it can't be fixed from underneath the car. Last time, take it to the dealer, it's under warranty.
I will be taking it in when I can this weekend.

Wondering why as in previous threads, there's mention of angled screws that you are saying SHOULD NOT be there
 

proeagles

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
293
Reaction score
177
Location
Covington, LA
First Name
Scott
Vehicle(s)
2019 Shelby GT 350, 2019 BMW X3, 2019 Honda Civic
I think they changed the way the splitter is attached from 2016 to 2019. There are fasteners underneath to the rear and inside towards the front and yours looks like mine where the fasteners inside either failed or were not properly installed. All I know is that if it comes completely undone in the front with enough air force it will pop loose and curl under the car. At that point all you can do is get under the car and remove the fasteners toward the rear of the spoiler and remove the center section so that you can drive it.
 

JAJ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2016
Threads
4
Messages
2,221
Reaction score
1,973
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle(s)
2016 GT350 Track Pack
This is what I get if I take a photo from the floor of the garage with my iPhone in selfie mode. It's the bolt hole near the middle of the splitter.
upload_2020-1-13_12-34-59.webp
 
OP
OP
09cs

09cs

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Threads
28
Messages
959
Reaction score
684
Location
CA
Vehicle(s)
2019 GT350
This is what I get if I take a photo from the floor of the garage with my iPhone in selfie mode. It's the bolt hole near the middle of the splitter.
upload_2020-1-13_12-34-59.webp
Thanks for the pic!

@proeagles you're correctly installed 2019 splitter does not have have the bolts shown below installed?
 

Sponsored

proeagles

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
293
Reaction score
177
Location
Covington, LA
First Name
Scott
Vehicle(s)
2019 Shelby GT 350, 2019 BMW X3, 2019 Honda Civic
Yes mine has those. They are holding the back of the splitter to the car. What is missing or separated is inside where you can't see it. The front of the splitter pops up into some tabs and is secured with the aforementioned plastic push pins.
 

key01

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2017
Threads
9
Messages
1,425
Reaction score
1,401
Location
Chicagoland
Vehicle(s)
2017 GT350 now gone to a great home.
See if this helps explain what is happening, and yes, I know it is an R

 
OP
OP
09cs

09cs

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Threads
28
Messages
959
Reaction score
684
Location
CA
Vehicle(s)
2019 GT350
Thank you! Very helpful. Bringing the car in to have this fixed, and my caster/camber plates installed
See if this helps explain what is happening, and yes, I know it is an R

 

proeagles

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2019
Threads
0
Messages
293
Reaction score
177
Location
Covington, LA
First Name
Scott
Vehicle(s)
2019 Shelby GT 350, 2019 BMW X3, 2019 Honda Civic
Those little white half moon clips are the ones I've been talking about the whole time. If your splitter came apart, then those clips either failed, were installed improperly, or never installed.
 

JAJ

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 9, 2016
Threads
4
Messages
2,221
Reaction score
1,973
Location
Vancouver BC
Vehicle(s)
2016 GT350 Track Pack
See if this helps explain what is happening, and yes, I know it is an R
Thanks for posting that - I believe that's the Ford Service instructional video for techs doing PDI on GT350's and R's. What was happening back in 2016 when the GT350 was first introduced was that techs thought the splitter was just decorative trim so they'd hook the splitter into place without seating the tabs across the front and then finish with the row of screws along the back. With the front half-loose and without all of the structural screws that are up inside the holes, the splitter was prone to detach above about 80 mph.
Sponsored

 
 








Top