Difference between revisions of "Fit a front splitter"

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[[Image:Front splitter.jpg|thumb|left|Splitter fitted to front of Elise S2]]
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[[Image:How to fit a front splitter.jpg|thumb|left|Front splitter]]
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Fitting a splitter to the front of your car couldn't be easier.
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Fitting a [[front splitter]] to the front of your car couldn't be easier.
 
{{clr}}
 
{{clr}}
  
 
== Procedure ==
 
== Procedure ==
 +
There are two ways to secure the splitter to the front clamshell.
  
 +
=== Glue ===
 +
* Sikaflex
  
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== Procurement ==
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=== Bolts ===
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Fellow SELOC member [http://forums.seloc.org/member.php?action=viewpro&member=Tigga%21 Tigga!] supplies a range of splitters for the Elise.
+
This description was written for fitting one of Tigga's splitters, but could be applied to other splitters as well
  
 +
Normally, Tigga's splitters are supplied with all the required bolts and washers etc, however I bought mine second hand and they had been lost. I went off to B&Q and bought these:
 +
 +
http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/1.jpg
 +
 +
The bolt size is M4X20mm and the washer size is M5X25mm. Ideally, you also need nylon locking nuts as well.
 +
 +
You need easy access to the underside of the front of the car. If you don't have access to ramps etc, using a step worked brilliantly for me.
 +
 +
http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/2.jpg
 +
 +
The splitter comes pre-drilled with ten holes, three at the back (yellow arrows) and seven at the front (pink). You will need to widen these out with a drill to fit the bolts you have chosen to use.
 +
 +
http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/3.jpg
 +
 +
The three holes with yellow arrow will be fixed to the underside of the car using the three pre-existing bolts which hold the undertray onto the car. You can see these here going through the yellow front clam:
 +
 +
http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/4.jpg
 +
 +
You will need to drill holes in the underside of the front clam for the seven bolts maked with pink arrows, and to fit these bolts, you will need to completely remove the front undertray to hold the nuts in position at you tighten them however STOP!!! Before completely removing the undertray, first just undo the front three. but the bolts through the holes marked in yellow and re attach them to the car.
 +
 +
http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/5.jpg
 +
 +
This holds the splitter in place and makes it easy to accurately drill the seven new holes in the clam, using the pre-drilled splitter holes as a guide.
 +
 +
Next, remove the splitter and undertray completely, and then attach the splitter to the car using the new bolts through the holes you have just drilled in the clam. Remeber to use locking nuts or at least good threadlock!
 +
 +
After this, put the front undertray back on and bolt it in place with the front three bolts going through the holes marked in yellow in the picture above.
 +
 +
http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/6.jpg
 +
 +
That's it done! I hope it's helpful to someone and I haven't made it too confusing, but hopefully it shows that it's a really simple job that anyone can expect to complete well within an hour. Here's the finished job -
 +
 +
http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/7.jpg
 +
 +
== Incorrect fitment ==
 +
[[Image:how to fit a front slitter - incorrectly fitted.jpg|thumb|left|Make sure you use large spreader washers]]
 +
Unfortunately, if not correctly fitted, the splitter can part company with your car at high speeds.  At best this will damage the splitter, at worse, your front clamshell.  Remember it needs to sustain around 40 Kg of down force.
 +
{{clr}}
 +
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== Removal ==
 +
If you want to remove the splitter you can use a sharp (Stanley) blade to cut the ''seal'' and it comes off relatively easily.
 +
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[[Category:Aerodynamics]]
 
[[Category:DIY]]
 
[[Category:DIY]]
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[[Category:Lotus Elise]]
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[[Category:S2]]

Latest revision as of 18:30, 14 January 2009

Front splitter

Fitting a front splitter to the front of your car couldn't be easier.

Procedure

There are two ways to secure the splitter to the front clamshell.

Glue

  • Sikaflex

Bolts

This description was written for fitting one of Tigga's splitters, but could be applied to other splitters as well

Normally, Tigga's splitters are supplied with all the required bolts and washers etc, however I bought mine second hand and they had been lost. I went off to B&Q and bought these:

http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/1.jpg

The bolt size is M4X20mm and the washer size is M5X25mm. Ideally, you also need nylon locking nuts as well.

You need easy access to the underside of the front of the car. If you don't have access to ramps etc, using a step worked brilliantly for me.

http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/2.jpg

The splitter comes pre-drilled with ten holes, three at the back (yellow arrows) and seven at the front (pink). You will need to widen these out with a drill to fit the bolts you have chosen to use.

http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/3.jpg

The three holes with yellow arrow will be fixed to the underside of the car using the three pre-existing bolts which hold the undertray onto the car. You can see these here going through the yellow front clam:

http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/4.jpg

You will need to drill holes in the underside of the front clam for the seven bolts maked with pink arrows, and to fit these bolts, you will need to completely remove the front undertray to hold the nuts in position at you tighten them however STOP!!! Before completely removing the undertray, first just undo the front three. but the bolts through the holes marked in yellow and re attach them to the car.

http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/5.jpg

This holds the splitter in place and makes it easy to accurately drill the seven new holes in the clam, using the pre-drilled splitter holes as a guide.

Next, remove the splitter and undertray completely, and then attach the splitter to the car using the new bolts through the holes you have just drilled in the clam. Remeber to use locking nuts or at least good threadlock!

After this, put the front undertray back on and bolt it in place with the front three bolts going through the holes marked in yellow in the picture above.

http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/6.jpg

That's it done! I hope it's helpful to someone and I haven't made it too confusing, but hopefully it shows that it's a really simple job that anyone can expect to complete well within an hour. Here's the finished job -

http://www.cableaddict.co.uk/elise/7.jpg

Incorrect fitment

Make sure you use large spreader washers

Unfortunately, if not correctly fitted, the splitter can part company with your car at high speeds. At best this will damage the splitter, at worse, your front clamshell. Remember it needs to sustain around 40 Kg of down force.

Removal

If you want to remove the splitter you can use a sharp (Stanley) blade to cut the seal and it comes off relatively easily.

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