Front Air Dam Lip Install Problems
#16
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: IL
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Here is a picture from Techniques website. You can see a tab in between the 2 screws. Once you get under there you will know exactly what I am talking about.
#19
I tried getting the car on the ramps( air dam installed) to fix the problem but don't have clearance? How did you get yours on the ramp? Another thing is did you ever turn your wheels for better access or was it straight all the time?
#20
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: IL
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have the same problem, gaps at the corner. I did not use ramps to install because it seems that the ramps will scratch the lip (rhino ramps, black ones).
I tried getting the car on the ramps( air dam installed) to fix the problem but don't have clearance? How did you get yours on the ramp? Another thing is did you ever turn your wheels for better access or was it straight all the time?
I tried getting the car on the ramps( air dam installed) to fix the problem but don't have clearance? How did you get yours on the ramp? Another thing is did you ever turn your wheels for better access or was it straight all the time?
My car is stock ride height. I bought the black rhino 8000 ramps from Autozone for $30. I tested them for clearance by sliding them under the car so the front tires were touching the beginning of the ramp. It cleared my front gfx lip by a couple of inches. Since the car will be traveling on the incline from that point it was not going to scrape. After I got the car up on the ramps I was able to get easy access to the corner bolts. You will NOT be able to turn your wheels when the car is on the ramps. This will cause them to be unstable.
Is your car lowered? I believe the sport packaged cars should have clearance as well.
#21
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Orange County, Ca
Posts: 1,947
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey VikDiddy,
How long did you wait to fix the installation of your front air dam? Was the adhesive on the left and right still sticky after taking it off? Did you remove the entire spoiler? Or just unbolted the bolts, pushed the spoiler in so there are no gaps, and then tighten the bolts??
My front air dam should be in soon so I want to be prepared!
Thanks!
How long did you wait to fix the installation of your front air dam? Was the adhesive on the left and right still sticky after taking it off? Did you remove the entire spoiler? Or just unbolted the bolts, pushed the spoiler in so there are no gaps, and then tighten the bolts??
My front air dam should be in soon so I want to be prepared!
Thanks!
#22
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: IL
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey VikDiddy,
How long did you wait to fix the installation of your front air dam? Was the adhesive on the left and right still sticky after taking it off? Did you remove the entire spoiler? Or just unbolted the bolts, pushed the spoiler in so there are no gaps, and then tighten the bolts??
My front air dam should be in soon so I want to be prepared!
Thanks!
How long did you wait to fix the installation of your front air dam? Was the adhesive on the left and right still sticky after taking it off? Did you remove the entire spoiler? Or just unbolted the bolts, pushed the spoiler in so there are no gaps, and then tighten the bolts??
My front air dam should be in soon so I want to be prepared!
Thanks!
Vik
#23
Intermediate
This might be a stupid question but if the dealership does this installation is the gap still noticeable since they are drilling it against the side bumper of the car?
#24
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: IL
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Some people have said that the gap is the same with drilling. I don't know. The gap I have now is only noticeable to me. If someone actually comments on it, then I would be surprised.
#25
I eyeballed one closely last time I was at the dealer, specifically looking at those gaps. They were still there, although I thought they were less 'gappy' than what mine is or what I've seen in other's DIY pics on CL. They might have been similar to Vikdiddy's redo pics above. I did not reach under the bumper cover to check if they were drilled or not. I suspect the people who do the port install options or the dealer who installs these more often than the average joe have learned a few techniques to minimize the gap as much as possible. Even so, it was still there, so that really is a fitment issue with the piece itself.
#26
Lexus Test Driver
GODDAMNIT I was gonna leave it alone even with the gaps but now I gotta try it again! So what, just unbolt the center section first let that come out a little and maybe the sides will be easier to push in? I think it might be easier if 2 people did it one person pushing the bumper outwards from inside and the other pushing the lip section in to get it to snap. Hope it works.
#27
When I first did the install without jacking up or ramps I turned the wheel to the side to get better access to the corner bolts.
My car is stock ride height. I bought the black rhino 8000 ramps from Autozone for $30. I tested them for clearance by sliding them under the car so the front tires were touching the beginning of the ramp. It cleared my front gfx lip by a couple of inches. Since the car will be traveling on the incline from that point it was not going to scrape. After I got the car up on the ramps I was able to get easy access to the corner bolts. You will NOT be able to turn your wheels when the car is on the ramps. This will cause them to be unstable.
Is your car lowered? I believe the sport packaged cars should have clearance as well.
My car is stock ride height. I bought the black rhino 8000 ramps from Autozone for $30. I tested them for clearance by sliding them under the car so the front tires were touching the beginning of the ramp. It cleared my front gfx lip by a couple of inches. Since the car will be traveling on the incline from that point it was not going to scrape. After I got the car up on the ramps I was able to get easy access to the corner bolts. You will NOT be able to turn your wheels when the car is on the ramps. This will cause them to be unstable.
Is your car lowered? I believe the sport packaged cars should have clearance as well.
You said you removed the bolts and just push it in place? Did you remove all of them? or just the ones at the edges?
#28
Intermediate
Today i went to the dealership and they had IS 350 in the showroom with GFX kit on the car. I noticed that there was a minor gap but one of the side had more than the other side. I asked a buddy of mine who work at the dealership who installed the kit, he mentioned that they took it to the body shop. he did mention to me that the body shop had to do some drilling on the side of the bumper but rest were just clip on.
Now i notice one thing on a black color car you really cannot notice the gap unless you know about the gap or when you get really close to it you maybe able to tell.
Now i notice one thing on a black color car you really cannot notice the gap unless you know about the gap or when you get really close to it you maybe able to tell.
#29
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: IL
Posts: 2,822
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GODDAMNIT I was gonna leave it alone even with the gaps but now I gotta try it again! So what, just unbolt the center section first let that come out a little and maybe the sides will be easier to push in? I think it might be easier if 2 people did it one person pushing the bumper outwards from inside and the other pushing the lip section in to get it to snap. Hope it works.
Today i went to the dealership and they had IS 350 in the showroom with GFX kit on the car. I noticed that there was a minor gap but one of the side had more than the other side. I asked a buddy of mine who work at the dealership who installed the kit, he mentioned that they took it to the body shop. he did mention to me that the body shop had to do some drilling on the side of the bumper but rest were just clip on.
Now i notice one thing on a black color car you really cannot notice the gap unless you know about the gap or when you get really close to it you maybe able to tell.
Now i notice one thing on a black color car you really cannot notice the gap unless you know about the gap or when you get really close to it you maybe able to tell.
#30
Lexus Test Driver
Ok I give up. I tried again this evening and took out all the bolts again to make sure everything was snapped tight in and there's still a gap. Oh well it's okay, nobody can tell except me and the others on this board who are looking for it anyway.