CS_AR

Last night my kid was driving the Maxima when a piece of ice slid off the roof and snapped off the spoiler.
Well that's the end of that spoiler.

I see some aftermarket spoilers for sale that actually use bolts instead of plastic clips for mounting to the trunk lid.

Does anyone have experience (good or bad) with the aftermarket ABS plastic replacement spoilers that appear to use mounting bolts?

I've noticed the spoilers can be pre-painted to match for some extra $$.

http://www.spoilerfactory.com/1995-1...factory-style/

Thank you.

jholley

iTrader: (13)

The after market spoiler I installed 4 years ago came with the outer pedestals bolted instead of using those clips-n-grommets. The grommet holes are too wide for bolts so the outer pedestal bolts were lined up an inch higher. Drilling was required for the outer pedestals so I filled the grommet holes with fiber and bondo.

I purchased this spoiler on ebay and it held firmer than the OEM



Presumably I didn't remove all the rust collecting on the trunk lid where the 4 pedestals mount so that cancer came back 2 years later. The spoiler was in great shape so I sold it here for $40. Water easily collects in those gaskets with the mounts being flat. Fully remove any rust if it's collecting. I would recommend adding a tiny tap of sealant on the new gaskets.

To avoid any more headaches I shaved that spoiler 2 years ago. I welded sheet metal on the inner trunk and filled the outside before painting it for the last time. No more rust!

jholley

iTrader: (13)

Here's the one I got 4 years ago

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SPOILER-FOR-A-NISSAN-MAXIMA-FACTORY-STYLE-I-SPOILER-1995-1999-/141589781464?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1998%7CModel%3AMaxima&hash=item20f7689bd8&vxp=mtr
Still selling them unpainted for $85.

Besides drilling for the outer pedestal bolts I also had to add bigger washers for the inner pedestals

https://maxima.org/forums/4th-genera...oem-style.html

CS_AR

Can a 1995 model OEM version be used without having to bondo over the current holes? I think the 1995 models had a bolt on the outer area.

Also I found this one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121548625381

jholley

iTrader: (13)

All A32s used clips and grommets on the OEM spoiler outer pedestal. After reading this page it appears the 1995 used different clips and grommets than the 1996-1999 models

http://www.nissanpartszone.com/parts...r-spoiler.html

On the ebay spoiler I listed the inner pedestal bolts lined up with the trunk with no drilling required. With the outer pedestals using bolts in a drilling location above the grommets mounting I lined the inner side with fiber then filled bondo on the outside. Leaving those grommet mounting holes open increases the chance of rust collecting. The flat inner pedestals is where my trunk was collecting rust.

jholley

iTrader: (13)

^^

That $76.50 spoiler has different inner pedestals bolting locations than the OEM. Drilling is required for all 4 pedestals for that spoiler. The $85 spoiler I listed only needs the trunk drilled for the outer pedestals bolts.

CS_AR

I wonder if that $85 spoiler has outer pedestal bolts like the 1995 model?

Is it a case of if I were to get a spoiler from a 1995 model I would need to drill holes in the trunk for the outer pedestal bolts?

I would rather have bolts I think with the $85 version or a 1995 model if it works that way.

jholley

iTrader: (13)

I misread. That $76.50 ebay spoiler will require only the inner pedestals to be drilled. It mounts using 1 bolt instead of 2 that the OEM has. The outer pedestals on that ebay spoiler mounts with clips and grommets matching the OEM. Here is that spoiler's description:

**PLEASE NOTE - WHILE THIS SPOILER IS SIMILAR IN DESIGN AND APPEARANCE, THE BOLT HOLE PATTERN IS NOT EXACTLY THE SAME. THIS SPOILER HAS FOUR PEDESTALS. THE OUTSIDE TWO PEDESTALS MATCH UP. THE MIDDLE PEDESTALS IS WHERE THE DIFFERENCE IS. OUR SPOILER HAS ONLY ONE BOLT HOLE, WHERE THE FACTORY PIECE HAS TWO PER PEDESTAL. OUR BOLT HOLE FALLS BETWEEN THE EXISTING TWO. ** THIS CAN REMEDIED BY DRILLING BETWEEN THE EXISTING HOLES OR BY NOT BOLTING ON THE MIDDLE TWO AND USING AN OEM GRADE 3M TYPE OF TAPE (NOT INCLUDED).

jholley

iTrader: (13)

The outer pedestals for the 1995 OEM spoiler uses clips and grommets. Not bolts. That $85 ebay spoiler uses 2 bolts on all 4 pedestals. The inner pedestals line up but the outer pedestals will require drilling.

If you purchase that $85 ebay spoiler then you'll just need to fill the grommet holes with fender washers after drilling 2 new holes for both outer pedestals..

pjgreek

Where exactly did your spoiler break?

CS_AR

Can the end clips be pried up and out with a trim removal tool or putty knife?









An ice chunk like the one in this picture slid down from the roof and snapped off the Maxima's spoiler.

jholley

iTrader: (13)

Any tool thin enough to slide under those clips should work. You'll need tools on opposite ends to squeeze both sides of the clip. Put a cloth on the trunk to avoid scratching.

After removing the nuts off the inner pedestal bolts you can then reach the outer pedestal grommets. I used long needle nose pliers to pop them out.

CS_AR

Thanks for all the information JHolley!

CMax03

iTrader: (3)

That's fixable!

The Wizard

iTrader: (43)

I'd just get another OEM one from the junkyard or from someone in the classifieds...

jholley

iTrader: (13)

Before buying an aftermarket spoiler I searched 4 local JYs and none were found. With more A32s rotting in the JYs today maybe CS_AR will have better luck.

One advantage of the ebay spoiler I posted is the outer pedestals mount with bolts instead of clips-n-grommets. The member I sold it too 2 years back said he was well pleased in how it firmly mounted on his A32.

A member recently started a thread regarding his outer pedestals popping out

https://maxima.org/forums/4th-genera...r-spoiler.html

CS_AR

The weather just isn't with me this week. Sleet and snow earlier this week and now heavy rains today. I'm ready to move to Arizona!

The salvage yards around here are usually in low lying areas that do not drain well. The import sections are usually in back of the lots where you need to wear swamp waders to make your way around this time of year.

It looks about like this picture. Ha!

The Wizard

iTrader: (43)

^That seems about right! Crazy what you guys deal with. Move out to sunny CA. No rust. It's 80 degrees today.

george__

iTrader: (1)

That's nutty

pjgreek

Mine broke in the exact same place. Here's how I fixed mine.



The aluminum strip is 5" long, 1" wide and 1/4" thick and the repair fastener is 2-1/2" long. There are four of these strips and fasteners that replace the four inner pedestal fasteners. The ppt slide shows a gap between the jam nut and the nut just above it but the jam nut is actually tight against the nut above it. The gap was shown just for clarity.

Prior to installing these repair strips, I replaced all 4 outer pedestal clips and grommets.

CS_AR

Thank you for the drawing! Look at this nice engineering presentation.

During the rains on Sunday I threw in the towel and ordered the $76 aftermarket. The seller was responsive over the weekend and has already shipped it. We'll see how it turns out.

Thanks again for the great information.

CS_AR

The new spoiler arrived yesterday. The seller shipped soon after I ordered it on Sunday.

So far so good. I like the packaging. The paint job is nice. Now I need to get the rest of the car painted. Ha!

I'll be installing it this afternoon. It is raining again today. It also feels hot and sticky for this time of year. That usually means a tornado will soon be arriving.

jholley

iTrader: (13)

Have you installed that air spoiler yet? If so lets see some pictures.

CS_AR

I did but I'm not happy with the fit. The inner pedestals are a bit too short. Also, it makes a creaking noise. I will need to take it off this weekend and rework the installation.