Mods - please could you leave this in General for a little while.
We have been trying to remove the rear STI4 spoiler which was fitted by a Subaru dealer. I have sold it, so I can't damage it, which means any suggestions have to be sensible please!
The bodyshop where I had my new spoiler sprayed won't even try to remove it for me, they have said it's stuck on so well you could pick the car up with it.
We have tried the dental floss method - works OK with lettering & badges, not heavy duty enough to cope with this, and boiling water, as suggested by the dealer who fitted it - they can't remember what they stuck it with!
It seems to be a black resin type material, this is what was on one of the nuts that was removed from underneath.
So, any suggestions?

 

try the dental floss idea but with some strong fishing wire. Just a thought.

Andy

 

Might work, rather than hot water, try putting a fan heater in the boot, and getting the tin, sorry metal, warm, this 'might' just help a bit, other than that, god knows!

 

Pele, sounds like they used a silcon adhesive...which can only be removed by cutting...maybe a hot wire of someform might work, sorry not much help I'm affraid

 

Thanks for the ideas peeps! (I'll have to find a fisherman now!)
I am so p****d off, new spoiler is going back tomorrow, along with new P1 grille - both painted wrong shade of red!!!!

 

Try 3M panel cleaner. Disolves most adhesives, yet leaves paint surface ok.

 

Mr.M, where do I buy that from?

 

hope no spoiler theif is reading this

 

I should imagine that most people also have bolts attaching their spoilers on

 

Pele,

Try the dental floss method, bit use some mig welding wire. You'll probably need to tie it round some metal bolts at the ends so you dont cut your fingers off.

 

Could try a hair dryer. It works for badges so may work for this.

I reckon you've gotta use heat in conjunction with the dental floss method (but using fishing cord)

 

Heat will have no effect on the adhesive if it's silicone. Your ONLY answer is cutting through it, as anything you use to try to dissolve it will have to get under the spoiler, if you see what I mean, and you'll be there all winter!
Myself, I'd certainly try thin STRONG twine, STRONG fishing line, or MiG welding wire. I'd do the twine first, as the friction will help to "cut" the silicone, and wrap it round a couple of pieces of dowel/coachbolts etc to get a good grip.
Once it's off, you can then remove silicone from the mating surfaces by scraping with a sharpish blade, VERY carefully, then coating with "Silicone Eater" available from good DIY stores, leave for 2 hours, wipe off, repeat for stubborn bits, harmless to paint----in fact it smells suspiciously like Swarfega!
Alcazar

 

Thanks for all your advice guys, we'll be trying some of them out in the next couple of days, I'll let you know how we get on!

 

If it is silicon you need to remove, there's also some strange putty stuff you can use to dissolve silicon sealant around baths - available from B&Q over at Lakeside if nothing else; I don't believe that will damage paint either (worth trying it on something out of sight to prove that though). Might help a little, but use in conjunction with the wire method rather than on it's own.

If all else fails, I'll bring my crowbar to the next meet.

 

Thanks Hades, but I think I'll pass on the crowbar
Talking of the next meet, have you started sorting it out yet, as it's your turn? Oh! I forgot you are a man & leave things until the last minute LOL!!!!!

 

where can u get 3m panel cleaner???

 

It sounds like Sikaflex to me, basically it's a full on, double hard b*satrd, don't f*ck with me adhesive!

I'd seriously consider doing a deal that included the bootlid too, it would be easier all round I'm sure

If it really must come off, visit your local windscreens fitting place, they have special wire they use to cut windscreens out, I should imagine that would get through but expect some paint damage

Best of luck, let us know how you get on

Bob

 

I can't belive nobody has mentioned leaving it parked in a dodgy council estate, it'll be off in no time

 

I can't believe a dealer would glue it on in the first place, my STi4 spoiler was held on by 2 popers and 4 bolts, piece of cake to get on and off.

 

my spoiler was only held on by the 4 bolts and 2 poppers, there was a kind of foam seal about 3mm thick around inside edge of bases but not one bit of sealant in sight!!

 

It is well glued on, I am driving around without the bolts attached at the moment, and it still hasn't budged! Got a few ideas now though, progress report will be posted

 

Just park up for 5 mins in Slough, the pikeys will have it off before you have chance to look in your rear view mirror
The downside to this is that you will need a new set of alloys too

 

LOL! I live just down the road from such an estate, trouble is, the spoiler is sold, so I really need them to give it back after they take it off, I can't see them doing that, can you!

 

Enamel thinners, a chisel and mallet and a bit of brute force and ignorance is what it took to remove the spoiler brackets on the rear window of my wagon...

That black stuff Subaru use is impossible... Good luck getting it off in one piece!

 

*update* spoiler now removed, all I have to do now is remove this:

 

that looks like it has been done by some1, u dont normally find it like that!!!!

 

You could try parking the car in Moss side or Salford, Manchester. Chances are the spoiler will be gone the next day.

 

Just leave the car in the Northfield area of Birmingham...the spoiler will be off in no time..........................and the wheels and the bonnet and the doors...................

 

The black stuff is called Sylcaflex (spelling) and yo should be able to remove it with thinners and careful use of a stanley knife blade.

 

So, Pele, how DID you get it off??
Alcazar