DIY: GT Wagon Spoiler Install

In case you are curious or afraid of being surprised installing your own.. here is a tut. i made so you know what to expect...

Tools Needed:
Power Drill
Assorted Drill Bits
Phillips Screwdriver
Masking Tape
Pen, Sharpie, or Marker

If your spoiler didn't come with the mounting hardware and you don't want to pay approximately $76 from the dealership:

3 10mm Circumference Nuts
3 10mm Circumference Lock Washers

Total Cost of Necessary Supplies: $.65

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01402-1.jpg

[Step 1]
The first thing your going to want to do is set your spoiler atop the back of your hatch... make sure that the ends are flush with the top of the door or else your tailgate will not open without breaking your wing!!

[Step 2]
when you have a good placement, lay down a double layer or masking tape where your studs meet the paint.

[Step 3]
again, check the alignment and placement and when you have a good feel, press down firm atop the studs to leave an imprint on the masking tape.. this will become your drill template. (use your writing utensil to color in the circles for visibility...

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01383-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01384-1.jpg


[Step 5]
open up your hatch and pop out the top of the tailgate padding, this releases the pillar covers which you also need to pop off. you'll end up at your third brake light cover: its pretty self explanatory on removing this part... eventually you'll be left with this...
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01385-1.jpg



[Step 6]
back outside the car, take a few deep breaths and muster up the balls to drill holes in your car's body...

once completed... start with the smallest possible drill bit and slowly break through the thin metal.. be careful of the two topmost drill zones, there are some wires you'll tear up if you go to far through...

keep increasing bit sizes and test the placement after each hole.. even though chances are the studs wont go through, you can check if your off drilling at all..

[Step 7]
i HIGHLY recommend mounting, testing, and securing your wing with the top studs going in first, (see below) that way if you off drill on the bottom, you wont have to adjust the flush mount leading to a non-lift-able tailgate and possibly a snapped wing.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01393-1.jpg



[Step 8]

Drilling should be done..

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01387-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01389-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01390-1.jpg

as you can see, i f****d up a bit and made the hole too low in the center...


Make sure your holes are large enough for the metal above the stud to go through, otherwise your wing will be lifted off the roof

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01392-1.jpg



[Step 9]
if you do end up messing up a hole by misplacing it a few centimeters.. you can elongate and custom create a hole with a smaller drill bit by pressing against the side you need to elongate and drilling away...

you will also need sealant if you mess up on the bottom 3 holes.. they lead into the cabin of the car, water in there means rust so use your favorite sealant and squeeze away...

making the top two holes too big is not a problem, since water entering those holes will drain the same place that the gap from body to hatch does...


[Step 10]
mounting up.... the studs will conveniently pop through the other sidw of the door in these 3 holes (red)
and the top studs will pop through where the green shows..

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC013851-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01395-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01396-1.jpg
left-
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01399-1.jpg
mid-
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01400-1.jpg
right-
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01401-1.jpg

to secure them in there.. take your $.12 bolt accompanied by a washer and finger tighten as much as you can to the two outside studs, then take some needle nose pliers and tighten the rest of the way

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01403-1.jpg

[Done!]


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01371-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01407-1.jpg

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01375-1.jpg
https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2009/07/DSC01404-1.jpg

[Huffer]

Kudos. Scary stuff!

[anothernord]

Nice DIY! I'd would have been too scared to do this myself, but you sir did a nice job.

[d1giPhux]

shoulda put some por15 or something on those holes... that raw metal is just ASKING to start some nasty rust holes. otherwise.. good job!

[chaksq]

Great write up. Hopefully I can find a spoiler for my wagon. Although first I was wondering if the GT spoiler will fit on the high roof Outback wagon? I've only seen them on the low roof wagons.

[massdrewski]

Great write up! I'm going to attempt this because of your write up. thank you.

[Navi271]

Yeah this writeup would have been helpful a few days before it was posted when I did mine lol. It's pretty straight forward, just REALLY SCARY cutting into your hatch the first time..

[massdrewski]

Kinda like Shaving my mustache off :) But its back! Full Grown Rollie Fingers!

[massdrewski]

I got bored looking at my spoiler I bought on Ebay so I bought some beer, the hardware, some more beer and my favorite Journey CD. Now I'm ready for a fun night of installing......

[Muse]

I'm just going to make a little post here, so as not to loose this page... I assume removal is just the opposite of installation?

[Christofuer]

Sorry for bump but I just wanted to say thanks for this diy. It's really good, I plan to do this in a couple of weeks. I was actually scared to do it before seeing this.

[kanner95bk]

For the upper studs, the non threaded snap studs, did you use the stock caps to secure said studs? I've one of them, but the second broke upon removal. Any suggestions?

[98legwag]

I cut them off and used 3M adhesive.

[Navi271]

I cut off the upper studs as well when I installed mine long ago. I took my spoiler off to spray the underside of it with plastidip when I was dipping my car. I didn't even use 3M tape when I re-installed the spoiler. Mine is held by the 3 nuts, and it's not going anywhere.