ohhh boy, is it getting to me :rant: ,
i really want to get rid of my spoiler, but the screws won't budge, the socket type screws are ok but the two rear phillips head screws don't want to move, i have strained, 6 of my mates have strained, but they won't budge, not even the old faithfull WD-40 will help because it can't reach the area, worried that i'm goin to smooth out the groves and then not be able to unscrew it at all if i keep trying.
is there some special technique, does anyone have any ideas as to how to remove it.
its a TJ VRX spoiler on a KJ verada.

2nd part...
is it illegal to not have a brake indicator on your rear window or spoiler?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

To answer your second part, you must have a high mount brake light, just source one from an earlier model or something.

ohhh boy, is it getting to me :rant: ,
i really want to get rid of my spoiler, but the screws won't budge, the socket type screws are ok but the two rear phillips head screws don't want to move, i have strained, 6 of my mates have strained, but they won't budge, not even the old faithfull WD-40 will help because it can't reach the area, worried that i'm goin to smooth out the groves and then not be able to unscrew it at all if i keep trying.
is there some special technique, does anyone have any ideas as to how to remove it.
its a TJ VRX spoiler on a KJ verada.

2nd part...
is it illegal to not have a brake indicator on your rear window or spoiler?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

I think is not legal. Well for the newer cars is a requirement, you get away maybe in WA but not in other states. Good luck on the spoiler. lol

To answer your second part, you must have a high mount brake light, just source one from an earlier model or something.


thought so, i was just going to get one of the wreckers from a magna or rada, but wasn't sure if i needed to do it asap or if i could let it wait a bit, thanks for clearing it up.

To answer your second part, you must have a high mount brake light, just source one from an earlier model or something.
Sorry i hate to correct but it's a requirement to have a MID-mounted brake light, since the late 80's/early 90's (can't remember exactly sorry).
And yeh you'll have to get one from a non-spoiler car, if you wanna stay legal ;).

Sorry i hate to correct but it's a requirement to have a MID-mounted brake light, since the late 80's/early 90's (can't remember exactly sorry).
And yeh you'll have to get one from a non-spoiler car, if you wanna stay legal ;).
Ah, I always thought that anything above your brakes was considered a high mount light, my bad! lol

Ah, I always thought that anything above your brakes was considered a high mount light, my bad! lol
Hmmm maybe you are right as well and it's a high-mid mounted brake light :think:, i'll have to look up the adr when i'm not so tired

If you cant get the phillips head screws to move, drill the heads off, then you will be able to pull the thread through the sheet metal. The holes in the sheetmetal are a bit bigger than the screws thread anyway. As for the high mount stop lamp, get a shelf type one from an earlier model. Easy to fit. Just remove the wiring for the spolier light out of the bootlid and route it back under the shelf trim. Much easier than trying to fit the high mounted one in the roof lining. Way too much work.

Can you get to the other side of the screw, the thread section? If you can, and this is a bit butcherous, get a pair of small locking pliers (Vice Grips for example), latch them on to the thread and turn the screw to undo. This will at least start the screw turning, you should be able to use the screwdriver after that.

Ken

Very limited access to those rear screws I think Ken.

Can you get to the other side of the screw, the thread section? If you can, and this is a bit butcherous, get a pair of small locking pliers (Vice Grips for example), latch them on to the thread and turn the screw to undo. This will at least start the screw turning, you should be able to use the screwdriver after that.

Ken
Don't think that'll be possible at all because the screws would be inside the spoiler.

best option prolly to drill the screws out as previously said. either that or take a grinder/pnumatic saw to the spoiler lmao!

what you doing with the spoiler

can i buy it

im in adelaide though :cry:

An impact screw driver might help. Or an electric impact screw gun if you can get hold of one. If your having trouble with the screw driver slipping off the screw, try as many diferent screw drivers or screw driver tips as possible to get the best fit. If you'r having trouble turning it, get some vice grip and grip them to the screw driver handle to give you more torque

have u tryed carefully drilling out the centre and using an extractor bit (easy out) to remove them? don't do it the hard way or damage anything . i snapped a bolt off clean with the surface of my auto gearbox and thats what i did to get it out. also have u taken the boot off to get better acess to it?

Very limited access to those rear screws I think Ken.

no access, the other end is inside the spoiler.

thought about drilling a whole through but only as last option

its a ***** of a spoiler to get off...

what you doing with the spoiler

can i buy it

im in adelaide though :cry:


tempting to sell but i want to keep it in the garage, for when i sell it or have a change of heart

if your feeling lucky you could apply a bit of heat to break the lock of the bolt with an oxy torch or something might give you some discolouration on the inside of the boot lid though they usually get locked in to place by rust locking the bolt on to what ever its screwed in to also try belting it with a hammer or something just to break it loose not sure how effective it will be on a fine thing like that but it works a treat on 10 ton presses with a 15lbs sledge hammer

not sure whats its called i used to have one its bulky and u put a screw bit in one end and belt the other end with a hammer and it turns at the same time as puttin a **** load of presure on the screw

Its called an impact driver. I would be worried about denting the boot lid surface using one of those, but they work well.

as said above, get the best fit screwdriver first of all, and you can use some vice grips. another thing that would be similar and works well is a small hand ratchet with a phillips adaptor if you can find one at your mates or something. those always work when i have to crack the paint around the screws in the back of utes.
good luck
Alex