Help removing front passenger wing

spoddyandthemazda · 05-25-2009, 06:18 PM

Hi

I was wondering if there is a DIY on removing the bottom two bolts on the front wing and if by doing this, it will allow the wing to come away at the bottom.

The reason I am asking this is because I was installing my fender strakes and had the hexagon long screw that is designed to keep the bottom strake in place fall out and land inside the wing and the inner body of where the wing sits.

I tried with some long folded paper to pull the screw and fastener to where the wheel well plastic connects near the wheel and nearly made it but it all went wrong. The screw I can see is slightly stuck in an awkard place and the flat fastener must have slipped down near where the plastic plugs keep the stone guard rubber connected to the bottom of the sills etc.

I have my drivers side strake on ok (UK model) and had just finished installing the front mud flap too, as I had a hell of a time removing the screws from the plastic plugs that fit into the front sill holes for the rubber stone guard.

I was fitting the passenger strake ok until this happened, so to help speed up getting the parts for joining the lower left strake on, I wanted to know with pics if there is a DIY for removing the front wings on the site or if someone can kindly talk me through what is involved to be expected if you remove the bottom two bolts which I assume hold the bottom of the front wing to the body of the rx8.

Many thanks for any help you can give me and apologies if there is a post of the front wing removal, I have searched but can't find anything.

Cheers

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dannobre · 05-25-2009, 06:47 PM

Get one of those flexible magnet thingies

Removing the front fender causes problems..they are sealed on and have to be replaced properly...

Hell...just go buy another bolt....

spoddyandthemazda · 05-25-2009, 07:15 PM

hi

Thanks for replying, i had a telescopic screw driver which you can extend out, but couldn't find it and its quite thick not flexible, the screw is sitting in the slight gap between where the wing under the plastic the strakes are connected too, its more of a specialist part and I dunno where I could get another.

I also don't like the idea of a screw rattling around the front wing. I need to spend some time looking, weather got bad, raining and it got dark before I could get the screw out. If I can get the screw back, I can maybe make a fastner, although to be honest I'd prefer getting it back too. Just hate the idea of parts in places they are not meant to be etc lol.

What is the wing sealed with? I only see two bolts underneathand the wing looks to be bolted on, I don't want to remove it, only pop it out so the screw falls out and hopefully the flat fastner. Is it a silicon type sealant as I could put some more on and then tighten the bolts again.

Has anyone ever replaced a front wing?

Thanks

dannobre · 05-25-2009, 07:20 PM

I assume you are talking about the front quarter panel?? Fender?? You Island guys have some crazy grammar

You could likely remove the lower bolts easy enough...its bonded on the top where it bolts to the front wheel wells.

spoddyandthemazda · 05-25-2009, 07:43 PM

Hi

lol we have some crazy grammer?
Yes its the fender as you call it, a fender over here is a guitar lol.
We call the quarter panels, the wing, on a car, don't ask why lol.
Before I do it though, I was wondering if there were any surprises
I should know about. I dont want to remove it, just pull it back enough
to hopefully let the screw and fastener fall out.

I'll have to wait until the week end as I still have to finish the strakes and put
the passenger front mud flap or splash guard on, and that should be me.
I was wanting a front bumper spoiler, but can't get one on ebay, so will wait until one appears then that will be the end of the body kit business.

Thanks again, I'll see how I get on I was just wondering if anyone has taken photos which show the front fender off etc, before I do it.

spoddyandthemazda · 05-27-2009, 07:17 PM

Well some good news!
I got my fender strake screw and the fastener out of the bottom of the fender, yippeeee!!!
I did not need to remove the two bolts that held the wing on, instead i managed to find my flexible magnet get keys out of a drain device and using a flat piece of thin metal strip, i was able to go in from the wheel and pull the fastener towards the hole where the rubber stone chip guard resides.
I needed to remove the two plastic plugs that hold the rubber stone guard on for later (front splash guard install) which made it easier to get the screw etc out.

Only took 2 hours of lying on my side and getting rained on every now and again, but persistance worked out.

Passenger strakes now on, nice and tight too lol.

Taking the plugs out of the rubber stone guard was tricky, I ended up cutting the rubber off
at the point instructed in the user guide and using vice grips held the plug while using another vice grip/pliers to turn the screw.

The screws had become so badly rusted, I could not use a screw driver. This is a big problem if you are planning to install front splash guards. However I recommend using an impact screw driver, which I used on the drivers side, but the passenger side was too badly rusted and so had to take the plug out of the rubber and with WD40 spray to loosen the badly rusted screw with pliers.

But I'll put new screws on and some silicon to keep them new. I should have the splash guard on tomorrow, will wash the car and give her a good polish etc.

THANK GOD!