Replacement Splitter Struts - Adjustable


nota4re

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Feb 15, 2006
4,395
Fix the frown!

Arguably one of the poorest designed parts on our beloved GT's are the struts that help hold the front splitter level. As careful as we are, sometimes the underside of the splitter contacts the ground. Most frequently this is from a driveway or something similar. When this contact is made, one or more of the three aluminum struts gets bent... and will stay bent until replaced. Due to the construction of these OEM struts it is literally impossible to straighten them. As soon as you try to bend them back, they will break. See the 3 OEM struts on the left in the picture below. (These were removed from a GT in our shop on 1/2/2025.)

SplitterStruts.jpg

One of the bottoms is actually broken off and the other two are severely bent. Any attempt at straightening them will cause them to break. Because you cannot see them, most owners do not realize they are bent... but what owners DO notice is that the splitter starts to look like a big frown.

As can be seen in the picture, our replacement struts are adjustable in length. They will ship to you as shown (OEM length) but if you need to make them longer to help re-train the splitter, that adjustment is possible. They can be lengthened up to 25mm which is way more than you would ever want. The T27 Torx screws securing the top of your OEM struts is replaced with a ball stud (same M6 threads) and the top of these replacement struts is snapped onto the ball. The bottom of the replacement struts is secured exactly like OEM - sandwiched between the bottom edge of the bumper cover and the splitter.

These replacement struts are for all 2005-2006 GT's - with or without the front mesh screen that is on most 2005 cars. They can be ordered HERE.
 
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Where were these 10 years ago!!!
 
Looks like a nice idea, Thanks
 
Kendall, thanks for solving this problem. The price of your replacement splitter support struts are lower than the OE parts too.
 
Fix the frown!

Arguably one of the poorest designed parts on our beloved GT's are the struts that help hold the front splitter level. As careful as we are, sometimes the underside of the splitter contacts the ground. Most frequently this is from a driveway or something similar. When this contact is made, one or more of the three aluminum struts gets bent... and will stay bent until replaced. Due to the construction of these OEM struts it is literally impossible to straighten them. As soon as you try to bend them back, they will break. See the 3 OEM struts on the left in the picture below. (These were removed from a GT in our shop on 1/2/2025.)

View attachment 70999

One of the bottoms is actually broken off and the other two are severely bent. Any attempt at straightening them will cause them to break. Because you cannot see them, most owners do not realize they are bent... but what owners DO notice is that the splitter starts to look like a big frown.

As can be seen in the picture, our replacement struts are adjustable in length. They will ship to you as shown (OEM length) but if you need to make them longer to help re-train the splitter, that adjustment is possible. They can be lengthened up to 25mm which is way more than you would ever want. The T27 Torx screws securing the top of your OEM struts is replaced with a ball stud (same M6 threads) and the top of these replacement struts is snapped onto the ball. The bottom of the replacement struts is secured exactly like OEM - sandwiched between the bottom edge of the bumper cover and the splitter.

These replacement struts are for all 2005-2006 GT's - with or without the front mesh screen that is on most 2005 cars. They can be ordered HERE.
Thank you.
 
Kendall comes through with another fix! Looks like I'll be ordering from you again (over the years, transaxle cooler, Fumoto valve and new hood struts, and of course, the PPI Ryan did on my car 13?? years ago).
I've never taken a look at the attachment of the OEM struts. Do happen to have a photo or diagram of the install? I'm a visual guy.
 
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Finally got around to try installing these things. After getting the spoiler off, I tried reaching up to get the T-27 screws attaching the bars to the bumper. With the radiator in place, no way I could get my hand up there with the sockets and handles I had available to remove the screws (same limited space issue I had with the oil pump belt😡). Last resort, tried to figure out how to remove the fake intakes to remove the front grill, but no joy. So, after scraping the sh*t out of my hands and forearms on the radiator. I just gave up and slapped the spoiler back on😄
After seeing what these bars actually do, I’m not even sure they would have fixed my issue. Pic of my spoiler which is indented just off center and maybe not the ‘frown’? Perhaps just a heat gun to that section is all I need?
 

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Ed: you most probably scraped the shit off your arms and hands on the power steering cooler. I did that, until I loosened the PS cooler mounts and moved it down and back, and wrapped a rag around it. Wear a long sleeve shirt and don't wear a watch. You can reach up in there with a 1/4" ratchet and T27 bit. It's pretty tight and you can only swing about 1/4 turn at a time, but it will come out. Putting it back in also is a challenge.
 
It seems as though the grill might get in the way as opposed to an 06 with no grill. The old method was to lay it in the hot sun for several hours and it seemed to straighten out.
 
Ed: you most probably scraped the shit off your arms and hands on the power steering cooler. I did that, until I loosened the PS cooler mounts and moved it down and back, and wrapped a rag around it. Wear a long sleeve shirt and don't wear a watch. You can reach up in there with a 1/4" ratchet and T27 bit. It's pretty tight and you can only swing about 1/4 turn at a time, but it will come out. Putting it back in also is a challenge.
Correct, Pete. That cooler tore up my hand pretty good. Even if I get that out of the way, I don't have a ratchet/T27 socket combo that will be low profile enough to get in that tight space. The threaded ball in Kendall's kit may be a bit easier to install and tighten in place of the Torx screws with a small open ended wrench, but I'm sure that would be a struggle as well.

What are the OEM rods supposed to look like? (i.e. not bent)
 
It seems as though the grill might get in the way as opposed to an 06 with no grill. The old method was to lay it in the hot sun for several hours and it seemed to straighten out
Going to take a heat gun to the middle of the spoiler and see if I can straighten it out a bit