I've hated the rear spoiler since I got my LC and I'm more than ready to remove it. Sorry to harp on the same, tired subject.... Once I remove the spoiler - if I opt not to fill the holes, what are the potential issues I'm looking at. I know rust is an obvious issue, but what about water? I read somewhere that the water from up top will simply drain out of the bottom of the tailgate....? Any help is greatly appreciated!
Rear spoiler removal - potential issues w/ holes left unplugged?
- Thread starter cgstrickland16
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Just find some small stainless screws, put a very light coat of silicone on the threads, and insert into the nut/threads inside the body. Top the exposed head of the screw with your color of touch-up paint if you want.
Problem solved.
Do you have a 98-05 or a 06/07?
Problem solved.
Do you have a 98-05 or a 06/07?
On my 80, where some of the existing rivet-nuts came loose, I used rubber rivet nuts which when you tighten it down, expands the rubber and seals the hole. On top of that I used SS rosette washers and screws. Used dabs of silicone sealant too. Not the nicest looking but I think it sealed it up pretty well.
- Thread starter
- #4
Thanks, man. A 2000. Went ahead and popped off the spoiler this afternoon. Piece of cake! Should've done it a year ago.
- Thread starter
- #5
Yeah, that looks good. Plus, mine is black and the rubber plugs should blend in no problem. Thanks!
Any particular type/size plug?
Any particular type/size plug?
For the unthreaded holes I picked up nylon hole plugs from here:
Non-Ferrous Fastener Inc.
Had to drill the metric holes to get a good fit with the English size plugs. I could not find metric plugs anywhere. They have them in white and black. Used RTV Silicone to seal them.
For the threaded holes I used nylon screw caps I found at a boat store. The company that makes them is here but they don't show them online:
Fasco Fastener
Good luck.
Non-Ferrous Fastener Inc.
Had to drill the metric holes to get a good fit with the English size plugs. I could not find metric plugs anywhere. They have them in white and black. Used RTV Silicone to seal them.
For the threaded holes I used nylon screw caps I found at a boat store. The company that makes them is here but they don't show them online:
Fasco Fastener
Good luck.
bamachem said:
This is what I did about 5 years ago and it has worked great, no leaks either. I've been meaning to paint them with touch up paint, but honestly I've got used to them as they are.
What are you doing with your spoiler?
- Thread starter
- #9
Hadn't really thought about it, really. I don't see any need to keep it around. Interested?
cgstrickland16 said:
Yes. Although I'm not sure how excited I am about drilling holes in my lift gate.
Think twice about this. The body shop I went to quoted $950 to weld the holes up and repaint my lift gate several years ago. You might try swapping lift gates with someone else that already has one installed. You will likely have several people near you interested.
The less than $5 of parts for my setup let me spend the savings on other cool accessories and 
That, my good man, is freakin' BRILLIANT! I wonder how it would work with my 50 inch model?
Good stuff!
What year truck is that rear spoiler from (i.e., whale-tail, or the "other" kind)?
Any pictures from a little further away to get a better sense of overall look.
<golf clap>
BTW if you're really picky about color-matched plugs and are flush with $, these should work too. I put some on a sedan that originally had euro plates.
BumperPlugs.com
Short story: Marketed at the Porsche/Ferrari crowd so priced accordingly: $25/pr.
BumperPlugs.com
Short story: Marketed at the Porsche/Ferrari crowd so priced accordingly: $25/pr.
- Thread starter
- #17
And those plugs were definitely RUBBER, not plastic, right? Found some similar at a HW store today, but they were plastic. Def would rather go w/ rubber if I could find them. Any idea on size/length? Tks
Not to hijack the thread but does the rear spoiler actually keep the back of your 100 series clean? I'm a total clean freak and it's getting old constantly washing the back of my landcruiser every few days. Most of the time my cruiser looks like it just came from a detail shop except for the rear of it. Does it really help?
I don't really like the look of the spoiler but if it helps keep the rear clean I might want to install one.
I don't really like the look of the spoiler but if it helps keep the rear clean I might want to install one.
I found small Allen set screws to fill mine. Did silicone then touch up paint later. I actually like the later spoiler that's flat, but these older deflectors just date the vehicle. Reminds me of a Chevy S10 blazer I had in college.
I'm just surprised South East Toyota didn't put a trim strip on it to make it fancier.
I do like the idea of modifying it with lights. I'd love to find two small rectangular lights - the right size and shape - to recess into the deflector. I mean, it's there... running the wires would be easy via the mounting feet... hmmmm....
I do like the idea of modifying it with lights. I'd love to find two small rectangular lights - the right size and shape - to recess into the deflector. I mean, it's there... running the wires would be easy via the mounting feet... hmmmm....