Front splitter options?

[gotovato]

Hey all,

I've been doing some looking around at the front splitter options for my 2011 ms3. Seems to be a few options. I've looked at the one from strafe designs, Mazdaspeednation, and Aeroflow dynamics. All seem like good options but my big concern is mounting strength as the car is tracked and sees speeds in the 100-125mph range. My big worry is the splitter ripping off. does anyone here have any experience with any of these splitters? Is the mounting secure enough to be effective at high speeds? Any info would be great, thanks!!

[dp3]

I have the Corksport spoiler-splitter. Decent material and MFG and excellent mounting design. Have had it up to speed and hit-scraped stuff and it is still on, though it did shatter. The design has a lip which trips on basically anything, and will cause the piece to sheer at the point where it mounts to the body. Mine did this basically on it's first drive-test. I fixed that by doing a fiberglass strand epoxy fill on the underside and removing the vertical lip. I have seen a few designed similarly, for a lot less money, but have not tried them. I know a few people on here have though.

[gotovato]

Ok thanks for the info. I'm just worried about a wind splitter ripping off at higher speeds is all. Would really hate for my $350+ splitter to break off and damage my bumper

[dp3]

Originally Posted by gotovato Ok thanks for the info. I'm just worried about a wind splitter ripping off at higher speeds is all. Would really hate for my $350+ splitter to break off and damage my bumper

I have seen well over the speeds you have mentioned. Overhang is an issue with the MS3, which gets very tricky if your car is lowered for track usage. You can run an extended splitter into the ground in heavy braking on a turn going downhill. Most of those should be able to flex up. The problem with the Corksport is that the design causes it to fold under. Mine literally tore a 12 inch piece off at about 5 MPH driving down my street. Went and found the piece, repaired it and now when it happens it just flexes up and goes back down to doing it's job. Design is important. Now if it scrapes, nothing happens. The high speed track test was after the fix, FYI.

[gotovato]

Thanks for the input. I am worried about heavy braking and the splitter hitting the ground hard enough to break although my car isn't crazy low. My biggest concern is the wind resistance tearing it off though. I guess with enough bolts an washers for mounting it should be ok.

[shamie]

I don't trust any of the splitters (most of what you referenced) that primarily mount to the bumper. I also see too many splitter rods just bolted to the bumper also. Purely for show as the bumper material is worthless structurally.

I will be making my own in the next months for the upcoming track season. The first revision will mount to the radiator support with rods/straps to the FMIC mounting points. If that design is not sufficient I'll make it larger/lower by mounting it further back to the subframe. That would drop it another inch and may be too low.

[gotovato]

Originally Posted by shamie I don't trust any of the splitters (most of what you referenced) that primarily mount to the bumper. I also see too many splitter rods just bolted to the bumper also. Purely for show as the bumper material is worthless structurally. I will be making my own in the next months for the upcoming track season. The first revision will mount to the radiator support with rods/straps to the FMIC mounting points. If that design is not sufficient I'll make it larger/lower by mounting it further back to the subframe. That would drop it another inch and may be too low.

And this was what I was worried about. Mounting to the bumper isn't strong enough in my mind. Strafe designs does have an option for a front splitter that goes under the front end and replaces the factory under tray. That would be a good amount of bolt locations plus the support rods. I was also playing with the idea of making some brackets welded off the crash bar and mounting the support rods to that through the bumper so it still looks ok.

[jeffdevo]

BMSpec has a track tested splitter.