Rear Diffuser & Spats
MK7.5 GTI
Tools needed:
Allen key - 4mm & 3mm
Box wrench 10mm & 8mm
Phillips head screw driver
Drill bit - ¼” or 6mm & 3/16” or 5mm
Drill
Torx bit - T25 & ratchet or drill adapter
2 C-clamps, F-clamps or squeeze clamps (makes install easier if you are alone)
Diffuser Install
IMPORTANT
NEVER WORK UNDER A CAR THAT IS ONLY SUPPORTED BY A FLOOR JACK.
1.Put the car on flat ground, in park, or first gear with the ebrake engaged. Jack up the rear of the car with a floor jack or bottle jack using the rear jack points. Place jack stands or cribbing under the control arm. Remove the rear tires. It is good practice to place the tires under the pinch seam of the car as a safety measure if a jack stand moves or fails.
2. Remove the three T25 torx screws that hold the back of the wheel liners to the bumper. Two inside the wheel well, and one going up into the bumper from below. Repeat on the other side.
3. Pull the liner forward. Looking into the bumper cavity you can see the two T25 screws that hold the plastic bracket to the edges of the valence. Remove both on each side.
4. Take note of how the bumper lip and valence lip are sandwiched inside this clip. We will need to reinstall it in the same way.
Pull the outer edge of the clip towards the center of the car. Once the outer edge releases, slide the second half of the clip forward.
5. Open the diffuser box. Remove the packaging. With the machined pockets of the baseplate facing up, slide the fins onto the baseplate until they lock into place. The fin hole should be on the top.
6. If you are having a hard time getting the fins to click in, hold the baseplate against your chest, then grip the fin with your hands and pull it towards you to press it into place. The brass threads on the baseplate should line up with the hole in the fin. The fins have some adjustability forward and back to line them up with the retaining screw.
7. Install the black M4 bolts using a Phillips head screwdriver. You can use thread-locker on these screws, however it is not necessary. They just need to be snug, do not over tighten. Fasteners this small can be easily stripped.
8. Locate the M6 bolts, and nylock nuts in the hardware bag. Grab your clamps, a 4mm Allen key, 10mm wrench and a drill with the 6mm or ¼” drill bit.
The next steps are shown on a workbench for better lighting. You do not need to remove the valence from the car.
9. Hold the baseplate and fin assembly tight to the valence with the countersunk holes facing down. Place a clamp on each edge to keep it in place. Now adjust it left or right to center it. Check the outside edges, and notch in the center to make sure that your gaps are consistent all the way around.
10. Wear safety glasses and drill the two center holes with a 6mm or ¼” bit using the baseplate as a guide. Install two bolts, and nylock nuts. Hold a wrench on top, and turn the bolt with the allen key.
11. Now drill the remaining holes in the baseplate, and install the hardware.
Spat Install
12. The spats are left / right side specific. The countersunk holes will be on the bottom. The narrow end of the spat should be closest to the wheel well.
13. Have a clamp ready, or second set of hands to help hold it in place. Hold the spat up to the bottom edge of the valence/bumper. Start with the small spat part. Line it up with the front & outside lip of the valence. The countersunk hole should be visible. Drill (¼” or 6mm drill bit) the countersunk hole, then install an M6x20mm bolt and nut. Tighten it until the spat is tight to the diffuser.
14. Then drill the non-countersunk hole in the small spat (The one closer to the exhaust tip). Install the parts onto the long M6 bolt in this order:
large spat (countersunk side down),
nylon spacer,
slide it into the small spat and valence,
then the nut on the back. Snug this down, but do not fully tighten it yet.
15. The lower spat should look like this.
16. Rotate the large spat until the outside edge lines up on the valence. Drill (3/16” or 5mm drill bit) the hole closest to the wheel well, then install a M5 bolt and nut. Repeat for the inner hole.
17. Reinstall the valence clips onto each side. Reinstall the clip screws. Line up the fender liners, and reinstall the three screws on each side. Some models may require trimming the clip on the lower edge to clear the spat hardware.
Reinstall the rear tires. Once the car is back on the ground, torque the lug nuts.