Repairing broken dashboard panels
Submitted: Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 15:55
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Member - Shane D (QLD)
Hi all,
I'm trying to figure out a way to repair this broken dash board panel.
Image Could Not Be Found
12 years, 1.5 million K's, and plastic doesn't seem to mix.
I was going to get a new one, but that was before I found out that they where $1200, just for the center panel pictured, the whole dash was between $3500-4000 (no gauges or switches mind you), I Have been running around the wreckers with no luck.
I have a bit of an Idea but would like some input from others who may have done similar repairs
What do fellow formites suggest I do?
Shane
Reply By: Roughasguts - Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:06
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:06
look around for someone that does plastic welding.
AnswerID:
422596
Follow Up By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:35
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:35
Thanks for that, google-ing away now
FollowupID:
692980
Reply By: Mr Pointyhead - Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:07
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:07
There are companies around that do dashboard restoration that may be able to help. Also companies that do plastic welding to repair the existing unit.
AnswerID:
422597
Follow Up By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:36
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:36
Thanks for that, gogle-ing away now
FollowupID:
692981
Reply By: Member - Mark G Gulmarrad - Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:18
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:18
Shane
these guys are mobile
plastic welding
AnswerID:
422598
Follow Up By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:34
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:34
Thanks mate, found 'em after I read the first reply, might be the go.
FollowupID:
692978
Reply By: nifty60 - Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:21
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:21
This is what I would do if I was you ( I'm tight)
If you can take the dash out, I would firstly try welding it with a soldering iron to hold it together. If you can get the same type of plastic to cut into strips to use as welding rod / filler, then even better ( maybe even cut a few strips from the back of the dash from bracing ribs for example.). Weld it from the back would be best visually.
It should work, but the join will be more brittle due to the heat. I would then use Sikaflex Technique sealant adhesive ( clean surface with solvent, and roughen with coarse sandpaper.) to stick pieces of thin aluminium over the back of the joint to support the welded joints.
Sounds dodgy, but I reckon it would be worth a try, and you haven't really haven't lost anything....worst case you have to get another dash, which you are already looking at anyway.
Hopefully someone else comes up with an easier alternative, otherwise......good luck
AnswerID:
422599
Follow Up By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:37
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:37
thanks for the suggestion,
FollowupID:
692982
Reply By: Member - Trouper (NSW) - Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:40
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 16:40
Shane, I reaalise your in QLD, however there is a company in
Sydney called The Department of Interior, Carlton suburb they do dashboards and consols, they maybe able to steer in in the right direction.
Regards .......jeff
AnswerID:
422600
Follow Up By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 17:06
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 at 17:06
I bought a dash console from them for my 100 series, I assumed that's all they did, interior accessory's, I'll
check them out, thanks.
Shane
FollowupID:
692984
Reply By: Member - Tour Boy ( Bundy QLD) - Thursday, Jul 01, 2010 at 09:47
Thursday, Jul 01, 2010 at 09:47
I'm surprised that the
louisville dash lasted that long, all ours were cracking at 400km
Cheers
Dave
AnswerID:
422662
Follow Up By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Thursday, Jul 01, 2010 at 17:03
Thursday, Jul 01, 2010 at 17:03
not as bad as some of the columbus's I have seen at 150k's
FollowupID:
693076
Follow Up By: Member - Tour Boy ( Bundy QLD) - Thursday, Jul 01, 2010 at 21:33
Thursday, Jul 01, 2010 at 21:33
maybe it would be better and cheaper to make a new one out of alloy
FollowupID:
693111
Follow Up By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Friday, Jul 02, 2010 at 18:04
Friday, Jul 02, 2010 at 18:04
I considered that but I think that it would look a bit like something a 17 year old would do to toughen up his Daewoo.
If I cannot get it repaired (welded) I might have no option but to make something, I know I'm not parting with $1200 for a piece of plastic.
Shane
FollowupID:
693202
Reply By: Member - mazcan - Thursday, Jul 01, 2010 at 14:03
Thursday, Jul 01, 2010 at 14:03
hi shane
bostik titan bond it is a great product but may not be suitable for dash material
also sikaflex have a large range of versatile adhesives there might be 1 thats suitable as
well
so if you google both types it will give you the details of each product
when i first saw the pics i thought the vehicle must have been rolled
there must be a lot of movement in the body to break a dash like that
excuse my limited knowledge but is it a toyota
have you tryed wreckers in other states
hope imfo is of some help
cheers
barry
AnswerID:
422680
Follow Up By: Member - Shane D (QLD) - Thursday, Jul 01, 2010 at 17:01
Thursday, Jul 01, 2010 at 17:01
Hi Barry, The dash is on a 1998 Ford loiusville truck, and the whole dash asseembly is plastic and flexs all over the place, this center piece which isnt much bigger than whats in a 100 series cruiser is $1200 to replace!!!, They ALL seem crack and break, some sooner than others hence difficulty in finding a siutable replacement.
Shane
thanks for the info on the products you mentioned
FollowupID:
693075
Reply By: ChrisE - Wednesday, Jul 07, 2010 at 17:59
Wednesday, Jul 07, 2010 at 17:59
Do a search of Patrol4x4.com. I saw a bloke that fibreglassed his facia panel to turn it from a double din into a single din to mount a normal stereo and some switches..turned out better than I was expecting.
AnswerID:
423353