How did everyone else deal with the cracked dash?

[sumo]

Carbon Fiber Weave bandaids. Makes cracks heal faster, or that what i keep telling myself

 

[ddubdb3]

What cracked dash... lol


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[Tonyrodz]

Carbon Fiber Weave bandaids. Makes cracks heal faster, or that what i keep telling myself

Where do you find those? Do they get put on with an epoxy?

 

[Graystone_OG]

I've been looking at this as an option. Every time I look at the dash, I feel like there's a new crack. They have it on eBay for $148 plus $30 for shipping. There's also one where it only cover the top. Just search dash cap or plastic skin cover.

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[ddubdb3]

I've been looking at this as an option. Every time I look at the dash, I feel like there's a new crack. They have it on eBay for $148 plus $30 for shipping. There's also one where it only cover the top. Just search dash cap or plastic skin cover.

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Idk I feel with those dash caps once it's on you'll be able to tell the dash really has a cap on it because of the fitment with all the other dash trim..


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[Graystone_OG]

Idk I feel with those dash caps once it's on you'll be able to tell the dash really has a cap on it because of the fitment with all the other dash trim..


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I agree, but I guess it's better than nothing. I think it looks a bit better than those carpet covers.

 

[iamdub]

^^^ I agree with "better than nothing".

My plans are to remove the dash, reinforce and epoxy the cracked areas, then wrap it with a thinly-backed vinyl of matching color and grain. I'd probably wrap the thin piece up by the windshield, too.

If I can find a wrecked truck being parted out, I'd like to get a dash from that and fix/wrap it so I can just swap it in. It'll give me more time work on it and minimize my Tahoe's down time. I don't wanna be rushed with forming the vinyl to all those compound curves and the epoxy will need time to cure.

 

[Graystone_OG]

^^^ I agree with "better than nothing".

My plans are to remove the dash, reinforce and epoxy the cracked areas, then wrap it with a padded vinyl of matching color and grain. I'd probably wrap the thin piece up by the windshield, too.

If I can find a wrecked truck being parted out, I'd like to get a dash from that and fix/wrap it so I can just swap it in. It'll give me more time work on it and minimize my Tahoe's down time. I don't wanna be rushed with forming the vinyl to all those compound curves and the epoxy will need time to cure.

Sounds like a lot of work, but will look as if nothing happen. I think someone had posted this repair on YouTube, but can't seem to find it.

 

[iamdub]

Sounds like a lot of work, but will look as if nothing happen. I think someone had posted this repair on YouTube, but can't seem to find it.

I saw a video where they used special staples that are heated by a gun and melted into the plastic to join the cracked halves together. Then they used stainless metal strips from old wiper blades to reinforce the crack-prone areas and squirted a bunch of epoxy on them to prevent future cracking. The cracks on the surface were barely noticeable. I'm sure I could get away with doing this. But, I don't wanna take it all apart, fix the cracks, then be bothered by seeing the hairline cracks that were repaired. Or worse, new cracks form elsewhere. I could go ******* on reinforcing the underside so it won't crack anywhere and maybe add a thin layer of epoxy to the topside of the cracked areas. I wouldn't have to worry about the appearance since I'm wrapping it in vinyl. It'd be a one-and-done deal.

A lot of work? Maybe. But better than removing the dash more than once and I'd never have to worry about it again. Plus the backed vinyl will have a softer, flexible feel to it rather than the hard molded plastic shell that's there now.

 

[Graystone_OG]

I saw a video where they used special staples that are heated by a gun and melted into the plastic to join the cracked halves together. Then they used stainless metal strips from old wiper blades to reinforce the crack-prone areas and squirted a bunch of epoxy on them to prevent future cracking. The cracks on the surface were barely noticeable. I'm sure I could get away with doing this. But, I don't wanna take it all apart, fix the cracks, then be bothered by seeing the hairline cracks that were repaired. Or worse, new cracks form elsewhere. I could go ******* on reinforcing the underside so it won't crack anywhere and maybe add a thin layer of epoxy to the topside of the cracked areas. I wouldn't have to worry about the appearance since I'm wrapping it in vinyl. It'd be a one-and-done deal.

A lot of work? Maybe. But better than removing the dash more than once and I'd never have to worry about it again. Plus the backed vinyl will have a softer, flexible feel to it rather than the hard molded plastic shell that's there now.

Seeing that the dash has cracked in a bunch of different places for some people, maybe go the underside reinforcement route and have that piece of mind that it won't happen again.

Good luck on this and share your progress.