Write-up ABS Interior Trim Repair
04-09-2010, 10:31 AM
#1
Write-up ABS Interior Trim Repair A few threads on related problems have been posted over the last year, so I thought I'd write up an inexpensive solution while undertaking my recent repair:
Many plastics get brittle as they age or crack due to fatigue. This, of course, leads to breakage. Many plastics can be welded (mechanically or chemically) and repaired, especially if the crack is not visible. In general, one can look up the plastic material code stamped on the back of the part, determine which material it is, and then look up the correct adhesive. (Super Glue and epoxy are almost always NOT the optimal adhesive!)
The most common material I've had to work with on my interior has been ABS plastic. Some of the door panel parts are ABS, as is the manual shifter boot trim ring. Fortunately, ABS is very easy to weld and the cement makes a chemical bond that is stronger than the original material! Below are details on the repair of my driver's side window switch panel:
Above is an example of the "ABS" material marking on the back of the part.
For ABS repairs, a special ABS Cement is available from plumbing supplies and some home centers for just a couple of dollars. It works a lot like PVC cement, but is used commonly for ABS pipe. (rather than PVC pipe)
To repair, use a toothpick or other tool to gather some PVC cement and spread it on BOTH pieces you want to glue together.
Next, press the two pieces together and hold in place for a minute or so until the glue just starts to set up. Once it has started to set, you can smear some additional cement on the back side of the repair to reinforce it. For this part, I also had to take a toothpick and remove some of the additional cement that flowed to the inside of the switch holder, so the notches on the switch would engage properly.
Once the part has cured for 24 hours, it should be close to its final strength and ready to use.
Many plastics get brittle as they age or crack due to fatigue. This, of course, leads to breakage. Many plastics can be welded (mechanically or chemically) and repaired, especially if the crack is not visible. In general, one can look up the plastic material code stamped on the back of the part, determine which material it is, and then look up the correct adhesive. (Super Glue and epoxy are almost always NOT the optimal adhesive!)
The most common material I've had to work with on my interior has been ABS plastic. Some of the door panel parts are ABS, as is the manual shifter boot trim ring. Fortunately, ABS is very easy to weld and the cement makes a chemical bond that is stronger than the original material! Below are details on the repair of my driver's side window switch panel:
Above is an example of the "ABS" material marking on the back of the part.
For ABS repairs, a special ABS Cement is available from plumbing supplies and some home centers for just a couple of dollars. It works a lot like PVC cement, but is used commonly for ABS pipe. (rather than PVC pipe)
To repair, use a toothpick or other tool to gather some PVC cement and spread it on BOTH pieces you want to glue together.
Next, press the two pieces together and hold in place for a minute or so until the glue just starts to set up. Once it has started to set, you can smear some additional cement on the back side of the repair to reinforce it. For this part, I also had to take a toothpick and remove some of the additional cement that flowed to the inside of the switch holder, so the notches on the switch would engage properly.
Once the part has cured for 24 hours, it should be close to its final strength and ready to use.
04-09-2010, 11:15 PM
#3
Epoxies and super glues are usually the right choice when you want to adhere dissimilar materials together. This is a good chart on what to use to weld plastics. (Some should be heat welded, some can be chemically welded, and some like ABS can be either.) http://www.urethanesupply.com/pdf/idchart.pdf
For your dash, you should be able to ID the plastic on each part and use the table above or other resources to figure out the best thing to use.
