So, I'm vacuuming out the car on Sunday and I have the vac hose behind the passenger seat with the small attachment and just barely touch the plastic on the side center console near the seat belt latch and *CRACK*. Nice little 2" crack running horizontally across. Not a big deal, after I get done detailing the interior I cut a small piece of aluminum, paint it black, and patch the crack with the aluminum piece and JB Weld, and then I got to thinking...I have JB welded so much $h!t on the interior of this car.

It's to be expected, a 20 year old car from the 90's from the south where there's plenty of heat. I get it, but man each time I do it I feel more and more guilty. Nothing in the rear hatch is JB welded, and the door panels don't have any JB weld, but the passenger side hush panel, a/c vent, center console (multiple locations), and a few other bits have JB weld on them. Nothing you can see, but its still in the back of my mind.

How many of your interiors are held together with JB weld in some spaces? Some interior panels aren't created in the aftermarket, and if they are...usually pretty good money.


Whats your guys take, spend the money on new panels and do it right, or since you can't see it just keep on JB welding as needed.

 

I would JB weld it, if I was going to drive the car. Either way, I'd still JB weld it and save the dough for some new interior pieces. I've always wanted to make interior pieces for C4's, in a similar way Icon or Singer builds their interiors. Expensive, hell yeah. But it will outlast us. I was racing my dad's C6 a while back, and from a dig one of my A/C vents flew out Found a nice used one here, and bought it. Don't sweat it, you're car looks great

 

As a rule, I don't like gluing things together, but I have put together some broken fastener bosses in the dash with it and they have held up well.

As to buying new parts or keep JB welding, it depends. If the repair is done well and is strong enough to be functional and there is no visible repair then go the JB route. In some cases you can build it up or reinforce it to be stronger than original. If you have concerns about being permanent or you can tell it was repaired, then buy the replacement parts.

If you are going for a show car, then you need to hunt down good replacement parts.

I know some people will object to "fixing" something by welding/gluing, but I have seen it done inside an auto assembly plant and inside OEM 1st tier auto parts manufacturers. So we are not alone in doing it.

 

I'd have not personal issues with doing it, if invisible or OE looking. A good repair is a good repair.

Furthermore...have you ever taken a door sill off, flipped it over and looked at the bottom of the thing? Yikes. No JB repair could look as bad as that...and that is OEM supplier stuff!

 

JB Weld works great if you chop some fiberglass into as you mix.

 

super glue n clear silicone are my go to fixes

 

I've been amazed at some of the repairs I've pulled off over the years with JB Weld

 

I like super glue to set the pieces in place and then epoxy (or JB weld) to build up the area to support and reinforce the fix.

I also use clear silicone for a few things. A very small amount keeps broken lug nut caps in place and is not visible. I have also used a small amount to keep a center cap from squeaking/rattling and to keep them on when some of the plastic clips are missing.

 

The same here. Why not if you can't tell especially to save money that can be spent some where else?

 

I've used JB Weld before fix things. I also have used: http://www.plastex.net/Product_Info.php
That works well in making new tabs for things that were broken off or repairing cracks in the dash panels. It worked well.

 

Glad to know I am not alone. If the repair is in a visible location it will have to have an OE appearance or the panel itself will need to be replaced. It's the hidden stuff I JB Weld, the broken tabs, caved in screw holes, etc...

The one plus to JB weld that QCVette pointed out, is that while not exactly the 100% right way to do it, it does sometimes end up with a stronger repair than original.

Tom, come to think of it, your right. I had my passenger side door sill off a couple weeks ago for a Bose repair, and couldn't believe that grey goop they used to seal stuff up under there. What a mess if you get it on you.

 

I once used JB Weld as a head gasket. It worked great for over 10,000 miles.

Richard Newton
C4 - Rear Suspension

 

why use JB weld instead of a real gasket, if you are taking the head off the gasket is cheap. I don't know how you could use it any other way?

 

I sure feel sorry for the new owner of that car!

 

Most epoxy's , glues or fiberglass do not stick well to ABS plastic. It will stick for a while but like a bad weld, it may look good on the surface but no penetration. Use glue made for ABS, acetone with pieces of scrap ABS dissolved in it to make a paste or a plastic repair kit if you want a permanent repair.

 

I've done JB weld on plastic when I rebuilt my interiors, and all still together.

 

If were confessing, I JB Welded a spark plug into a Honda Rebel Limited 250 before, then sold it months later. [ man I miss that bike, $2 in gas would last a week, was chrome n gold all over engine, fancy variegated tank stickers ]

 

Same problem with my console; same fix except I embedded some small lengths of welding rod in the jb weld

 

I like Shoe Goo (Goop, whatever) for a lot minor fixes, the stuff is tuff and takes vibration pretty well. Obviously not for high strength though.

Super glue, well, it sucks most of the time. It is fast dry, holds well at first. But it tends to crack, especially as it ages. And the really annoying part is how fast all of it dries to a hard rock in it's container. Open a bottle (2-3 oz) and it's junk in a year.

Goo on the other hand, when a tube gets a little age on it, goes to a paste, which still works great and is easy apply without spreading.

JB, I'm a newbie, used to typical epoxy. How is it mixed? Bare handed or gloves? I tried once with bare hands and had it on for a few days.

 

I love the stuff! Used it for many fixes over the years.
20 years ago, a White shark ripped my leg off, but luckily, I had some JB on hand...leg still kicking!