Gauge bezel fallout, anyone else?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 1
From: Torrance CA
Gauge bezel fallout, anyone else?
On the way out to dinner tonight, I looked down and the aluminum bezel around my speedometer fell out. Has this happened to anyone else? What a PITA, I really didn't want to spend 2-3 hours taking apart the dash tommorow.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
I have heard of this - just one other time though.
One key to long term adhesion is "contact area". The better the contact area between the factory plastic protrusion and the ring bezel - the better the glue will do its job..
On my set, I noticed the rings that were segmented - needed expanded a little bit for them to fit perfectly. So I expanded the rings a little bit at a time - until they all hugged the factory plastic protrusion without any effort to expand or contract them.
Since these rings are CNC milled, that means they get drenched with CNC coolant. It's always a good idea to clean the glue edge of the rings to remove any coolant residue that may still be present.
Then after the glue is installed, keep minor pressure against the ring for a period of time.
One forum member suggested using silicone rubber instead of the gel crazy -type- glue... due to the difference of expansion rates between the factory plastic protrusion and the aluminum rings.
What mfgr of ring bezels did you purchase (or who did you buy them from)?
One key to long term adhesion is "contact area". The better the contact area between the factory plastic protrusion and the ring bezel - the better the glue will do its job..
On my set, I noticed the rings that were segmented - needed expanded a little bit for them to fit perfectly. So I expanded the rings a little bit at a time - until they all hugged the factory plastic protrusion without any effort to expand or contract them.
Since these rings are CNC milled, that means they get drenched with CNC coolant. It's always a good idea to clean the glue edge of the rings to remove any coolant residue that may still be present.
Then after the glue is installed, keep minor pressure against the ring for a period of time.
One forum member suggested using silicone rubber instead of the gel crazy -type- glue... due to the difference of expansion rates between the factory plastic protrusion and the aluminum rings.
What mfgr of ring bezels did you purchase (or who did you buy them from)?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 20,054
Likes: 44
From: Swansea IL
Very rare and I've been around a few years. I installed the bezels on my 99 in 01 and the new owner hasn't had a problem. And the one's I installed on my 03 over 14 months ago still are in place. I even had the car up in Wisconsin last Dec where the car sat outside in near ZERO temps and then driven.
I could be one of those one out of XXXXX occurances. Sorry to hear you were one of them.
Tom
I could be one of those one out of XXXXX occurances. Sorry to hear you were one of them.
Tom
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 17,681
Likes: 11
From: Central Jersey
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
Its actually happened to me twice.. Yes, it is a pain in the **** 
But I can have the gauge cluster on a bench in 15 minutes 
But I can have the gauge cluster on a bench in 15 minutes
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 3
From: Orland Park Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by BrianWe
On the way out to dinner tonight, I looked down and the aluminum bezel around my speedometer fell out. Has this happened to anyone else? What a PITA, I really didn't want to spend 2-3 hours taking apart the dash tommorow.
Lifetime Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,702
Likes: 76
From: New Jersey
St. Jude Donor '05, '12-'13, '15-'16, '21
Originally Posted by BiggieBoy
Everytime I get ready to order a set of rings---I run accross a post like this one...
Instructor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Parkesburg PA
I'm about to install the gauge rings and will be using the silicone rubber sealant.
I use this stuff all the time. It works best on smooth surfaces, so this is a perfect application.
This stuff will not let go and it remains flexible.
Apply it with a tooth pick or needle.
I use this stuff all the time. It works best on smooth surfaces, so this is a perfect application.
This stuff will not let go and it remains flexible.
Apply it with a tooth pick or needle.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Pro
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 618
Likes: 1
From: Putting a 50¢ sticker of the U.S. Flag on a $50,000 import does not make one a patriot.
lol.
I bought some for a friend for his birthday. We installed them several months ago. BUT, while I was test driving his supercharged vette(getting on it), 2 weeks ago the speedo ring came off.
It was funny. I was at 5k in 2nd and I said "oh ****" and decelerated rapidly. He thought I broke something major! lol.
So to answer you question, yes it does happen.
AZC5
I bought some for a friend for his birthday. We installed them several months ago. BUT, while I was test driving his supercharged vette(getting on it), 2 weeks ago the speedo ring came off.
It was funny. I was at 5k in 2nd and I said "oh ****" and decelerated rapidly. He thought I broke something major! lol.
So to answer you question, yes it does happen.
AZC5
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 3,123
Likes: 3
From: Orland Park Illinois
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
Originally Posted by W.A.M.
I'm about to install the gauge rings and will be using the silicone rubber sealant.
I use this stuff all the time. It works best on smooth surfaces, so this is a perfect application.
This stuff will not let go and it remains flexible.
Apply it with a tooth pick or needle.
I use this stuff all the time. It works best on smooth surfaces, so this is a perfect application.
This stuff will not let go and it remains flexible.
Apply it with a tooth pick or needle.
If you don't mind---what's the product name of the sealant you're going to use??? Thanks
Last edited by BiggieBoy; Sep 11, 2005 at 10:00 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Originally Posted by W.A.M.
I'm about to install the gauge rings and will be using the silicone rubber sealant.
I use this stuff all the time. It works best on smooth surfaces, so this is a perfect application.
This stuff will not let go and it remains flexible.
Apply it with a tooth pick or needle.
I use this stuff all the time. It works best on smooth surfaces, so this is a perfect application.
This stuff will not let go and it remains flexible.
Apply it with a tooth pick or needle.
I think this is one of the best ideas I've ever read
Pro
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 586
Likes: 5
From: Keller TX
2016 C5 of Year Finalist
Funny, I logged on today to get info on taking apart the dash for the same reason. My bezels were installed two years ago by my brother. The other day he said, "wow, the bezels are still on there". Well, the next day my fuel bezel came off
For those of you that can can apart the dash in less than an hour...please tell me how to do it. It took my brother well over a day to do it last time.
Rodrigo
For those of you that can can apart the dash in less than an hour...please tell me how to do it. It took my brother well over a day to do it last time.
Rodrigo
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 1
From: Torrance CA
It took 3 hours to redo the whole thing this afternoon. I just used superglue to put them on. Originally, I went a bit light on the glue since I didn't want it to ooze over. Well, in addition to the one that fell out, two others were not attached too solidly, so I fixed those also. This time, I used a lot of glue. Hopefully, all will be well this time.
It was much easier the second time around to take the whole thing apart. I did waste almost an hour trying to fish out one of the steering column nuts that went flying into the dash wiring. That was a royal pain. After much frustration, I lowered the plastic panel on the bottom of the steering column. Turns out it just presses in. Presto, missing nut appears.
Hopefully, the glue will hold this time :o
All things considered, I really do like the bezels and would highly recommend them. By the way, mine were from ssinserts.
It was much easier the second time around to take the whole thing apart. I did waste almost an hour trying to fish out one of the steering column nuts that went flying into the dash wiring. That was a royal pain. After much frustration, I lowered the plastic panel on the bottom of the steering column. Turns out it just presses in. Presto, missing nut appears.
Hopefully, the glue will hold this time :o
All things considered, I really do like the bezels and would highly recommend them. By the way, mine were from ssinserts.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
w/ a $5 paint marker you can get similar results and the same if not better at night http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...6&forum_id=103
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 4
From: North Port Fl
Yes I've heard of this happening if you use super glue, I've been told (I've bought a set of guage bezels but haven't put them in yet) to use super glue gel you can get a more complete coverage without fear of the glue dripping all over the place, and the gel doesn't set up quite as fast as the regular super glue. You can get the gel at Home Depot, & Lowes, and sometimes at Staples and Office Depot, but it's usually cheaper at the home improvement stores.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Originally Posted by connecticut
w/ a $5 paint marker you can get similar results and the same if not better at night http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...6&forum_id=103
I know you guys like to spend a lot of money on your car's and love to buy mods for it. But the guage rings are too much of a hassel... Brian's fell of three separate times.
I'd be willing to bet 4 out of 5 of you couldn't tell the difference between the bezel rings and the paint. And i'm also willing to guarantee none of you could tell a difference enough to prefer the rings over the paint. They're just too similar and the rings are just too much of a hassel. Save the 100 bucks and just paint it and be done with it.
Chris
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,947
Likes: 2
From: Atlanta GA
Originally Posted by Stangkiller
I know you guys like to spend a lot of money on your car's and love to buy mods for it. But the guage rings are too much of a hassel... Brian's fell of three separate times.
I'd be willing to bet 4 out of 5 of you couldn't tell the difference between the bezel rings and the paint. And i'm also willing to guarantee none of you could tell a difference enough to prefer the rings over the paint. They're just too similar and the rings are just too much of a hassel. Save the 100 bucks and just paint it and be done with it.
Chris
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...1&forum_id=103
red
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,879
Likes: 0
From: Plainfield Ill.
Originally Posted by Stangkiller
I know you guys like to spend a lot of money on your car's and love to buy mods for it. But the guage rings are too much of a hassel... Brian's fell of three separate times.
I'd be willing to bet 4 out of 5 of you couldn't tell the difference between the bezel rings and the paint. And i'm also willing to guarantee none of you could tell a difference enough to prefer the rings over the paint. They're just too similar and the rings are just too much of a hassel. Save the 100 bucks and just paint it and be done with it.
Chris
, like I said, I have had the bezels recently and it survived the summer. We'll see this winter if it comes off. What I did however was put more beads of superglue than what the instruction said, waited a few minutes until they are a little tack then applied them, apply some pressure for about a couple of minutes and continue drying with a hair dryer passing it around the bezel slowly.