When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I purchased a set of Katech carbon fiber side skirts. The instructions call for installation using rivets. My question is about using a metal rivet or a plastic rivet. Specifically, will a metal rivet require too much force and cause damage or cracks to he pre drilled hole in the body? I bought a rivet gun and tried it out and it seems to require a major amount of force to set the rivet and is causing concern about what it will do to the body?
I purchased a set of Katech carbon fiber side skirts. The instructions call for installation using rivets. My question is about using a metal rivet or a plastic rivet. Specifically, will a metal rivet require too much force and cause damage or cracks to he pre drilled hole in the body? I bought a rivet gun and tried it out and it seems to require a major amount of force to set the rivet and is causing concern about what it will do to the body?
The factory skirts are attached the same way using metal rivets.
3/16 large head aluminum rivets. I think there is enough space between the lower aperture panel and the frame so you can use exploding rivets for better holding strength. You have to be careful with A8 cars on the driver's side when drilling the holes since there are transmission cooler hoses running through that area.
I would never use rivets again. Get nutserts in 10-32 thread and then you'll have beautifully hidden machined receivers for machine screws, making your trim completely removable too.
RPI Designs includes screws to be used in installing their side skirts with instructions to pre-drill the holes. That way if you have to remove them for any reason it is simple to do; drilling out rivets can be problematic to remove form fiberglass when they start to spin. My installer, with my concurrence, used similar sized self tapping screws that worked fine. Installation took about 30 minutes. Still on there tight after about 15,000 miles. For the record, RPI does not endorse using self tapping screws but I have considerable experience using them so I was ok with them. As many have noted, you do need to be careful on the driver's side with an A8 as there are a couple of lines that run along that sill. Plenty of clearance but good idea to check it out anyway. --Bob
I broke down and had the manufacturer install them at their facility. I bought Katech 100% carbon fiber side skirts and Katech installed them using rivets. I guess if I decide to remove them I will deal with those issues when they come up.
I purchased a set of Katech carbon fiber side skirts. The instructions call for installation using rivets. My question is about using a metal rivet or a plastic rivet. Specifically, will a metal rivet require too much force and cause damage or cracks to he pre drilled hole in the body? I bought a rivet gun and tried it out and it seems to require a major amount of force to set the rivet and is causing concern about what it will do to the body?
Metal rivets from the rivet gun for sure never seen plastic ones. The best way to tightly permanently fasten with easy removal. Use the metal rivet. You drill them with the correct size bit and they fall out. I'm on front spoiler number 3 and set number 2 on the side skirts. Easy swaps!
07-20-2018, 10:41 AM
Plastic vs Metal rivet
