Upper spoiler studs repair: best glue to use?

[dryden3]

In my upper spoiler, the plastic has broken around where the studs thread into each side. I know I've seen this happen in other SVO spoilers. I'm wondering if anyone has had any success at repairing this problem. What's the best type of glue to use?

Thanks
John

[sweetwm]

Upper spoiler stud repair

Hi John,

I have a 85.5 with the same problem. Hope someone comes up with a solution. If I find out a fix will let you know and would appreciate if you would do the same.

Bill Hatfield

[Eyelawdoc]

I don't know if it is the "ideal" solution to the problem, but when my area broke out around where the studs screw in I used Epoxy putty to make repairs. You can use it to reinforce the existing plastic, built up a deteriorated area, or even form it into place and then drill and tap it to receive the stud. If you could post a picture of the damage you have, I might be able to come up with more specific instructions.

[dryden3]

here's what I've got

That's a good idea using something to build up and drill into. My plastic is pretty much busted all the way around the holes. I've uploaded a picture of one of them. What brand of epoxy did you use and where did you get it from?

[Eyelawdoc]

I got it at Home Depot a few years ago when I had my spoiler off to glue it back together. Don't remember the brand, but it came in a bar and you kneeded it together with catalyst that comes with it. Before you try to build up the area where the plastic has come apart, make sure you get all of the foam filling out of the area and clean the plastic off real well. Scuff up the plastic where you're going to build up the epoxy putty with some 80 grit sandpaper and clean it off with denatured alcohol and let it dry. The alcohol will clean the polycarbonate plastic surface of the inside of the spoiler without dissolving the plastic.

If you want to repair any small cracks in the polycarbonate or splits in the weld joints, I have found that the gel type superglue works well. It dissolves the polycarbonate slightly to form a very strong bond. I used it to rejoin the upper and lower halves of my top spoiler where it had split apart at the joint. It ended up much stiffer and stronger than it was originally. That was 9 years and many thousands of miles ago. I have had no further problems since.

[richsvo]

dryden3,

Do you still have the studs? If so, leave them like they are, fill the hole with a product called JB Weld, (it is a two part epoxy type prdoct, only better, found at harware stores, ace, true value, etc.) and just put the studs right back in. You'll be amzed at this product's holding strength. It has even been used to repair threaded holes by filling and then drilling and tapping. This may be the product refered to above, it is a putty type of product after it is mixed.

Give it a try, that's what I did on mine and it has held for about two years now.

HTH,
Rich

[dryden3]

JB Weld

Yes, I have used JB Weld before (I think it's them that advertise millions of dollars in equipment saved by using their product....well if it saves SVO spoilers....then that dollar amount can add up over time!!!!). Rich and Eyelawdoc, those are some good suggestions; sanding the surface then JB welding the studs right into place. Yes, I do still have my studs and I'm going to try just that. I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks for your help

[BoostedSVO]

JB Weld ! ! !

JB WELD is the only way to go. You'll never have to worry about it again.....

[dryden3]

IT WORKED!!!!

I've taken my SVO out on a few drives since JB Welding the studs back into place, and it's still holding strong! Just a note to anyone who tries this type of repair: if you scrape all of the foam out from around the plastic where the studs screw into, you'll make a deep cavity that itself takes a tube of JB Weld to fill, so if you're doing both studs on both sides, be sure to have two new packages of JB Weld.

[sweetwm]

Using JB Weld on spioiler studs

I too used JB Weld and it seem to be holding good or better than new. On my spoiler, one stud was pulled out and the other was loose. I removed both studs and filled the cavity with about a teaspoon of JB Weld (mixture) and reinserted the studs into their original broden out holes. I then used 3-4 rubber bands to hold the studs in place. Make sure to wrap the rubber bands around the studs and around the spoiler so as to hold them in place and bottomed-out.

(NOTE: After using the weld and rubber bands, I very carefully and loosely, reinstalled the spoiler on the car with the studs inserted into their respective holes. I barely started the two top screws and the two stud nuts to loosely hold the spoiler in place until the weld dried for 24 hours. This was the only way I could get the studs properly aligned and bottomed-out until the JB Weld dried).

Bill Hatfield

[gbeaird]

Well, POs have used sheetmetal screws to secure our spoiler in place. I am talking about the upper half. The lower half is in good shape. Any idea what the measurement and thread of the studs are? Maybe an idea what they may come off of, other than the upper spoiler for a SVO or Merkur.
Thanks.

Gene Beaird
86 2R SVO
Pearland, Texas