Automotive Interior Adhesive???????

[redgtxdi]

So, I need a good adhesive for a couple things.

I got a replacement passenger airbag whose cover is slightly lifted in one corner. Not major, but I know when I install it I'll look at it constantly......it'll bug the heck outta' me.........soooo..........I wanna glue it back down so it stays down.

I also have a piece of exterior door trim that I want to stick down. I figured I want a similar (super, forever sticky) adhesive to do both of these jobs.

Here's what I found searching.................

HOt Glue gun = BAD!!! Do not use on car interior/exterior.

Rubber Cement = Good....no brainer.

3M weatherstripping adhesive = Good.....???

Gorilla Glue = 21st century's rubber cement??? (I googled this stuff, but appears to be more of a home adhesive & also has some "expansion" during curing to account for. Dunno if I wanna "guess" on expansion.


Anybody got any other suggestions or feedback on the above????

 

[Rubycon]

Gorilla is urethane based and is quite strong however you will want to practice with it on scraps before actual use to acclimate yourself to its fillet expansion characteristic. Post application cleanup, otherwise can be messy.

There are a few professional products with high tack strength similar to contact cement that have an extremely thin bond line that are good for trim, for example. 3M makes a spray (General Trim Adhesive) that works well.

 

[Savarak]

nothing TOO strong, otherwise the airbag would lock between dashboard and the cover itself(if its not the kind that rips the cover)

 

[redgtxdi]

Good mention, Savarak. Actually it's at the edge of the bag cover that *stays* exactly in place. I went to a body shop & they started to suggest some stuff called

"40 40" ??????????????

Anyway, then one of the bosses came over & said, "We don't even touch those things. Can be like flying razor blades if it goes off".

Well, I explained to him that since I searched quite a few of these cars with the bags already deployed & know exactly where the cover does & doesn't lift, I told him this was a non-critical area. He wouldn't budge. So all I had to go by was what the first guy said.

I think that's the 2nd time I've heard that 3M General Trim Adhesive, but since it's in a spray, it'd be a tricky place to spray it. I just want it to stick FOR GOOD once I do this 'cuz installing the Airbag is a PITA. I don't wanna have to take it out again to do it a 2nd time.

Keep the suggestions coming, please!!!

 

[redgtxdi]

Anybody else????????



Ya' ever had ta' glue somethin' down that you wanted to stay put??????

 

[MX2]

Hi R

 

[Maximus96]

automotive goop! works wonders.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Go get some 60 second epoxy if you really want something to stay put.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: AbsolutDealage
Go get some 60 second epoxy if you really want something to stay put.

That's what I was going to suggest... an epoxy. There's some pretty amazing stuff out there now... 5 or 6 years ago when I was in high school and had an auto body class we used epoxy for fiberglass to metal repairs and custom fiberglass work. Anyway... the epoxy was advertised as "stronger than a weld" so we thought we should put it to the test. We took three pieces of 1/16 inch sheet metal and welded two together with a MIG welder, then used the epoxy to glue the 3rd piece onto the end of those... let it cure. Then took it to the frame straightener which is used to pull frames back into spec after the car has been in a collision and has frame damage. I don't remember how much force the frame straightener could apply. Anyway, we started pulling, and the weld broke first... then we tried to pull the two pieces apart that were stuck together with the epoxy and it actually tore the metal where it was being held in a clamp. The epoxy never let go.

 

[redgtxdi]

Ya, I thought about an epoxy too.

Anybody know what they use to attach exterior car trim?? (Like those black plastic dooohickies you have running down the middle of your doors??) At the junkyard recently, I pulled on one just to see & it kinda' peeled like goooo.

My only concern about Epoxy is that it definitely hardens, but maybe I can't have it both ways. Maybe it's either "Hard & sticks forever"......or......."Soft, but might be able to pull away".

Thanks for the responses, guys I know I've got one shot at this!


(P.S. Hey, C!)

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Ya, I thought about an epoxy too.

Anybody know what they use to attach exterior car trim?? (Like those black plastic dooohickies you have running down the middle of your doors??) At the junkyard recently, I pulled on one just to see & it kinda' peeled like goooo.

My only concern about Epoxy is that it definitely hardens, but maybe I can't have it both ways. Maybe it's either "Hard & sticks forever"......or......."Soft, but might be able to pull away".

Thanks for the responses, guys I know I've got one shot at this!


(P.S. Hey, C!)

Could you use tape? Like this? That stuff works good... I've used it on exterior trim pieces like you're talking about... I used the 8 mil variety for that. One of the 40-50 mil ones might be better for your application since I doubt you'll have surfaces as smooth as the painted surface of a car.

 

[redgtxdi]

Hmmmmm..........that might be an idea. There's definitely some tape under this airbag cover as it is. It just lifted.........(Man, I wish I had my camera w/ me so I could take a pic for y'all).

Oh...........I almost forgot...........

I should ask...........I've seen the 3M Weatherstripping Adhesive (or Permatex or whoever it is)...........but where do you get something like that adhesive tape or the epoxy??

(I recall having a 2-part epoxy as a kid to make models with, but can't recall where the heck I even got it)

 

[Viper GTS]

Forgive me for asking a stupid question, but is gluing your airbag shut really a smart idea?

Viper GTS

 

[redgtxdi]

That's OK, it's a valid question.

I'm not actually gluing it shut. What I'm doing is simply gluing the "vinyl, plastic, pleather, whatever ya' call it" cover back onto the aluminum lid. (The airbag is actually encase in an aluminum pocket)

(And actually, just a corner of the cover)

IOW, this is strictly cosmetic........nothing else. It would affect the function of the airbag absolutely ZERO percent. (I wouldn't risk my safety on it)

The airbag actually comes out the opposite side and even if that side were lifting, I'd still have no problem gluing it because, again, I'm simply gluing the cover the actual aluminum lid.

 

[redgtxdi]

5 minute epoxy...........DONE!!!

I showed it to a customer of mine & he mentioned he had some & had used it on everything under the sun.

We cleaned the surface underneath & mixed the stuff, applied it with a popsicle stick, clamped it down using a piece fo plastic as a flat plate & presto.....done!!

There's a bit of a crease in the vinyl/plastic from where it was lifted, but it's definitely better than havin' a whole corner stickin' up about a half-inch over the rest of the dash.

5 minutes after we applied it, I let go of the clamp & it was done..........Fini!!!!!!!

 

[0roo0roo]

you are a mechanic?

otherwise fiddling with airbags is dangerous

 

[redgtxdi]

Close enough!

In this case.........fiddling with airbags is not dangerous!!!

Holding a gun is dangerous too. Hasn't stopped me yet.

 

[Scarpozzi]

You can always go with smaller amounts of epoxy. Try some JB Quick and use it sparingly. I usually apply it with a pocketknife blade or a toothpick. It's good because it can take 4 mins to bond...gives you a little wiggle room while it cures.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: redgtxdi
Hmmmmm..........that might be an idea. There's definitely some tape under this airbag cover as it is. It just lifted.........(Man, I wish I had my camera w/ me so I could take a pic for y'all).

Oh...........I almost forgot...........

I should ask...........I've seen the 3M Weatherstripping Adhesive (or Permatex or whoever it is)...........but where do you get something like that adhesive tape or the epoxy??

(I recall having a 2-part epoxy as a kid to make models with, but can't recall where the heck I even got it)

I go to Painter's Supply for all that kind of stuff. Even a place like Auto Zone MIGHT have it... or at least be able to order it for you.