Crack in Dashboard

[GringoPete]

Some how the lower portion of the dash on my '98 custom has developed two cracks in it. One between the glove box and the passenger door, and one between the drivers door and lower portion of steering column .

Does anyone know how to fix this so it does not get worse?

['97ventureowner]

There are some aftermarket repair kits available at your local auto parts stores that might work. It depends on how bad the cracks are and the quality of the repair kit. I have seen some good repairs and some that made the cracks look worse. I don't have any recommendations as to which ones are better than others but you might want to get some opinions from others who have made a repair with one.
Unfortunately, I searched through a couple of forums on this site that may have info on repairing a cracked dash, the Car Interiors subforum, and Car Detailing subforum over in the Cars In General forum but there was very little discussion on the subject.

[GringoPete]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

There are some aftermarket repair kits available at your local auto parts stores that might work. It depends on how bad the cracks are and the quality of the repair kit. I have seen some good repairs and some that made the cracks look worse. I don't have any recommendations as to which ones are better than others but you might want to get some opinions from others who have made a repair with one.
Unfortunately, I searched through a couple of forums on this site that may have info on repairing a cracked dash, the Car Interiors subforum, and Car Detailing subforum over in the Cars In General forum but there was very little discussion on the subject.

Thanks. I was thinking about crazy glue except that it may be difficult being that they are hairline thin cracks and may be difficult to get the glue inside without making a mess on the surface.

['97ventureowner]

Some of the kits I've seen use a compound that you mix and color, then apply to the area that is cracked . You then smooth it out to make the crack less noticeable. I guess it depends on how serious the crack is in appearance and the extent of the crack, along with what you are willing to live with for aesthetic appearance that will determine the method and means of repair.
Many of the vehicles I have owned in the past had serious "canyons" that only a total replacement of the pad would rectify ( I do say that it seems that the quality of the dashes in vehicles made over the last 15 or so years has improved.)
On a side note, back about 15-20 years ago I remember seeing a short story on PBS' Motorweek series where they showed how dash's are produced. They stretch the material over the form for the dash so tight, that over the years with repeated hot/cold cycles along with the sun's rays take a toll on the surface causing the material to stretch and contract even more.No wonder these dash's crack and that crack gets bigger over time.(That's why they say to repair a cracked dash in it's early stages before it spreads.)

[GringoPete]

Originally Posted by '97ventureowner

Some of the kits I've seen use a compound that you mix and color, then apply to the area that is cracked . You then smooth it out to make the crack less noticeable. I guess it depends on how serious the crack is in appearance and the extent of the crack, along with what you are willing to live with for aesthetic appearance that will determine the method and means of repair.
Many of the vehicles I have owned in the past had serious "canyons" that only a total replacement of the pad would rectify ( I do say that it seems that the quality of the dashes in vehicles made over the last 15 or so years has improved.)
On a side note, back about 15-20 years ago I remember seeing a short story on PBS' Motorweek series where they showed how dash's are produced. They stretch the material over the form for the dash so tight, that over the years with repeated hot/cold cycles along with the sun's rays take a toll on the surface causing the material to stretch and contract even more.No wonder these dash's crack and that crack gets bigger over time.(That's why they say to repair a cracked dash in it's early stages before it spreads.)

Thanks for your info. These two cracks are very very thin and would be fixed to the point that they would not be visible if the crack were mended and not painted. Maybe i'll take a ride to an auto store and see what i can find. Even Home Depot should have a wide variety of special glues.

Thanks again, pete