dash is really loose, can anything be done to fix it

[oldred95]

I know 95 dashs suck but this is getting out of hand. While I was mudding today I notice the thing started flopping around more then usual on the passengers side. It moves probably a quarter inch, maybe a little more back and fourth. The bottom bolts on either side by the kickplates are tight, and the three little dinky screws on the top of the dash are broken out like every one out there is. It seems to me like there has to be some other brace or support on that side because right now it feels like there isn't a single thing holding the dash in place. Anyone ever heard of this happening or know what might have caused it?

[oldred95]

Well after school today I get into my truck to find the front part of the dash where the defroster vent is has raised up about 3/8 of an inch and all three screws have broken away from the plastic. I'm going to have to fab up some sort of hold down for those. What I can't believe is those three screws are the only thing that keep the dash against the firewall. There has to be more bolts somewhere.

ANYONE who has had their dash out please let me know if there are any other structural supports for the dash other then the bolts on either end and the three screws on top. TIA

[Izzy]

There are some behind the glove bax I think. :read:

[oldred95]

There are some behind the glove bax I think. :read:
I looked and I saw nothing. The only thing I saw that might do anything to help hold the passengers side was a little dinky ass piece of **** metal tab thats welded to the pipe that runs the length under the dash. It really didn't look like it does anything at all. I'm sick of this pile of chit broken excuse for a dash, I think I will just try and find another one or something. Will the 97 and up style with the passengers side air bag bolt right up in place of my dash? I've looked at a few of those style dashs in trucks with as many miles as mine and they look like new still and are not loose at all.

I found this one on ebay. Says it fits but what exactly is different and why are these style so much sturdier?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/95-96-97-98-99-00-CHEVY-TRUCK-TAHOE-SUBURBAN-DASH-NEW_W0QQitemZ7995907078QQcategoryZ40017QQrdZ1QQcmd ZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

[95Silverado]

I have a 95 and my dash is solid. It would take alot of force to get it to move around. Maybe something broke behind the dash? It is not the designs fault though.

[oldred95]

I have a 95 and my dash is solid. It would take alot of force to get it to move around. Maybe something broke behind the dash? It is not the designs fault though.
Maybe something did break but its always been loose, just now its a whole lot looser. Is yours cracked around the top three mounting screws?

[95Silverado]

Maybe something did break but its always been loose, just now its a whole lot looser. Is yours cracked around the top three mounting screws?

no

[oldred95]

no
How many miles on your truck?

[MaIibuSS]

My 95 has the same problem.. it cracked at the defroster.. my truck was a plow truck before i bought it though so thats my guess as to what broke it origionally. I made some square washers out of aluminum for the 3 screws and it holds it tight for now the defroster itself is starting to crack though. i was thinking of a billet replacement piece of some sort.. :dunno:

[MaIibuSS]

70,000mi on my truck by the way

[oldred95]

My truck had 149,000 miles of Kansas City driving and from personal experience their roads really suck, especially on the missouri side. When I get the new dash I'm going to see if its possible to make some extra braces for it or reenforce the defroster mounting points some way.

[95Silverado]

How many miles on your truck?

123k

[oldred95]

I looked at a 97 plain jane farm truck today with 141k hard miles on it and the dash looked perfect, faded but structurely perfect. It was rock solid and there were no cracks anywhere on any of the mounting points. I'm not sure what to think about my broken piece of crap dash. Something either came loose or someone or something hit it really hard at some point in time.

[1989K1500]

Its the bl. Makes the truck flex more and cracks the dash. I've seen it on a lot of trucks.





Naw, I'm just bull****tin. But something must have happened to make it just crack. My friends truck has 220,000 miles, mostly dirt road miles and it isn't cracked at all.

[NotLifted]

my 95 has 213000 miles and a solid dash.w/no cracks...and it was in a serious accident too. If you were closer I've got a a few spare dashes....check your junk yards. I swapped the lego style dash in my old truck within a few hours.

[oldred95]

I asked a friend of mine and he said his dash is still structurally like new on his used and very badly abused 97 with over 240k on it. I've got a new dash located so thats not a problem.

[popknot98]

ive heard that its a common problem for the pre 96 trucks. most useaually upgrade to a 97 and up dash. something about the fact that there isnt alot of bracing under the dash face. so it flexes and bounces more which puts the undesired stress on the dash making it crack

[oldred95]

ive heard that its a common problem for the pre 96 trucks. most useaually upgrade to a 97 and up dash. something about the fact that there isnt alot of bracing under the dash face. so it flexes and bounces more which puts the undesired stress on the dash making it crack
:word:

Thats what I've read.

[wannabelow]

on my 98 i have no problem with it moveing. on mine if u pull out the glove box and look up there r 2 bolts that mount the airbag and dash to the fire wall i think they r 1/2 inch socket

[oldred95]

on my 98 i have no problem with it moveing. on mine if u pull out the glove box and look up there r 2 bolts that mount the airbag and dash to the fire wall i think they r 1/2 inch socket
Thanks. I can't imagine why the 95 and 96 dash would be any different. I've looked up in there before but maybe not close enough. Are they kind of hard to get to? Those two bolts sound like the ones that must be gone or broken out to make my old dash move like it does.

[95GMC1500]

Mine is loose- the bolts on top are also busted. I was just looking at it trying to figure out if you could possibly find someone/company to make a CNC billet defroster cover, with slots to allow air of course, that you could use to "rebolt" the dash. I think it would look trick and also would prevent any further breakage if it was made of a thick aluminum.

[oldred95]

My new dash should be here in a few weeks. I looked at one of the schools 95 or 96 suburbans today and the dash looked perfect. Weird that it only happens to certain ones.

[justinp95]

mine moves to ......

[95GMC1500]

Where did you get your new dash from and how much, if you don't mind.

[oldred95]

Where did you get your new dash from and how much, if you don't mind.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7996367814

[Ross]

My dash is cracked all to hell as well, only one screw hole is not cracked and that's the one on the far passenger side.

[oldred95]

My dash is cracked all to hell as well, only one screw hole is not cracked and that's the one on the far passenger side.
Mine started breaking out on the passengers side and worked its way towards the drivers side.