OBS Dash Rattlestops

[Koots]

I found these a few months back and wanted to share with the OBS crowd:

http://walkingjdesigns.myshopify.com/products/dashboard-reinforcement-kit-gm-trucks

They apparently work quite well in getting rid of the squeeky, cracked dash problems.

I haven't personally used them, but they try to stand by their products and do a good job of it.

[bored&stroked]

I prefer LMC's kit, doesn't stick up above the bolt wells. Either kit will keep everything from cracking and breaking off like my last dash did.

[Tech89]

It's not hard to make them yourself either.

-Pat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bigrusty]

What does the dash squeek sound like. i recently bought a 1994 ecsb 6.5L and it makes a raspy high pitch scratch noise when i go over uneven ground. it sounds like glass on metal so i think its the windshield coming undone (it was done by the previous owner, so no clue when and where). I might be the dash now that i see this post.

[DroppedAsAChild]

Interesting

[east302]

The ad seems to say that the cracks are caused by the bolt mounting points splitting and causing the dash to flex. Mine (1998 model) are actually intact but the stupid thing has still split in three places. The main crack actually started with the slats in the defrost vents and then ran to the windshield.

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq360/rduaa_3312/556d8693.jpg

I'm wondering if these dashes are just a lost cause to begin with? I've put off replacing it because I'd be really ticked if I went through all the trouble only to have the "new" one split as well. Does anyone know if there is any way to keep this from happening if I did manage to find an undamaged one to swap with?

[GarnetRed4.3]

The ad seems to say that the cracks are caused by the bolt mounting points splitting and causing the dash to flex. Mine (1998 model) are actually intact but the stupid thing has still split in three places. The main crack actually started with the slats in the defrost vents and then ran to the windshield.

http://i463.photobucket.com/albums/qq360/rduaa_3312/556d8693.jpg

I'm wondering if these dashes are just a lost cause to begin with? I've put off replacing it because I'd be really ticked if I went through all the trouble only to have the "new" one split as well. Does anyone know if there is any way to keep this from happening if I did manage to find an undamaged one to swap with?

The dashboards and interior panels in these trucks and in a lot of vehicles from this era are not exactly "lost causes" but they are very prone to cracking.

Consider the timing of these vehicles...most dashboards through the early-mid 60s were made mostly of metal. Then cars started to get a little bit of plastic material integrated into the dashboards, which continued on into the mid-late 70s. Then in the 80's and 90's plastic became very prevalent for dashboards in vehicles, but the technology of the materials being used wasn't what it is today. Around 2000 is when we started seeing more durable high tech plastics being used for the dashboards. The trucks tended to lag behind because they were a utility vehicle. So GM trucks had metal dashes with a little bit of plastic integrated up through 1987 (89 for the Suburbans), and then went to all plastic in 1988. And starting with the NNBS 07+ trucks, the interiors got all the high tech plastics that allow for expansion/contraction and are soft to the touch and very durable.

What makes these dashboards crack is the plastic getting brittle with age...hot/cold temperatures causing them to expand and contract, and the sun/UV rays. One of the ways to help prevent the cracking is to keep a good UV protectant on it. I like the Turtle Wax F-21 stuff because it's not greasy to the touch like Armorall. Also, my truck has one of the carpeted dash covers on it...I know, not the most attractive thing, but it was on the truck when I bought it and the dash is perfect underneath. No discoloration, and zero cracks.

Personally, if I were you, I would find an uncracked replacement, and have an upholstery shop wrap it in vinyl or leather if you can afford it. The other alternative is to have a dash custom fabricated from MDF board, metal, or fiberglass.