Announcement: I'm going to have my stereo surround repaired

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 6:16 pm

Yep, that's right, seems almost everyone has snapped theirs but no-one is really doing much about it. Well except for talking about getting a used one, but that's almost impossible.

So what am I going to do about this? Fix it of course! But why is it in the help section I hear you ask? Well because I don't know a thing about plastic repair.

My surround is extensively fucked, six cracks, now in multiple different pieces. And my first thought was Loctite superglue, as it's seemed to fix almost every other problem i've had, but that failed miserably, superglue does not weld plastics! I know that may seem like common sense, but I didn't know it.

Right now it's pieced together with electrical tape. Looks uggers.

So here's what I know:
- A replacement costs about a billion bux brand new, it's not worth it
- Second hand parts in good condition are extremely hard to find
- To stop it happening again you remove two of the clips, the ones either side of the stereo compartment
- Plastics need to be "welded" to acheive a bond
- Wielding can either be chemical or temperature
- Chemical is DIY, temperautre welding is a pro job because equipment costs sh*t loads
- To undertake either of these paths you first need to know what type of plastic your dealing with
- Vinyl dye makes plastic look the sechs, it could potentionally be used as the final part of the process to hide the repair, most welds end up white

And here's what needs to researched:
- What type of plastic is the surround?
- Can a DIY repair be done?
- How will an "as new" finish be achieved?
- If a DIY job can be done, how much will it cost? Is the cost prohibitive (ie. a significant amount of getting it replaced)?
- What preperations and equipment are needed for said DIY job?
- If a DIY job can't be done, can it be successfully and confidenlty repaired by a pro? I don't want to end up with a sh*t looking surround that cost a bundle to have fixed
- Who would do this professional job? How long does it take?

The aim of this excercise is to a) fix my freaking surround and b) help others have theirs repaired at minimum cost. I'm going to go right ahead and assume that someone has had this done, or has a friend, or friend's friend who's had this done. If so, post here! Provide incite! I'll update this thread as I gain more info, and provide pictures and details along the road to having my surround repaired.

Two Sydney places i'll be contacting regarding a pro fix are:
Silverwater Smash Repairs P/L.
11 Vore Street, Auburn NSW 2144
Phone (02) 9748 4100 Mobile 018 477 757 Fax (02) 9748 2795
Services: Quality Endorsed Company, Specialist smash repairs fully equipped facilities Plastic Welding repair specialist

ULTRA Motor Body Repairs Pty Ltd
129 Arthur Street, HOMEBUSH WEST NSW 2140
Telephone:(02) 9746 1077 Fax:(02) 9746 8530
Services: General Crash Repairs, All insurance work, Plastic Welding Specialists

I'll also be walking the piece into a bunch of hobby shops (like that in Parra) to see what they think about a DIY job.

tarkus · Post by **tarkus** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:22 am

Hya Scarecrow
if you look on the back of the surround it has some letters that tell you what the plastic is - "PP + PET". that is polypropylene and Polyethylene Terephthalate.

Not sure if you can weld / repair it but I am checking. I work for a company called "Moldflow" we research plastics.

http://www.moldflow.com

CYA Tarkus

ahew · Post by **ahew** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:47 am

scarecrow, if you can find a fix for this I want in

those places above are about 2mins away from me too so hopefully it doesn't cost that much to get them to do a pro job... though i SERIOUSLY doubt that.

shue · Post by **shue** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 9:32 am

mine in is bits as well. freddy told me he could layer it with cf on top to cover up the cracks and stick the bits together to make it look like one whole piece. will look like new and cost about 100$.

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 11:05 am

For 100dollars CF coated I would be definetly in!

PP + PET is a mixture so I think that rules DIY out, chemical welding can usually only be done with things like drain pipe

Bugger because that would of been the cheap option.

Shue if you can talk to freddy, or give me a way to contact him, then I think that would be great. 100 is a small price to pay for what you described

If not i'll first ask a hobby store about it, and then move on to pro plastic welders.

BuCkEt · Post by **BuCkEt** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:58 pm

You could always do what Gav did and use bondo to patch it up and if you know what you're doing even modify the console to a shape you want.

Look into his "In Car Computer" thread and see what he's done.
Might give some inspiration.

shue · Post by **shue** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 2:16 pm

yo scarecrow, i ended up contacting him so dump the pm i just sent u. anyway yea basically the cf is whats going to hold it together+ some kind of chemical glue. think its gonna be strong enuf? he said it will look like 1 piece but strength wise *shruggs*

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 2:39 pm

It needs some pretty good flexibility for it to not snap. Does he sound confident in the strenght of his CF?

shue · Post by **shue** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 2:46 pm

small cracks u can cover it up but actual breaks like mine he said it wouldnt look proper to get it plastic welded n they layered. best thing to do is drop by to his place and get a proper pic. how bout making them in fibre glass and layering it with cf?

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:58 pm

Where's he located Shue?

Mine's snapped in *many* pieces.

I think getting a fibreglass mould done would cost a very pretty penny.

There used to be a thread from a guy who installed a screen in his FTO and had to do extensive customisation of the gear/stereo surround, but now i can't find it

BuCkEt · Post by **BuCkEt** » Wed Nov 09, 2005 9:17 pm

http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... pic&t=4520

Thar she blows scarecrow!!!

Post by **dstocks** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 8:55 am

Im getting mine coated soon (plus some other stuff). Will post pics to show how it looks when I have them.

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:00 am

Mines not split - carbon fibre factory fitted option

SchumieFan · Post by **SchumieFan** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 10:23 am

since when has a mitsubishi ever had carbon fibre factory options!!!???!!!

ahew · Post by **ahew** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 10:48 am

i think GiGi meant that they've covered up their surround with the cf look contact stuff to hide the crack.

at least that's what i think...

Post by **dstocks** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:02 am

Nup,

Never was a CF option - it would be aftermarket.

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Thu Nov 10, 2005 1:01 pm

http://www.vacheron.btinternet.co.uk/PC ... anning.htm

Here's what i'm feeling... drill small holes either side of the cracks then cake it in this body filler stuff, sand it back to a smooth (but slightly raised) profile and then hit it with primer and plastic paint.

Sounds cheap

But fiddly.

Blondy · Post by **Blondy** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:40 am

dstocks wrote:Nup,

Never was a CF option - it would be aftermarket.

I'm afraid you are wrong.

Mitsubishi did have a CF option for the centre console, it's a stick on template. It is a very rare option.

See here:
http://www.mitsubishi-fto.org/info/acce ... page12.jpg

And here is a pic of it on my car:
http://www.mrblond.co.uk/Pics/New/console2.JPG

Gigi · Post by **Gigi** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:54 am

Thank you sir

Nah nah any nah nah

SchumieFan · Post by **SchumieFan** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:43 am

i find it very hard to believe its from the factory.... i mean, u can buy those stick ons... howd u know some guy in japan didnt stick it on before u bought it???

FTO AUSTRALIA

Announcement: I'm going to have my stereo surround repaired

Announcement: I'm going to have my stereo surround repaired

Coated

CF

Re: CF