Hey guys, when I took my dash apart on my 02 Silver Cavalier to replace my deck. My dash was NOT cracked at that time!
When I put everything back on, I kind of tightened a screw on that spot under the vent insert. About a week later, its cracked like that now!
I noticed this is a common problem for 00-05 Cavs.
I advise all of you guys NOT to tighten this screw at all or just remove it!
This post surely will help alot of you guys! But this sucks for me!
It's a problem for just about everybody...
Dash Cover ftw
mine cracked in the exact same spot, happened before I got it!
With the dash off, there are two screws in the dash holding it to the firewall or whatever that line up almost perfectly with those 2 cracks. Well, yours only has the right hand crack now, but the left will crack eventually. Its a good idea to take the dash back off and loosen those 2 bolts 1/4 to 1/2 a turn each. That should HELP prevent more cracking in the future. I just said screw it since my dash is cracked bad already anyways, I'll just get the cover that Coverlay is going to make, cover it in vinyl to match the dash pad, and snap it in.
i JUST did a tan to graghite dash swap in my car. tan was cracked-graghite was not.
what i did:
where every bolt in the framing bolts to the body i used dynamating underneath the bolts. i dynamatted the frame in a few places. a then cut tiny squares of it out and stuck them to each mounting position on the frame where the plastic screws/bolts to.
the 2 bolts on the top (near the windshield) i left them snug, not TIGHT, but snug.
i also ran a long sheet of dynamat along the entire underside plastic portion that goes up near the windshield on the dash.
so far so good (knock on wood, crosses fingers), ive heard that a front strut tower brace helps combat 'the cracking' as well. i have one.
its also really weird, most sedans ive seen dont have the cracked dash... and most of the earlier cavs-usually 95's and 96's seem to not have the problem as much. my new dash came out of a 95 with 200,000 miles on it. it was mint.
i had my screws loose, but it still cracked after a while because of the cold weather. oh well. vinyled it over and u cant tell
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
- Sold my beloved J in April 2010 -
Yeh Darren, i dont think thats the bolt that causes the crack. that bolt i think only connects the dash to the core.. the dash crack comes from the dash being secured to flexing metal, when plastic doesnt flex that much, if any. It maybe have cracked there because from a certain movement in flex, not cracking right at one of the bolts, but actually bending inbetween the two secure bolts cause it to crack at the bend in the middle of the two bolts(ull see the two bolts im talking bout in pic below)
the 2 circles are teh 2 bolts i beleive that cause the cracks.. the one on the left is the most common and i think the biggest cause.. but i beleive the two bolts i circled are the two. when i do my head unit i plan to loosen those two bolts and also plan on putting a rubber washer under each one. helps with vibes and gives somes movement of flexing.
funny thing..i have a 95 ..the oldest of the bunch..had my dash off lots of times and i dont have a single crack
dont makem like they used to huh? lol
Stephen[manta z wrote:]Yeh Darren, i dont think thats the bolt that causes the crack. that bolt i think only connects the dash to the core.. the dash crack comes from the dash being secured to flexing metal, when plastic doesnt flex that much, if any. It maybe have cracked there because from a certain movement in flex, not cracking right at one of the bolts, but actually bending inbetween the two secure bolts cause it to crack at the bend in the middle of the two bolts(ull see the two bolts im talking bout in pic below)
the 2 circles are teh 2 bolts i beleive that cause the cracks.. the one on the left is the most common and i think the biggest cause.. but i beleive the two bolts i circled are the two. when i do my head unit i plan to loosen those two bolts and also plan on putting a rubber washer under each one. helps with vibes and gives somes movement of flexing.
we have a winner!! Those are the ones. Lossen or remove those and you should not have a problem.
FU Tuning
I have two 96's....not cracked, I have a 99 in perfect condition, cept the dash crack. It does seem taht the earlier cavs didnt have as bad of a problem.
John Higgins wrote:Stephen[manta z wrote:]Yeh Darren, i dont think thats the bolt that causes the crack. that bolt i think only connects the dash to the core.. the dash crack comes from the dash being secured to flexing metal, when plastic doesnt flex that much, if any. It maybe have cracked there because from a certain movement in flex, not cracking right at one of the bolts, but actually bending inbetween the two secure bolts cause it to crack at the bend in the middle of the two bolts(ull see the two bolts im talking bout in pic below)
(see post above for image)
the 2 circles are teh 2 bolts i beleive that cause the cracks.. the one on the left is the most common and i think the biggest cause.. but i beleive the two bolts i circled are the two. when i do my head unit i plan to loosen those two bolts and also plan on putting a rubber washer under each one. helps with vibes and gives somes movement of flexing.
we have a winner!! Those are the ones. Lossen or remove those and you should not have a problem.
Removing or loosening alone may cause even more rattles (and J's don't need any help with rattling!). Put a rubber washer/spacer/dampener in-between screw and the dash. This will allow it to move a little bit, but should keep it secure enough that it's not going to rattle. It may not be a bad idea to get a bunch of them and do the entire dash.
I still have a dash from a 96 that never cracked. However, the plastic area immediately around where the screw passes through completely disintegrated.
OK guys.. it may not be that screw.
and DAMN! your dash is so @!#$ up Fpz24! Crazy! MantaZ, good one!
I agree with Muffin about adding rubber washers, that did and will help a lot! I did that on my Red cav.
Phewes wrote:OK guys.. it may not be that screw.
and DAMN! your dash is so @!#$ up Fpz24! Crazy! MantaZ, good one!
I agree with Muffin about adding rubber washers, that did and will help a lot! I did that on my Red cav.
yeah, good thing i FOUND a complete dash at a local junkyard for ten bucks layin on the ground
just gotta find time to switch em
http://www.myspace.com/fpsunfire
5 seconds to find another street...
I messed something up and can't even tighten that screw you mentioned so I'm safe I guess
www.driftnamiperformance.com
scott (section8cav) wrote:funny thing..i have a 95 ..the oldest of the bunch..had my dash off lots of times and i dont have a single crack dont makem like they used to huh? lol
I have a 95 and no cracks here either... weird, everyone else I know almost has that thing cracked!
