ew928

A few pics of my 928 rear cover.

Not much bowing.


Taillight adjuster.


Taillight adjusted flush to reflector cover.

Ernest (NYC)
S4 wrapped in GTS duds

cobalt

I was having the clear bra product installed on the front of the car to prevent rock damage. I took the time to work on the rear reflector. I removed the outer lenses and center strip. I found that the adhesive on the center section of velcro had given up and hence the bowed reflector. I used crazy glue and glued the velcro back in place and installed the reflector. Unfortunately the bow had gotten so bad that it is too strong for the velcro and proceeded to release again.

I tried adding additional velcro and no matter what, it would not stay. Nelson the guy doing the clear bra suggested some of the rubberized 3M double stick tape he had. It is used to hold trim molding and other parts on cars and is easily obtainable at most body shops or home depot. The gap was too big so we doubled up on it 2 strips on either side of the factory velcro. Cleaned the surface carefully and replaced the reflector. It is a strong bond which if needed can be removed but will hold for what should be a long time. Total cost of the roll of tape is about $3 and only took minutes to do.

Sorry my camera was charging so no pics. Here is how it looks the next day, I think it should hold for a long time without any problems.

By the way anyone interested in the clear bra for their car in the NYC area? The old kits suck and do not fit properly, so my guy is having the kit modified to fit properly and he will have a well fitting kit vs the ones that are available now.

ROG100

Anthony,
I will be interested to see how long it lasts.
I used the same stuff from Home Depot and it lasted through about two car wash sessions.
I used it along with some heavy duty velcro so maybe I did not have enough surface area dediacted to the 3M stuff.
Hope it works for you.
Roger

cobalt

I tried removing the reflector once installed and it was on there pretty strong. I washed the car yesterday and no signs of giving. Nelson said he uses this stuff to reinstall body parts that sometimes need to be removed for a clean installation of the clear bra and that it is supposed to be water proof. Although most of those parts fit without any tension. I will see how long it sticks. At least it is easy enough to do and I don't feel comfortable drilling into the car.

DR

The 3M tape, IF applied properly will last almost indefinitely. If it didn't the lower rocker covers on all of the S4/GT/GTSs would have fallen off by now as that is what they are installed with. Also the Body side molding of all years are also intsalled with the same tape and a few other odds and ends. It all depends on the proper prep of the surfaces before it is installed. BTW, I don't think Home Depot sells the proper automotive version of the 3M tape,... but I could be wrong.

cobalt

We thoroughly prepped the surfaces, I think this is why it held so well. I was surprised but I went to my local HD yesterday and they had the tape. It states right on it for automotive use. It was not a very large roll for $3 maybe 2 ft. Although I have 6 HD's in a 20 mile radius and each store carries different products supplied by different suppliers.

DR

>We thoroughly prepped the surfaces, I think this is why it held so well.

YEP, I know when I have tried to remove the lower rocker covers from wrecked S4s you almost destroy the covers trying to get them off because the tape works so well.

> I was surprised but I went to my local HD yesterday and they had the tape. It states right on it for >automotive use. It was not a very large roll for $3 maybe 2 ft. Although I have 6 HD's in a 20 mile >radius and each store carries different products supplied by different suppliers.

I am surprised also, "ain't" the first (or last) time I have been wrong :-)

Randy V

Can you tell us the product code/name for that tape, Anthony?

I adjusted the tail lights based on Dave's instructions, and added some additional velcro to the strip, but no joy.

Alan

Randy,
Uh Oh Time to get out the toilet bolts & drill!! Roger stand by the phone!

Hey when did the avatar change! I guess the new GTS is clean & shiny enough now!

I'm going to adjust my rear lights to get them flush with the strip - not sure if mine have the adjusters remaining - if not I'll retrofit - great details on that - Thanks for photos Ernest

Roger - I looked - no toilet bolts! It obviously just isnt warm enough where you guys are.

Alan

Randy V

Why the surprise - after admonishing me earlier about it!

BTW - adjusting the rear lights flush does not seem to make a difference on how the strip is positioned at the ends.

ew928

On my rear reflector, the velcro had died and I just replaced the 3 velcro
strips on the stock locations with another 3 generic velcro strips.
Plain old double stick velcro found in any hardware/KMart stores.

PO had the reflector/rear cover installed so I don't know what magic they
did to get the two to match so well.


Note the slight bowing of the reflector on this beautiful red GTS.
Not mine, unfortunately.
You guys are such perfectionists to notice such irregularities.
But the 928 is a handbuilt supercar. Who knows what tweaks the
assembly line had to make to make every panel/part fit.

Ernest (NYC)
More things to check out next time I meet a GTS.

mpesik

Anyone ever try Hot Glue. It shouldn't damage anything except it wont adhere well in freezing temps.

Kevin in Atlanta

I addressed my bowed reflector this weekend. I took a different tack. I removed the veldro from the center points on the reflector and bumper cover. I drilled two 1/4 inch holes in the back of the reflector at the highest and lowest points in the center rectangle. I used two door panel securing clips, trimmed off the plastic tabs around the trunk. I cut the center down to 1/4 inch and epozied them into thte reflector. Used the tips to mark the bumper cover for the holes and drilled two 9/32 inch holes slightly higher than the marks. This is because the reflector actually fits up and in the top lip. Waited 2 hours for the epoxy to set and put it together. Why 2? Because the bowing was strong enough to pull a single clip out of the bumper cover.

Hope this helps someone else in the same predicament.

siscogts

hello!
I resume this because I did't get one information about "toilet" bolts: how long do those bolts need to be? 3" are enough?

I am planning to do tha same trick on my GTS....Thank you!
Francesco

Tom in Austin

Kevin, interesting idea on the door panel clips ... what are the "plastic tabs around the trunk" ?