Fixing headlight tabs Options

[GotToyota]

I plan on taking off my front bumper tomorrow to fix my headlight tabs, as they're broken. What do you guys recommend using to fix the tabs?

I would like to avoid spending a lot of money to get new headlights.

-Matt

This post has been edited by GotToyota: May 19, 2008 - 11:21 PM

[D-Man]

fiberglass resin. Extra hardener. I did mine 8 mo's ago, and it's still holding no problem.

or maybe an epoxy.

[illneversellmyce...]

ive used a sodering iron before to melt the plastic and spread the metled plastic across the gaps to fill them in. once the plastic cools it becomes hard again. It takes touch cuz you dont want to melt away too much ya know. Also the type of break determines the outcome. Ive done this to two lights and they ahve held strong for 3 years. this is the cheap way, d-man way is the better way to do it

This post has been edited by illneversellmycelli: May 20, 2008 - 9:09 AM

[D-Man]

WOAH!! Dont call me or my methods expensive...

$10 @ walmart will buy you a BONDO brand Fiberglass kit.

$10 compared to several hundred for a new headlight

I'm still cheap; and sure shot

[Topaz95GT]

Going to try this and I will let you guys know:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk1cojemglE

[jeffrosie]

Get a smashed lamp from someone for next to nothing. Cut off your old tabs, cut off good tabs from smashed lamp and glue to yours using industrial superglue. Looks so much neater.

[Special_Edy]

ive used a sodering iron before to melt the plastic and spread the metled plastic across the gaps to fill them in. once the plastic cools it becomes hard again. It takes touch cuz you dont want to melt away too much ya know. Also the type of break determines the outcome. Ive done this to two lights and they ahve held strong for 3 years. this is the cheap way, d-man way is the better way to do it

+1 on this.
Yesterday I used a butane blow torch to reweld all the tabs and stud brackets back onto a Lincoln Towncar grill. Worked like a charm. If you can find some scrap ABS material (automotive grade plastic), you can use this to add material for better effect.

Clean and lightly sand the surrounding plastic on the area you wish to weld, and keep the heat low if possible. You want to melt the plastic and burn it as little as possible. You can use a pick, screwdriver, pliers or other instrument to try to mix the two pools of molten plastic together at the point of contact for a better bond, but if the surfaces are sufficiently clean they should blend together nicely.

I highly recommend adding material since the weld will otherwise not have the same strength as the original intact piece did before fracturing.

This post has been edited by Special_Edy: May 23, 2014 - 4:51 PM

[underground_desi...]

If you want them never to brake again you'll have to "sew" them with a thin wire. crosswise.
The wire doesn't allow any movement.

-So first use the soldering iron but use some extra platistic to weld because only the 2 parts of the broken tab are not enough.
use a piece from a old bumper or something.
-Then drill 2 holes on each part and sew them crosswise with a thin wire and twist the edges nice with the pliers tool. Do this from the down side and leave the upper side more clean. The only thing you sould see would be an X from the crossed wires.
-Then use some epoxy stuff for plastic and cover what has been done nicely. Overlap 4-5 cm and use more from the down side for extra strength.
-At last paint the area with a matte spray to cover what you did.

Once you do it right the tab is not gonna break even if you hold the light from it. You will be able to put it n and out as many times as you wish without any fear.