You don’t need to go to garage for every car repair: with the right car glue you can fix many cosmetic repairs. This guide tells you how to select the perfect car adhesive for your project and save on expensive garage bills in the process.
Choosing the best car adhesive depends on what you are trying to achieve and what materials the parts you want to fix are made from. For example, an all-purpose glue might be the best option for numerous small repairs. Universal glues such as Loctite Super Glue Liquid Universal can be used on many materials, including leather, metal, rubber and plastics (except polyethylene and polypropylene), making it suitable for multiple tasks.
If you are repairing a part that’s made of one particular type of material, however, select the glue that is specifically suited for it. For example, Loctite Super Glue All Plastics is an ideal glue for plastic car parts, as it will even work with difficult-to-bond plastics such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
A simple repair job you can do yourself and save money on is re-attaching a rear-view mirror. All you need is an adhesive like Loctite Super Glue Glass, which can bond glass to metal, and a pair of nitrile gloves, which are resistant to common chemicals and substances.
- Prepare. Many rear-view mirrors have an attachment plate at the base of their stem – take a close look at this and place it against your car’s windscreen to get an indication of how to align the mirror. In most modern cars, a black area of the windscreen will show where the mirror should be attached, but if yours doesn’t have one, use a piece of masking tape on the outer side of the windscreen to mark the correct spot.
- Remove the attachment plate. This makes re-attachment much easier.
- Clean the surfaces. Use a product like Loctite Glue Remover to remove any old auto glue from the attachment plate and the windshield. If necessary, use your car’s windscreen heater to remove any condensation and ensure it is dry for effective bonding.
- Apply car glue and hold in position. Apply the automotive adhesive to the centre of the attachment plate and hold it in the correct position against the windshield for the length of time specified in the glue’s instructions.
- Allow car glue to dry. The car adhesive on the attachment plate must be properly set before you can affix the mirror to it.
- Reattach mirror. Once the glue is set, slide the mirror back into place on the attachment plate.