Methods for attaching body kits to a car: recommendations from experts
Content
When installing thresholds, in order to glue the body kit to the car body, adhesive-sealant may be needed, and fasteners for self-tapping screws or plastic latches are used from the inside when bending. Before that, you need to open the back and front doors, unscrew the screws and remove the old thresholds.
Installing a body kit on a car is troublesome and costly. This question worries many car owners who want to make a car unique.
Where are the skirts attached
At the request of the owner, the installation of the body kit on the car is carried out on the entire body of the car, on the sides, on the rear or front bumpers, or on both at once.
Bumpers
Tuning the rear and front bumpers is the same. The easiest way to fix them is to unscrew the bolts, remove the old bumper and put a new one there. There are models on which the new one is superimposed on top of the old one.
Body kit for bumper
Reinforcements on the bumpers, the bottom of the body, as well as the “kenguryatnik” are attached to SUVs to protect the car from damage when driving off-road.
Thresholds
Mounted on the sides of the car. They take on all the road dirt and pebbles, make it easier to get into the cabin, and also soften the blow to some extent. It must be borne in mind that fiberglass car sills are prone to cracking.
Spoilers
Spoilers can be placed on the rear or front of the body, on the sides or on the roof.
The rear ones are mounted on the trunk of the car to reduce aerodynamic drag, create downforce and better grip between the tires and the road. This property is manifested at a speed of more than 140 km / h, and also thanks to it the braking distance is reduced.
trunk
On the roof of the car, you can install an overlay-trunk in the form of two metal crossbars, on which special nozzles for transporting goods are fixed.
body kit material
For their manufacture, fiberglass, ABS plastic, polyurethane and carbon fiber are most often used.
Good products are made from fiberglass - treated with thermoplastic polymers and pressed fiberglass. This is an inexpensive material, light, elastic, not inferior in strength to steel and easy to use, but requiring special scrupulousness when working. Constructions of any shape and complexity are made from it. Restores shape after being hit. When working with fiberglass, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment.
Products made of ABS plastic are relatively inexpensive. The material is an impact-resistant thermoplastic resin based on acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene, flexible enough and resilient, good ink retention. This plastic is non-toxic, resistant to acids and alkalis. Sensitive to low temperatures.
Polyurethane is a high-quality, environmentally friendly polymer material, something between rubber and plastic, flexible and impact-resistant, fracture-resistant, and recovering its shape when deformed. It is steady against action of acids and solvents, well keeps a paint and varnish covering. The cost of polyurethane is quite high.
Body kit made of polyurethane
Carbon is a very durable carbon fiber made of epoxy resin and graphite filaments. Products from it are of high quality, light, have a peculiar appearance. The disadvantage of carbon fiber is that it does not bounce back after impact and is expensive.
Spoilers, in addition to these materials, can be made of aluminum and steel.
What to attach the body kit to the car
The body kit is installed on the car using bolts, self-tapping screws, caps, glue-sealant. To fix the body kit on the car, plastic latches and double-sided tape are also used.
When installing thresholds, in order to glue the body kit to the car body, adhesive-sealant may be needed, and fasteners for self-tapping screws or plastic latches are used from the inside when bending. Before that, you need to open the back and front doors, unscrew the screws and remove the old thresholds.
To attach the spoilers to the plastic bumper, self-tapping screws, galvanized or stainless steel, are used, while the holes in the trunk are drilled on both sides. To improve the grip with the trunk stick double-sided tape. Joints are treated with fiberglass and resin.
Do-it-yourself tuning example: how to glue a body kit to a car body
You can glue the body kit on the car using silicone sealant. It must be made water-based and resistant to sub-zero temperatures. To stick a plastic body kit to the car with your own hands, you must:
- Make a marking of the desired part of the body. Before gluing, carefully try on the body kit, make sure that all the parameters exactly match.
- Apply a special base base (primer) to a clean, fat-free, dry surface, and spread glue on top with a thin layer.
- Attach the body kit carefully to the body and use a soft dry cloth to press the glued surfaces around the perimeter. Remove the sealant that has come out at the joints first with a wet cloth, and then with a cloth impregnated with a degreaser (anti-silicone).
- Secure with masking tape.
Recommendations of specialists for body kit installation
For self-installation of a body kit on a car, experts advise:
- Regardless of their type, use a jack or garage with a hole.
- Prepare the necessary tools and materials for the job.
- If a fiberglass overlay is placed, a mandatory fitting is necessary before painting - a serious fit may be required. It is better to install it immediately after purchase or within a month, because elasticity is lost over time. When fitting, the desired area is heated to 60 degrees, the material becomes softer and easily takes the desired shape.
- You can not glue body kits on cars with acetic-based sealant, because it corrodes the paint and rust appears.
- You can glue the body kit on the car with double-sided tape of the German company ZM, before that, carefully cleaning the surface.
- During work, it is necessary to use protective equipment - goggles, a respirator and gloves.
Self-installation of body kits on a car is a simple matter, if you arm yourself with patience and diligently perform all stages of work.
