Dashboard cracking permanent fix?

[Tbbroder]

So someone gifted me a 1999 c2500 pickup. It was a work truck but it's in good shape aside from the dash. I've already replaced it once because the original dash cracked to pieces. Not even 2 months later the second dash is cracking around the screw holes and defroster vents as well as above the glovebox. I really need to fix this permanently because this is gonna be my daily driver for awhile. Is there a specific color or year of dash that holds up longer than the the others or a complete aftermarket dash. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[polar]

They make a screw reinforcement sold by lmc


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[95Escahoe]

They make a screw reinforcement sold by lmc


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X2 if you buy it from the company that makes it you will pay a lil less then what LMC charges, great product tho

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[Tbbroder]

Thanks I'll look into those. I'm really surprised that someone hasn't tried making a mold and selling replacement dashes. I was considering doing it myself but I'm not sure what I could make them out of. I'm assuming the original dash is injection molded out of plastic but obviously I don't have the tooling for that. For now I thing I might try and find a good dash at a scrap yard and just fiberglass it.

 

[michael hurd]

Cranking the screws down too tight or leaving some out will cause it to start to crack. The plastic expands and contracts at a different rate than the rest of the body. Sunlight and continued high temps do not help either.

 

[Ruger_556]

Is this just a problem on the post '95 interior? I've owned a 93 and 94 currently without dash problems

 

[95Escahoe]

I think its mostly 95+ the kit I got was for 95 +

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[polar]

Yea it's a 95+ prob


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[cjman250]

Mines a 93 and has cracks everywhere, my dad's 98 doesn't have one after 340xxx miles

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[Tbbroder]

I think it's a common problem on 1990+ chevy trucks and even some up to 2007. Of course everybody will have a different opinion but if you live in a hot climate that will definitely speed up the cracking. I live in florida These dashboards are made of a really hard plastic that's kinda brittle. Idk why they made them this way but they don't seem to hold up well. I was at my local salvage yard recently and every chevy dash whether it was from a tahoe or a pickup was cracked to pieces. I drive a chevy but I prefer the padded dashboard used on most fords.