So today I won one of those brushed aluminum gauge cluster trims off of ebay for 15 bucks. I was wondering if anybody has installed one of these? I have heard the cluster is easy to remove but separating the clear plastic from the cluster is a pain in the a$$. I figured there would just be locking tabs to separate the 2 components but reading around the forum I get the impression the clear plastic is GLUED to the gauge cluster. Is this true? I thought last night I read somewhere in here that a guy put his cluster in the oven on 200 degrees for 15 minutes to soften the glue!! IMO I dont think 15 bucks is worth jackin up my gauge cluster. Any info would be great.

Thanks

 

Is this what you got?
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...r-upgrade.html

 

yep, I looked at that post but it really didn't give any info on install!!

 

I just looked at the full service manual, and it looks like you can remove the clear plastic part relatively easy. If I'm understanding it correctly, it comes off with the cluster trim.

 

I wouldnt doubt it if there is little glue or no glue at all between the plastic and the cluster. I have to figure out something to do with mine. When its cold outside, you can hear a small vibration from the plastic when the truck is moving. If I push in on the plastic though, the vibration goes away.

 

That's my truck in the post ^ separating the plastic was a PITA. I used a soldering iron and slowly drug a line around the outside out the clear plastic where it was bonded. Then I was able to take the plastic off. Once the plastic was off I scuffed the back of the aluminum panel and the plastic where is layed to give the epoxy something to "grab." Then I used a 5 minute clear epoxy to glue the panel in place not using a ton because once you press it down it will squeeze it and level the epoxy. Once that was dry, I wiped it down to remove any fingerprints/dust and put the clear panel back in place. I used for 5 minute epoxy with q-tips to glue it back together around the outside where I used the soldering iron to separate it.

Putting it in the oven might work put your run the risk of melting the entire panel. I just took my time and melted the areas where it was bonded. The panel didn't look glued to me, it looked like the black and clear plastic where bonded together.

 

i did this on mine.... its glued together really good..... the clear plastic is fragile as hell too! i baked mine and used a glue gun and i still cracked the bottom left corner! see pic.....

 

its no fun.....take your time and use double stick tape behind the benzel cover to hold it on

 

Thanks guys now I don't know if its worth it, I'm kind of a perfectionist when it comes to stuff lookin good. I don't know what I would do if I cracked that clear plastic, I couldn't live with staring at a cracked dash forever!!
'

 

If you were going to do it, I would find a used cluster and try getting the plastic piece off that one first. It would probably be an extra $80-$100 if you found one used, but worth it IMO if you want to be safe.