Dash cracking around screws in defroster vent

So due to a rather poor design IMO, over 15 years and almost 200,000 miles of direct sunlight, Texas heat, gravel roads, etc. has taken its toll on my dash. The top of my dash is held by three small screws that are in between the defroster vents and the plastic is starting to crack around these screws. They haven't completely cracked through, but are bad enough to where the dash slightly shakes while I'm driving. A friend of mine has a 95 Tahoe with the screws completely cracked through the dash, his dash shakes and rattles terribly.

Does anybody have any ideas on how to secure the dash better without removing the dash or without looking too ugly? I thought about bending some brackets that would clamp down the plastic outside of the vents, but that would really look like ass.

If you need an image of what I'm talking about, the screws are recessed into those small areas in between the defrost vents that are perpendicular to the vent slots. This is just an old pic I have on hand, I can get a more up close pic if needed.

Well my suggestion would look like ass.

Any sort of larger surface area bracket or washer should support it. It would not look bad if you bought a can of interior paint and painted the "fix" the interior color.

That's about all you can do Kyle, short of taking the whole dash out and trying to fiberglass some support into the area.

Someone I know has cut square washers to fit in the cut-outs, removed the screws, put the washers in and problem solved. On my 98, I plan on just replacing the dash skin.

Alright, I fixed it with some small stainless steel L-brackets from the local ma'n'pa hardware store. It looks like hell, but no more shaking and rattling!

My brother had a 96 Yukon with the dash messed up like that. He just had ugly ass washers and longer screws in the dash. It worked, but it looked like crap. Every time somebady asked why it was like that, he said someone broke in his truck and stole his radio and messed up the dash. He loves to tell lies to people.

The best solution is to buy my truck, cause it has the same color interior, and you can use it as a parts truck.

It only has a little over 60k miles so it should last you along time.

ScottyBoy said:

My brother had a 96 Yukon with the dash messed up like that. He just had ugly ass washers and longer screws in the dash. It worked, but it looked like crap. Every time somebady asked why it was like that, he said someone broke in his truck and stole his radio and messed up the dash. He loves to tell lies to people.

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That's what my friend tried doing, but he didn't use washers that were large enough. They just cracked all the way through the defroster vent!

thunderstruck said:

ScottyBoy said:

My brother had a 96 Yukon with the dash messed up like that. He just had ugly ass washers and longer screws in the dash. It worked, but it looked like crap. Every time somebady asked why it was like that, he said someone broke in his truck and stole his radio and messed up the dash. He loves to tell lies to people.

Click to expand...

That's what my friend tried doing, but he didn't use washers that were large enough. They just cracked all the way through the defroster vent!

Click to expand...

Yeah, my lil brother had big ass fender washers on his. He eventually replaced his dash with one from a 99 yukon. A 97 to 99 dash would look good in there. He never did fill in the space where the passenger airbag was though. He kept saying he was gonna custom mount a video screen or somethin right there. The truck got totaled before he ever did anything else to it.