'Morning, All-

Was test-driving my 'Runner's new shocks when I noticed that with any sort of a bump in the road, the hood would shake/shimmy. Got it home, popped the hood, noticed that the cross bracing under the sheet metal was detached everywhere except the very edges. Appears to be some sort of silly putty looking stuff that no longer bonds the sheet metal to the bracing. What is that stuff, and what can I do to "re-adhere" my hood to the bracing???

Thanks

 

Good question... Haha, I would say the stongest "epoxy" I've used is JB weld and it's almost never let me down(I flipped a golf cart and tried "glueing the steering column back together.). I would think if you roughed up and cleaned the surface real well the JB would do the trick. + bonus is it dries gray so it'll semi-match you paint.

 

The trouble with using JB in this app, is that would take a LOT of it, and would probably be overkill (too rigid) for what you want to achieve.

3M Urethane Adhesive: Window-WeldTM is probably very similar to what was used originally. It comes in a tube that goes in a caulking gun. Kragen has it for $15.

 

you might get away with useing a very small welder and just tack welding it maybe but that might also go though and burn the paint its a risk but other then that silicon that they use for windshilds might do the trick to

 

you might want to try and find some expanding foam. there is even expanding foam that 3m make as will as others that is made just for that. a local body shop might even have it handy. here is one from evercoat

 

Liquid Nails. Trust me this stuff will bond anything to anything else.

 

I think the window weld or the expanding foam might be the way to go. The foam especially, as it would envelop the braces.

What prep work would I need to do? Any sanding of the areas, or just plug and play?

 

Just occurred to me that I have a fat bottle of Gorilla Glue already sitting in my garage. Think it would work? Experiences?

 

I used some of that to glue the passenger mirror onto my wife's Avalon, apparently the garage wall was closer than it appeared, and it hasn't fallen off in two years. I actually glued the supports within the mirror back together not the mirror to the car.

 

Polyurethane construction adhesive, I did it to my hood and its worked great.

 

I had the same problems as you. To stop the hood from shimmying unscrew the hood stoppers, they are adjustable. You just need to raise the stops a bit. (Those big black rubber hex things)

I also have the same old glue marks left over, but they dont bother me any...I also noticed my hood has a crack thru the side support beam, PO or me???

 

Pretty sure the stoppers are adjusted properly, my "shimmy" is up toward the windshield, by the washer nozzles. Gonna try the Gorilla Glue. I'll update.

 

Be careful with Gorilla Glue! It is meant to set under pressure ("clamped").
Without containment/pressure it foams up, and lacks strength. It may work in this application. Try not to make a mess...