Walking J's Rattle-Stop (Dash Re-Inforcement)

[Matt Bachand]

Well, ordered Fri, came Monday! Installed fast and easy!

Must say, my dash was all loose and I didn't even realize it. It's kind of foolish to expect a little washer to hold up a dashboard, as GM's engineer's .............

My center bolt by factory was all cracked and junk around it, my other 2 would have cracked in time i'm sure. Not anymore.


These look nice, and like I said it really pulled my dash secure (did not overtight).

Now I can really crank it up and drum away to metallica on the dash with no worry while sitting in traffic like a madman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



BTW, My daughter and I enjoyed the Idaho bar together!!! THanks Patrick for the time and effort and lighting fast service.

 

[Veg_Out]

Glad to hear it Matt. One thing we all must remember when we do the installs it to place forward pressure on the dash as you slowly tighten it up. Lifting it up as you tighten it works great.

Thanks again Matt!

 

[Matt Bachand]

Well heres the thing, When I changed out one at a time, I did not notice the dash come backward, in fact they came out a hell of a lot easier then they went back in. (they were really loose actually, but that is probably what kept them from cracking through)

BUT when I tightened them up, the dash snugged forward. All 3 times.

 

[Brooklyn Tow]

The screw closest to the driver side is not catching on anything whats going on in there....It was loose from the get go....and please explain what the last pic on the instruction paper is? (Lower right)........and the rubber spacers?.......I must be retarded!

You figured out it was me from the address, Correct?

 

[Veg_Out]

The screw closest to the driver side is not catching on anything whats going on in there....It was loose from the get go....and please explain what the last pic on the instruction paper is? (Lower right)........and the rubber spacers?.......I must be retarded!

You figured out it was me from the address, Correct?

You may not need the rubber spacers. Use them if your dashboard is crumbling away beneath the hole. It helps take the place of the dash being broken away.

The last photo on the instructions is showing how you can alter the angle of the reinforcement by bending it if need be, using a crescent wrench. Many of these trucks dashboards are hammered to the point of needing a little "more" grab from the reinforcer. I like the top surface of the reinforcement to mate flat across the dash. Some folks have needed the rubber spacer, and a little bending on the bracket.

As for the screw on the driver's side, slow down a bit, use that nut driver and try to gently find the sheet metal clip that holds the dash in place. If it was crazy loose to begin with, you may want to verify it's there at all. Just take your time and get the screw started in there. Sometimes they are a bit loose.

Good luck, PM me if you need more help. Thanks for supporting my little company. This site is the best.

 

[Detroit Dan]

Hey, is this product to correct cracked or broken dashboards, or to stop the rattling (as the name would imply)? I don't think anythings cracked or broken, but I've got a pretty annoying rattle through the dash. It's probably due to either the bent rear driveshaft or the exhaust touching somewhere, or the engine mount transmitting a harmonic vibration. I'm betting on the rear driveshaft. Need to get it rebalanced I guess, but I'm afraid they'll just try to sell me a new one, that's what they always do.

 

[Matt Bachand]

Hey, is this product to correct cracked or broken dashboards, or to stop the rattling (as the name would imply)? I don't think anythings cracked or broken, but I've got a pretty annoying rattle through the dash. It's probably due to either the bent rear driveshaft or the exhaust touching somewhere, or the engine mount transmitting a harmonic vibration. I'm betting on the rear driveshaft. Need to get it rebalanced I guess, but I'm afraid they'll just try to sell me a new one, that's what they always do.

All my vibration problems in the drivetarin area have all been the carrier bearing that hangs and the rear shaft goes through it.

 

[Veg_Out]

Hey, is this product to correct cracked or broken dashboards, or to stop the rattling (as the name would imply)? I don't think anythings cracked or broken, but I've got a pretty annoying rattle through the dash. It's probably due to either the bent rear driveshaft or the exhaust touching somewhere, or the engine mount transmitting a harmonic vibration. I'm betting on the rear driveshaft. Need to get it rebalanced I guess, but I'm afraid they'll just try to sell me a new one, that's what they always do.

It prevents the cracking that will happen. Unless your rig has been stored indoors all it's life, never even touched a gravel road, and never been driven in extreme cold then warmed up with the defroster, the dash will crack. I promise. My little device keeps the dash on tighter, preventing the flexing and rattling. The flexing, vibration, sunlight and temperature swings crack the dashes at the 3 bolts across the top.

Thanks.

Maybe you can get a driveline out of the junk pile somewhere?

 

[Detroit Dan]

So this should stop the annoying rattle then. I'll have to start saving up for a set. Thanks!

Re: my driveline, I've changed the carrier bearing a couple times, and my rear driveshaft is a couple years old. I just put a new u-joint in last month, but I'm pretty sure it's got a bend. Ever since I pulled out a schoolbus during the last storm of last winter. I tend to do things that put unreasonable amounts of strain on the old girl. That's really the only reason I have a one ton, a half ton won't stand up to me.

 

[GM Guy]

When i got my kit i was impressed. Pretty and functional rarely go together. He is right about gravel roads, every 95-98 C/K I see around here has cracks. not major, but they are there.

Also, if i would've found out you were in Boise, i would have stopped by this summer, saving you and I some shipping! :biggrin: Might still do that, as we come back to ID every year for harvest at the family farm (we are the Gleaner junkpile at Gooding)

Also, on a sidenote about Gooding, did you see anything about Bullydog having an event this July? If I would've known, i would've stopped in. I just now found out about it in this months Diesel World. (Whom IMHO covers 6.5s and the NW United States much better than DP does.