Nik Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 Afternoon All As it was a lovely day today I thought I'd take my S3 Caterham for a pootle and while doing completely legal speeds my front drivers side wing took flight and left the car! On retrieving the wing I found that it had been bonded to the wing stays instead of bolted. This isn't normal is it? I am right in thinking that they should be bolted on shouldn't they? Many thanks Nik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dignity Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 Hi Nik, Yep I have had that one. I think they should be bolted but cosmetically they are better bonded. I was lucky in that I have a friend who is a specialist sealent applicator by trade. The stuff he used took 2 weeks to go off though which kept me off the road. I am not sure what he used but someone will be along soon to tell you which Sikaflex one to buy Dignity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 You may well find that the powder coat has come off the stay. Wire brush and paint before rebonding with something like Sikaflex 291. Clean inside of wing thoroughly and finish with nail varnish remover. Allow new sealant to cure for 2-3 days. Won't come off again if done properly Edited by - Stationary M25 Traveller on 9 Apr 2011 18:12:42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian B Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 And make sure the sikaflex, or whatever you use, goes completely around the stay to form a 'tube', and doesn't just sit on the top side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 Then put a nice stainless steel socket button head through the whole lot, a rubber washer under the head, with a stainless nyloc under the stay. Adds a nice bit of visual interest to an otherwise boring bodywork surface And in ten years, I've yet to have a front wing come off . . . Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted April 9, 2011 Area Representative Share Posted April 9, 2011 I agree with Bri. Bolts and nylocs everytime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted April 9, 2011 Share Posted April 9, 2011 no no no 😬 Bondage is the way forward ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper man Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 Sikaflex works fine, but as M25 says, it is essential to 'wrap' the bond the glue right around the support Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted April 10, 2011 Share Posted April 10, 2011 BigHead fasteners work too, they bond to the arch and you then tyrap, bolt, braze or arc weld them to the stay as you see fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted April 10, 2011 Area Representative Share Posted April 10, 2011 Each to their own. I prefer the appearance of the s/s buttons than the unadorned which looks like a pair of jeans without pockets! (I must renew my wings...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Posted April 10, 2011 Author Share Posted April 10, 2011 Thank you everyone. As a temporary fix I've drilled and bolted my old wings back on but I think that when I replace them I'll bond them back on. Many thanks for all your feedback Nik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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