Question:

Richard Grimes 99XLS    Well I know it’s been posted before at one time.  But anyway, my arm rest broke today so I removed it according to posted instructions.  The parts guy at the local Ford store said that mine is a one piece unit ( bracket & armrest) that sells for $170.69.  Thats a little much for me!    Any way the plastic is broken in the arm rest.   I was thinking of gluing/bracing the arm or replacing it aftermarket.   Any ideas? Richard

Response:

I took my broken arm rest, put some reinforcing tape and some wire mesh to reinforce the split plastic area, and epoxied it back together.  It’s worked great ever since.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Richard Grimes > 99XLS >    Well I know it’s been posted before at one time.  But anyway, my arm rest > broke today so I removed it according to posted instructions.  The parts guy > at the local Ford store said that mine is a one piece unit ( bracket & > armrest) that sells for $170.69.  Thats a little much for me! >    Any way the plastic is broken in the arm rest.   I was thinking of > gluing/bracing the arm or replacing it aftermarket.   Any ideas? > Richard

Response:

Or you can check the junk yards for a good unit.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Richard Grimes > 99XLS >    Well I know it’s been posted before at one time.  But anyway, my arm rest > broke today so I removed it according to posted instructions.  The parts guy > at the local Ford store said that mine is a one piece unit ( bracket & > armrest) that sells for $170.69.  Thats a little much for me! >    Any way the plastic is broken in the arm rest.   I was thinking of > gluing/bracing the arm or replacing it aftermarket.   Any ideas? > Richard

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Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Richard Grimes > 99XLS >    Well I know it’s been posted before at one time.  But anyway, my arm rest > broke today so I removed it according to posted instructions.  The parts guy > at the local Ford store said that mine is a one piece unit ( bracket & > armrest) that sells for $170.69.  Thats a little much for me! >    Any way the plastic is broken in the arm rest.   I was thinking of > gluing/bracing the arm or replacing it aftermarket.   Any ideas? > Richard

Response:

Richard Grimes Forgive the multiple post, it’s getting late.   I epoxied the plastic today and bought two metal strips to use as braces for the arm.   I’ll let you know how this turns out late Saturday or Monday.  That ought to let the epoxy cure a little. Richard

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Richard Grimes > 99XLS >    Well I know it’s been posted before at one time.  But anyway, my arm rest > broke today so I removed it according to posted instructions.  The parts guy > at the local Ford store said that mine is a one piece unit ( bracket & > armrest) that sells for $170.69.  Thats a little much for me! >    Any way the plastic is broken in the arm rest.   I was thinking of > gluing/bracing the arm or replacing it aftermarket.   Any ideas? > Richard

Response:

PVC cement will literally *weld* the hard plastic sections back together. It’s the only type of cement that will actually "eat" into the plastic on both sides and then dry.  That’s why it works so well with pipes.

Response:

> Forgive the multiple post, it’s getting late.   I epoxied the plastic today > and bought two metal strips to use as braces for the arm.   I’ll let you > know how this turns out late Saturday or Monday.  That ought to let the > epoxy cure a little.

And to keep it from breaking again (or in the first place), put your owner’s manual under it for support. Dan 1994 Explorer

Response:

Richard VERY good idea! /richard

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Forgive the multiple post, it’s getting late.   I epoxied the plastic > today > and bought two metal strips to use as braces for the arm.   I’ll let you > know how this turns out late Saturday or Monday.  That ought to let the > epoxy cure a little. > And to keep it from breaking again (or in the first place), put your owner’s > manual under it for support. > Dan > 1994 Explorer

Response:

Richard   I wish I had thought of that before the epoxy.  Oh well there is always next time! <grin>  My son and I will probably drill the braces after his friends leave tomorrow.  If it looks OK and works well I will do a final post on the results. Thanks/ Richard

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> PVC cement will literally *weld* the hard plastic sections back together. > It’s the only type of cement that will actually "eat" into the plastic on > both sides and then dry.  That’s why it works so well with pipes.

Response:

Richard Grimes Final post on this thread.    My son and I finished the repair this morning. We had made a new tab to release the hinge lock yesterday and the epoxy worked fine. We cut two 1/8 x 3/4 x 11 inches long flat steel stock.  Drilled them for the first four holes and were done.  It doesn’t look bad at all, matter of fact it looks "factory" until the arm is raised.  It seems more sturdy than stock also, we shall see.   Except for the epoxy drying it was about an hour to finish.    Thanks for all of the posts. Richard Grimes

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Richard Grimes > 99XLS >    Well I know it’s been posted before at one time.  But anyway, my arm rest > broke today so I removed it according to posted instructions.  The parts guy > at the local Ford store said that mine is a one piece unit ( bracket & > armrest) that sells for $170.69.  Thats a little much for me! >    Any way the plastic is broken in the arm rest.   I was thinking of > gluing/bracing the arm or replacing it aftermarket.   Any ideas? > Richard

Response:

>   I wish I had thought of that before the epoxy.  Oh well there is always > next time! <grin>  My son and I will probably drill the braces after his > friends leave tomorrow.  If it looks OK and works well I will do a final > post on the results.

Hey, some epoxies work well, too.  But try PVC cement on a sample piece of any plastic you need to bond.  Chances are pretty good that a PVC cement bond is as strong or stronger than the material itself!

Response: