CSL kickpate disassembly

NZ_M3 · 30-06-2013, 11:15 AM

So given I had a couple of sets of these I thought I'd have a go at disassembling the aluminium from the plastic just to see how crap these are put together (and really to swap the good one to another set that weren't so good but had better plastic backing - given these are sided, sometimes you can buy two used sets and create a proper good full set by swapping the aluminium from one side to the other)

Best way to take the aluminium off without bending it - Heat gun set at 270 degrees but not hotter, thin wire to cut through the double sided 3M foam tape. Heat up the aluminium, be careful not to burn the plastic (you can mask the plastic if you want, I had quite a good heatgun so I didn't bother - use a sweeping action and do about 10cm at a time. poke the wire under the aluminium and cut through the double sided foam. Take a couple of goes, just be patient, it'll come off without any damage.

Here it s off without bending it:

Check out how thin it is .... simply a pressed aluminium.

To refurbish - simply use a good craft knife and cut the corrosion off - use a slicing action parallel to the aluminium. If the corrosion is bad enough to pit the aluminium, give it a quick but light 2000grit sand, but don't go too hard as you'll peel the coating completely off. Touch up with clear lacquer paint or polish with autosol metal polish.

It won't look like new, but it'll look a heck of a lot better.

Top refurbished ... bottom still to work on:

30-06-2013, 11:15 AM	#1
NZ_M3 S5, Sport On, DSC M-track Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 1,434 Casino cash: $13579	CSL kickpate disassembly So given I had a couple of sets of these I thought I'd have a go at disassembling the aluminium from the plastic just to see how crap these are put together (and really to swap the good one to another set that weren't so good but had better plastic backing - given these are sided, sometimes you can buy two used sets and create a proper good full set by swapping the aluminium from one side to the other) Best way to take the aluminium off without bending it - Heat gun set at 270 degrees but not hotter, thin wire to cut through the double sided 3M foam tape. Heat up the aluminium, be careful not to burn the plastic (you can mask the plastic if you want, I had quite a good heatgun so I didn't bother - use a sweeping action and do about 10cm at a time. poke the wire under the aluminium and cut through the double sided foam. Take a couple of goes, just be patient, it'll come off without any damage. Here it s off without bending it: Check out how thin it is .... simply a pressed aluminium. To refurbish - simply use a good craft knife and cut the corrosion off - use a slicing action parallel to the aluminium. If the corrosion is bad enough to pit the aluminium, give it a quick but light 2000grit sand, but don't go too hard as you'll peel the coating completely off. Touch up with clear lacquer paint or polish with autosol metal polish. It won't look like new, but it'll look a heck of a lot better. Top refurbished ... bottom still to work on: Last edited by NZ_M3; 30-06-2013 at 12:07 PM.