How would you reattach this panel?

[Janet and Todd]

This is the drivers side panel that surrounds the front wheel. At first I thought these were plain rivets but they are not. Also, it looks like the fiberglass of the panel has broken away so that only half the attachment hole is left. Would you just rivet it? Epoxy it? Superglue?

[Annierufus]

If it were me, I would make a larger plate to rivet into solid fiber glass then rivet exiting to it


Joe 1998 Itasca Sunflyer Ford 460

[Cobra1]

I would sand the the bach side of the fiberglass panel and epoxy on a metal backing plate, hold panel in place, drill two new holes through bracket and panel and install bolts or rivits.

[nothermark]

I'd take an educated guess that the holes were drilled with a misplaced locating jig. The rivets look like they went into a pre drilled strip or two rectangular washers. I'd clamp everything together and drill for two new rivets with better placement in the fiberglass.

[Pepper2]

Originally Posted by Annierufus

If it were me, I would make a larger plate to rivet into solid fiber glass then rivet exiting to it


Joe 1998 Itasca Sunflyer Ford 460

The only thing I would add is to make the new bracket long enough so that you can use 3 or 4 screws to reattach the fiberglass.

[bamaboy473]

Originally Posted by nothermark

I'd take an educated guess that the holes were drilled with a misplaced locating jig. The rivets look like they went into a pre drilled strip or two rectangular washers. I'd clamp everything together and drill for two new rivets with better placement in the fiberglass.

yep, there's plenty of space for proper hole placement on the existing bracket.

I'd use nuts/bolts instead of rivets. Easier to remove if need be.

[Algoma]

I had to redo several of these on my coach. The vibration works them lose and widens the hole in the fiberglass until it breaks. However, the picture shows that yours was very badly done originally as the rivets are far too close to the edge. What I do is build up the original holes in the fiberglass using an epoxy filler, and then re-drill the 3/16" holes through the fiberglass and bracket closer to the outside so you are some distance from the edge. These are 3/16" aluminum pop rivets and I always carry spares and a rivet tool with me.

[Janet and Todd]

I went the Algoma route. I discovered that only one rivet was left fastened so I removed the bracket and reattached it to the chassis then drilled two new holes and attached the wheel skirt to the bracket.

Thanks for all the great suggestions.