Here’s a good idea to fix the broken tabs on Volvo kick panels. In my eyes it’s a brilliant garage DIY that checks all the resourceful boxes and I applaud it heartily.
Like many Volvo plastics, after two decades these things get brittle and break. This is how to fix it without going to the junkyard and hoping you get lucky finding a replacement kickpanel in the same color as yours… that doesn’t have the same broken tab problem. This particular repair is for a S70, but the theory of it works for many years and models across the P80 and P2 families.
Grantkat »
For those of you wanting to repair ABS parts here is an easy cheap way to do it. I am always researching things like this, trying to learn new ideas and techniques. I did some research on ABS. I have a 99 S70 GLT and several ABX parts have been cracked or broken altogether.
I would not recommend this for parts under high stress, such as the famous dash bolt repair – for that I would use JB Weld. However for other parts this works like a dream.
My example here is the open storage area under my glovebox. It is held by 2 braces underneath and 2 tabs above that are held by T25 screws. these tabs slide up under the glove box insert and secured. both my tabs were completely broken off and as such there was a noticeable sag in it. I took it apart last night and took it inside. I used ABS pipe cement. For those unaware ABS pipe cement is simply ABS plastic dissolved in MEK (methyl ethyl ketone). When you brush it on something the MEK evaporates and the ABS solidifies. additionally if you are gluing parts back together it sort of acts like a weld. I used a little bit on the 2 surfaces i was putting back together. Held them in place for 30 seconds and them left them for 30 minutes. afterwards I painted more on each side to beef it up a little. the result was a very strong bond like the break never happened. I do not have before pics. I apologize but here is the final result. the product can be found at any big box store or hardware store and typically says medium black ABS cement.
Kick Panel Broken Tabs Fix
