Can this be fixed? headlight crazing
- Thread starter mikeCL
- Start date
Setec Astronomy
Well-known member
- Aug 31, 2010
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Are you saying you sanded that already? That almost looks like some chemical damage.
Kristopher1129
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- Jan 3, 2011
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:iagree: I thought the same thing immediately. It looks like chemical burn of some kind.
If you can fix it with sanding...you're gonna have to sand down quite a bit. More than your typical headlight restore would require.
My only concern with that, is it appears to be cracked...almost like shattered glass.
Kristopher1129
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- Jan 3, 2011
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The good news is...I don't think you could make them any worse by trying to sand them. Unless you've never done a headlight restore before.
Kristopher1129
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If I were you. I would start with your highest grit, and just see what it does. Hit it with 3000 on a drill, or whatever you have. See if it does anything at all. I'm expecting it not to do anything...but, better safe than sorry.
Move down the line to heavier grits till something is working for you.
My GUESS, is that the best route to take with expectations to repair this would be to sand the defect areas by hand with 400. I wouldn't hit the whole thing, cause I don't think it's necessary. Then hit those spots with 500, and 800 dry on a drill or whatever you use. Then wet sand the entire headlight with 1000, and 3000.
At this point I would then seal them with acrylic. Use the urethane/mineral spirits method...it works really well.
That is just the route I assume may work for you. Bear in mind that my visual in person of your headlights may completely change my opinion. Proceed with caution! lol
- Thread starter
- #9
Well I had planned on sanding the whole headlight down anyways so I will figure out which to start with first.. I have the headlights apart right now for the moment because of some other work being done to it but i might get around to it tomorrow.
it will be nice if I can have it go away completely.
g35_coupe
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- Jul 9, 2010
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I would not sand on them to try and get out the crazing. Even if it's a few thousandths thick, imagine taking that much plastic off while maintaining an even and level finish. Plus you would make the plastic that much thinner and prone to crazing all over again. It's normal for older plastics to crack from temps. IMO, let it be or replace the assembly.
- Thread starter
- #11
I'm just going to leave them be I think until the headlight starts to haze over..
Sorry for the long delay I can't just get another headlight since the headlights came from Japan it would require me to buy another pair which is around $290 or so.
Only thing is when the headlights are on it kinda makes it noticeable.
Sorry for the long delay I can't just get another headlight since the headlights came from Japan it would require me to buy another pair which is around $290 or so.
Only thing is when the headlights are on it kinda makes it noticeable.
What you are seeing is the breakdown of the original protective coating. To restore you have to remove all of the original coating down to the base polycarbonate through chemical stripping and/or sanding.
Headlights are very thick, at least an eighth of an inch or more. It would take you days to sand through, but when you restore a headlight, you really don't remove any of the polycarbonate, just the original coating on top of the polycarbonate.
Once the coating is removed, apply a new coating.
ray6
Headlights are very thick, at least an eighth of an inch or more. It would take you days to sand through, but when you restore a headlight, you really don't remove any of the polycarbonate, just the original coating on top of the polycarbonate.
Once the coating is removed, apply a new coating.
ray6