Dash Cracked?

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99RamSport360

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Starting this to see who has a cracked dash and who doesn't and why it happens... I don't have a cracked dash, but my bezel is... can't figure out why though... it was that way when i bought it... so post pics of yours or reasons for cracking... heard that it is like a curse on 2nd gens...
 

SmokedRam

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Lack of UV protection in the materials...not only is it a problem in the gen2 trucks, but some early gen3's also suffer from them.
 

ramhunter9

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That and door rust .. key is to protect it before it happens . Like rocker lining and dash covers.
 

Hollabakzach23

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Ugh door rust really grinds my gears. I guess it's payoff for my pristine looking dash though lol
 

ramhunter9

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Ahh bite me ^

Glad mine is sealed and rust free
 

nitto

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ill take a pic later but my 2nd gen hass a crack on the passenger side, but new it would happen lol
 
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99RamSport360

99RamSport360

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My dash still hasn't cracked, and I hope it won't happen anytime soon... hopefully I will be getting a new bezel... Planning on getting it dipped in Camo!
 

01dirtydzl

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If your dash isn't cracked on your 2nd Gen/early 3rd Gen, then there must be something wrong with your truck lol
Something wrong with mine then haha..

My trucks only got 100k on it though, been garage kept its whole life.

I recently put a colormatched dash cover thingy on it, just to help keep the sun off the actual dashpad!

Alot of people dont even realize there is a dash cover on the truck...

549440_2735017634861_431976411_n.jpg
 

Texas Hemi

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Something wrong with mine then haha..

My trucks only got 100k on it though, been garage kept its whole life.

I recently put a colormatched dash cover thingy on it, just to help keep the sun off the actual dashpad!

Alot of people dont even realize there is a dash cover on the truck...

Haha yeah there may have been a little exageration there. The cover actually looks better than I thought, that's the first picture that I have seen of one installed. When I go to start fixing up my '98 next year I'm going to be debating between the cover or actually replacing it with an OEM one.
 

rambob

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mine and my dads 2nd gen had cracked dashes. and my bezel cracked also.
do not ever even touch it, it is seriously that brittle.
 

Hollabakzach23

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If your dash isn't cracked on your 2nd Gen/early 3rd Gen, then there must be something wrong with your truck lol

Don't you put that evil on me! Lol

The road salt is pretty bad here in good old Indiana so my baby never stood a chance lol it was rusted when I bought her and the first think I did was seal it but it will probably need done again after winter
 

SmokedRam

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Something wrong with mine then haha..

My trucks only got 100k on it though, been garage kept its whole life.
I recently put a colormatched dash cover thingy on it, just to help keep the sun off the actual dashpad!

Alot of people dont even realize there is a dash cover on the truck...


Thats why...lol...
 

Lostnwalmart

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Mine isn't cracked on my 94 at 275,000 miles lol. Seems like the color has a lot to do with it too.
 

epr 2x10

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I am in the same boat as a lot of yall... What options do I have besides the damn carpet? I got the carpet cover now and I hate it. I want to fix/ replace what I need to inorder to not have to run the carpet. Can some one please explain what exact a dash cap and a dash pad are? What do yall reccomend? What have yall tried? I just want it to look clean and have no carpet. Thanks
Chris
 

SmokedRam

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I am in the same boat as a lot of yall... What options do I have besides the damn carpet? I got the carpet cover now and I hate it. I want to fix/ replace what I need to inorder to not have to run the carpet. Can some one please explain what exact a dash cap and a dash pad are? What do yall reccomend? What have yall tried? I just want it to look clean and have no carpet. Thanks
Chris

Besides the carpet, you can either straight up replace the whole dash, or get a coverlay like the one in the link below.

98 01 Dodge RAM Dash Cap Skin Cover Factory Matched Presidio Warm Grey C3 | eBay
 

epr 2x10

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This cap ^^ just glues over my cracked dash correct? How much of a PITA is it to replace the whole dash? It obviously isnt a 30 min job but what do yall suggest doing? Are these caps worth the money, or is it just smarter to replace the whole dash for the long run? Thanks
Chris
 

oxymoron29

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!

i guess i'm lucky that my ram dash has no cracks...however it is avoidable with 2 measures:

1. always use a sun shade when parked / on sunny days
2. crack your windows about 1/2" in the summer to equalize the temps inside

we all know that a car in 30+ celcius direct sunlight can get alarmingly hot in the summer, not a surprise that plastics cant hold up to the contraction / expansion

we have 3 other cars (88, 91, 89) that we've done this on, are not garage queens, and have zero cracks, only slight warping.

just my 2 cents!
 
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