 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Sill chequer plate - are gaskets necessary? |
 
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| Browjam Member Since: 03 Jun 2014 Location: South East Posts: 114   
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Hi there,
I have just bought some 3mm chequer plate which I intend to fit this weekend. I just wanted to know if there is any benefit to fitting gaskets. I know people advise using them for wing tops. Cheers James |
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16th Jun 2015 7:12pm |
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| Lambley Member Since: 20 Apr 2013 Location: Mid Devon Posts: 1435 
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I wouldn't bother, I removed mine a couple of months back to fit 'dirt-defenders' and they were pretty clean underneath, just make sure you give the sills a sponge down before fitting as well as making sure you clean the metal chards from around the drilled holes and you'll be fine.
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16th Jun 2015 8:04pm |
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| Barney12 Member Since: 09 Jun 2015 Location: South West Posts: 744 
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I did mine last weekend and decided in the end to run two full lengths of 25mm badge tape. My thoughts were that it would protect the existing bodywork, prevent any rattle and reduce dirt ingress but also aid fitting by holding everything exactly in place whilst I drilled and fitted the rivets.
I riveted top and bottom of the cill. I have noticed thought that on the longer back sections (from door to arch) where you have no lip to rivet that the plates have already start to lift. However, mine were 2mm and you may be better with the 3mm thicker plates. I really wanted to avoid rivets on the front face. I guess I might be swapping mine to 3mm sooner than later  . As my little bro says "you buy cheap, you buy twice"
 Click image to enlarge |
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16th Jun 2015 8:51pm |
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| nitram17 Member Since: 08 Jun 2014 Location: newcastle Posts: 2261 |
Whats the best way to fix C plate(wings /side panels/sills) ......screws ,pop rivets ,rivnuts or silicone only?I have heard some folk use pond liner material as a gasket any comments on best gasket material?
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16th Jun 2015 9:38pm |
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| K9F Member Since: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 9610 
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Yes gaskets are necessary!
Decent CP kit will come with all the fixings which are usually countersunk cross head bolts, nuts and washers. It will also come with the necessary gaskets if sourced from a decent supplier. It is I who has used butyl pondliner on numerous fittings to include door hinges, hinge blocks, swingaway wheel carrier, bumperetttes and probably lots of other things I cannot currently recall. Gasket is better than none in my book as it assists in filling any voids and prevents the migration of dirt, grit and moisture between mating surfaces. I also have a tendancy of 'wet assembling' all the fixings with a decent marine grade sealant and wiping off any excess after fitment. As for sills I would strongly advise the fitting of gaskets, I used a wallpaper scraper to get the crud adhered to the sill underneath off when removing. Mine obviously didn't have gaskets at the time. Sourcing and making gaskets costs very little time or money and I can see no justification for not fitting them. See my post bottom of page 1. http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic28048.html?highlight=crud If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!! Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!! |
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17th Jun 2015 8:32am |
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| Browjam Member Since: 03 Jun 2014 Location: South East Posts: 114
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Thank you all for your responses.
Despite having the chequer plate in the garage ready to to be fitted, in two minds now. The wagon is a keeper, what should I do? James |
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17th Jun 2015 2:58pm |
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| K9F Member Since: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 9610
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Fit gaskets it's a no brainer!
If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!!
Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!! |
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17th Jun 2015 5:12pm |
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| YOLO110 Member Since: 14 Feb 2015 Location: Perth Oz and Stansted UK Posts: 1642 
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I was going to fit gaskets but did not for 2 reasons!
1: The gaskets are 'open cell' foam. This means when they get wet, which they will, like a sponge, they will stay wet. To me this means underneath the checker-plate will never dry out... what a great recipe for corrosion etc. Besides, who cares if the paint scratches... you have just drilled 6 holes in the wings so if you ever want the checker-plate, you will have to repair those! 2: The foam raises the height of the checker plate by 2-3 mm or so. Did not like the look. Just my 2p worth!  YOLO... You Only Live Once... |
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18th Jun 2015 6:22am |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018 
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YOLO110 - I take it the gaskets came with the kit? Whose was it as it sounds like they have provided the wrong spec.
I'm in the gasket camp but it does need to be the correct spec which includes being relatively thick so that it will compress and form a decent seal over most if not all of the mating surfaces both to the wing top and the lower surface of the chequer plate. You need to ensure that it's keeping water out and not keeping water in. |
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18th Jun 2015 8:11am |
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| Browjam Member Since: 03 Jun 2014 Location: South East Posts: 114
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Yolo110 and all
Thank you for your feedback. Will post a pic once the work is done. james |
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18th Jun 2015 8:13am |
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| YOLO110 Member Since: 14 Feb 2015 Location: Perth Oz and Stansted UK Posts: 1642
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Will be interested in what you end up doing!
YOLO... You Only Live Once... |
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18th Jun 2015 9:54am |
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| K9F Member Since: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 9610
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Gasket Camp for me too...obviously.
Gaskets are what you make them from and needn't cost much at all, be it close cell foam, butyl pond liner etc. I also understand logistically in Australia a gasket material supplier may not be just down the road or round the corner. You could also seal the edges as I had to with the bonnet chequerplate with a decent marine grade sealant? A two millimetre thick layer of dirt and grit holds moisture as well. Mine were OEM sill chequerplate fitted at the dealers I presume being an ex-demo. If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!! Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!! |
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18th Jun 2015 11:14am |
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| YOLO110 Member Since: 14 Feb 2015 Location: Perth Oz and Stansted UK Posts: 1642
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Hi mate,
My gaskets came from the UK actually... in my excess baggage! Mammouth 3mm complete with gaskets, direct from Mammouth. 2 things struck me... the gaskets were oversize for the checkerplate by about 1mm, so it looked unsightly to my eyes when I peeled off the sticky backing and applied it to the checkerplate. Secondly, even when I screwed it right down, it did not completely compress the gasket, so the checker plate stood proud from the wing top, again by 1-2mm. I just did not like the look! When I took it off, I decided to do the 'water test' on the gasket and when I discovered it was open cell foam and held water like a sponge, that was the decider that made me peel it off and just dry fit the checkerplate. I thought there would be no way the gasket foam would ever dry out once it got wet. I put a 'ring' of silicone sealer around the holes in the wing tops to stop water ingress through the fastening bolt holes. I am happy with the result... suits me! YOLO... You Only Live Once... |
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18th Jun 2015 11:33pm |
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| custom90 Member Since: 21 Jan 2010 Location: South West, England. Posts: 20376
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Silicone with mine, providing you don't want to go back to nothing there will never be a problem.
Proper application and water won't have a chance to get in at all. If you don't use too much in event of damage it should come off to repair rather than ripping holes drilled into the body. |
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18th Jun 2015 11:50pm |
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