The best adhesive for car side skirts is the 3M™ Panel Bonding Adhesive. It’s a two-part epoxy that comes with a resin and a hardener. The cure time of the paste is very fast as it can take as low as 24 hours before it completely dries, and it’s corrosion proof.
Car side skirt are more prone to detachment or bonding failure as this element is responsible for stopping the amount of high pressure that goes underneath the car while it’s moving. Furthermore, the position of this element in the car make them one of the parts that needs a regular care, as they can get dirty, scratched of break.
Painting or replacing your car side skirts is a routine that you need to consider, and cars producers don’t use screws as much as they used to do. So the best option for you to bond the side skirts back to your car is using an efficient adhesive.
Best Side Skirts Adhesive for Car
The best adhesive for car side skirts is the adhesive that prevents the side skirts from loosing, or completely falling off. In the market you will find bunch of options:
- Two-part epoxy adhesives
- Double Sided Tapes
- Urethane adhesive tubes
- Polyurethane sealants
- Self-tapping screws (it’s not really an adhesive but it’s an option)
- Plastic clips (it’s not really an adhesive but it’s an option)
Each option has its pros and cons, but in general the best option and the most recommended is the two-part epoxy adhesives, as they ensure durability and strong bonding.
| Adhesive | Pros | Cons |
| Two-part epoxy adhesives | – Cures fairly fast (24 hours) – Ensure strong bonding – Provides corrosion protection | – Can damage your car when removed |
| Double Sided Tapes | – Fast and easy to use – Virtually invisible – Eliminate water | – Not secure as epoxy – Needs more time before completely cure |
| Urethane adhesive tubes | – Flexible adhesive (capable of bonding dissimilar substrates) – Full cure in 6 hours | – Not designed for plastic and metal bonding (more for wood) |
| Polyurethane sealants | – Ideal for humid areas – Paintable and durable – Gap filling capability | – Hard to remove |
| Self tapping screws | – Ensure strong bonding – Easy to remove or change | – Will not stick in aluminum frames |
| Plastic clips | – Easy to attach and remove – Cheap | – Easy to break – Low durability |
Best Way to Attach Side Skirts
The best way to attach side skirts so far is using 3M™ Panel Bonding Adhesive. The two-part epoxy ensure a strong bonding and high durability. You can combine epoxy and plastic clips if you have any mounting points in your side skirt to ensure even higher bonding and avoid failure.
How to Install Side Skirts Without Drilling?
To install car side skirts without drilling holes, you have three options. The first is using a two-part epoxy adhesive, which is very reliable in this case, the second option is using double sided tapes, and the third option is plastic clips but there not as durable as expected.
How to Install Car Side Skirts?
In this section we’ll walk you through steps which will allow you to install your side skirt. You will need :
- 3M molding tape
- Self taping screws
- Washers
- Lacquer thinner
- Cloth
- Heat gun or hair dryer
- Head screwdriver
- Jack and jack stands
- Begin by raising the car off the ground so that you can work with it more easily. If you have access to a car lift, that’s ideal; if not, jack it up and place blocks beneath it to support the weight.
- Prepare the top inner surface of the side skirt for the 3m molding tape, you can use a sandpaper to remove all the granules and dust.
- Using the 3M tape, run a long strip down the topside of the side skirt.
- Remember to apply pressure to the tape as you heat it up to ensure that it bonds effectively.
- Mudguards should be removed if you have any, install the front of your side skirts using the factory mounting hole from the mudguards. Make sure the protective red strip on the tape is left on the tape so the skirt doesn’t cling to the automobile.
- Remove the 3M red protection strip and attach the side skirt in the most logical location.
- To assist the molding tape bind effectively to the automobile body, heat up the tape and side skirt once more. Apply pressure to the skirt as you work your way up the tape.
- On the bottom of the automobile, self-tap the screws in with a washer on them (make sure your end caps are on and be careful not to pull down on the side skirt when mounting them or else the tape will separate).
- Lower the vehicle and you’re good to go!
