Cure for Dash Creak?

My dash creaks when I go over bumps in my Cab. I've had a go at fixing it today and now it squeeks practically all the time when driving  

The noise is coming from the front of the dash where it meets the windscreen frame probably the clips are causing it.

Anyone got any tips to stop is making noise before I have another go at it?

Cheers,

Ross

You have my sympathy…….
My GTI drove me to desperation……tried everything…..
only cure was to take the whole dash out, fiddle with the clips at the front (fix the heater ducts at the same time) and put the whole lot back together slowly…….PERFECT now……
Now the Clipper has got a screw loose…….buzzes at certain revs…..and I can't find it !!

While we are on the subject… has anyone found a good permanent way of repairing the screw fixings that hold the dash surround in place? Some of the dash mounts in the hardboard(?) have been pulled and the screws no longer have anywhere to grab hold of.

Any ideas?

Dan

I almost has the dash out yesterday too but only had the morning to do it so had to put it back together again as I needed the car.

The part I got stuck on was that on the Cabrio the Knee bar is attached to the dash with some hard to get at clips, they are also really difficult to separate, I didn't manage too in the time I had.

Prowler - when you took your dash out, did you separate the dash from the knee bar or take both out together?

Dano - My holes weren't too mangled so I managed to strengthen the cardboard by letting it soak up some superglue! I guess for a more permenant fix you could make up some metal brackets and rivet them on to a stronger area of cardboard?

Cheers,

Ross

Ooooh, managed to fix it… quickly, but was a bodge!

Took out the 2 screws at the each end of the dash and could then pull out the dash just far enough to get me fat fingers down the gap. I stuck a small bit of rag down over the clip and put it all back together again. Went for a drive down the bumpiest bit of lane near the house and all I can hear now is the radio squeeking!

Would still be nice to know how you got your dash out Prowler for when I want to sort it out properly.
Also your noise at certain revs might be the clutch cable etc vibrating on the cam cover, this can sound like its the dash making noises, cable tie a bit of rag round the cables for a test.
I found that Genuine VAG clutch cables dont vibrate as the rubber sleve on the cable is a bit thicker, maybe softer rubber too and so dampens the vibes better!

Ross said

Anyone got any tips to stop is making noise before I have another go at it?

Get about 5 foot/ 1.5m of fuel line hose in black rubber, preferably with no (or minimal) writing on it. - Ask for a few samples first, to see which diamter suits best, remembering that the tightest area is in the centre of the dash.

Gently press it into the gap between the top of the dash and the bottom edge of the windscreen rubber - if you do it right, all the writing on it will be hidden.

Result - silent dashboard!

Tuck the ends downwards behind the dash ( I used a screwdriver to fit it, but be careful to use an old (rounded, not sharp tip) one.

If you are removing the windscreen, remember to remove the fuel line first, as it traps the windscreen seal.