How to repair carbon fiber? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

_frs · 01-25-2016, 10:49 AM

Because of my fear of parking, I just ever so gently plowed into a wall at school. I cracked my one off AIMGAIN international carbon fiber wing, and I begun to cry just a smidge.

Has anyone had any experiences repairing or improving on a carbon fiber crack/split?

go_a_way1 · 01-25-2016, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by _frs

Because of my fear of parking, I just ever so gently plowed into a wall at school. I cracked my one off AIMGAIN international carbon fiber wing, and I begun to cry just a smidge.

Has anyone had any experiences repairing or improving on a carbon fiber crack/split?

in before totaled

In all honesty I don't think you can just repair it, but I am no expert so lets see what others have to say.

LOLS2K · 01-25-2016, 10:59 AM

How bad is the damage? Share some photos. I have seen some pretty good carbon fiber repair jobs.

MrBlaze-65 · 01-25-2016, 12:39 PM

seal the crack/damaged area and paint it.
If you want it clear so you can see the carbon fiber that will be a way harder repair to hide the damage.

mav1178 · 01-25-2016, 02:06 PM

CF as you and I know it cannot be "repaired", because it is often a CF panel with a fiberglass or clear coat overlay.

If you just damaged the fiberglass or clear coat, you should repair it in the same way.

True CF cannot be repaired, only replaced.

-alex

sr86 · 01-28-2016, 09:35 PM

Any pics? Either you sand it down and reapply a new layer of resin or its totaled.

root · 01-28-2016, 11:12 PM

I've heard of people repairing carbon fiber, saw one guy repair a crack in a bicycle frame on line himself. I'd be a bit wary of something like that, but a spoiler isn't terribly structural so I'd think it can be done. It should be pretty close to repairing fiberglass. If its visible weave though, it won't look the same.

justatroll · 01-28-2016, 11:50 PM

It can be repaired, but if you started with an "A-Grade" surface, you will never get it back.

Working on CF is nearly identical to fiberglass, just with different materials.
A fender or hood would be relatively easy, but since the wing is a closed surface, not easy at all.

Mr.ac · 01-29-2016, 12:00 AM

Need to see pics of the damage.

Since its just a wing (we all know it's 95% cosmetic) you could repair it. I would go with an epoxy bond. Then blend it flush. Then if it looks like a bondo job, I would wrap it with a cf look. Or paint the whole thing. Then again...... Pics would help to determine your options.

retoocs · 01-29-2016, 12:45 AM

Carbon fiber can be repaired structurally and is done all the time in the bike industry and aviation. Depending on how it is damaged, basically you grind away the damage area and feather it out. Then cut patches, each one larger than there one before to cover the areas ground away. Then epoxy the layers in place, preferably vacuum bagged. After it cures, sand smooth and reapply the finish.

wheelhaus · 01-31-2016, 12:15 AM

@retoocs has the right idea for structural repair, that's basically how it's done.
@_frs I do aviation composite repair and a buddy I work with does carbon bicycle frame repair on the side with some really impressive results cosmetically. Send me a PM for email contact (or post pics) and I'll see if it's something we can do.

01-25-2016, 10:49 AM	#1
_frs Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Drives: 2014 Scion FR-S Monogram Series Location: Santa Cruz, California Posts: 265 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 12 Posts Mentioned: 4 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	How to repair carbon fiber? Because of my fear of parking, I just ever so gently plowed into a wall at school. I cracked my one off AIMGAIN international carbon fiber wing, and I begun to cry just a smidge. Has anyone had any experiences repairing or improving on a carbon fiber crack/split? __________________ 2014 Monogram Fr-s \| Straight piped \| Bayson R Wing \| Enkei Nt03+M \| Valenti CR tail lights \| Greddy CAI \| HT Auto Lip \| STI side skirts \| \| Sponsored by Inspire_USA \| {AIRLIFT suspension}[SIGPIC]

01-25-2016, 10:59 AM	#3
LOLS2K /scion Join Date: Sep 2015 Drives: '13 86 M/T Location: PHX-LAX Posts: 1,490 Thanks: 1,031 Thanked 1,402 Times in 786 Posts Mentioned: 26 Post(s) Tagged: 4 Thread(s)	How bad is the damage? Share some photos. I have seen some pretty good carbon fiber repair jobs. __________________ "Practice makes better. Only Senna is perfect." - CSG Mike

01-29-2016, 12:00 AM	#9
Mr.ac [insert cool phrase here] Join Date: Aug 2015 Drives: BRZ Premium Location: Central Coast CA Posts: 2,369 Thanks: 709 Thanked 1,558 Times in 930 Posts Mentioned: 30 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Need to see pics of the damage. Since its just a wing (we all know it's 95% cosmetic) you could repair it. I would go with an epoxy bond. Then blend it flush. Then if it looks like a bondo job, I would wrap it with a cf look. Or paint the whole thing. Then again...... Pics would help to determine your options. __________________ New daily driver - Subaru BRZ Premium Weekend fun/track car - '91 MR2 Turbo Gen3 Old daily driver - '88 MR2 Supercharged

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01-25-2016, 12:39 PM	#4
MrBlaze-65 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Location: United States Posts: 93 Thanks: 85 Thanked 41 Times in 27 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	seal the crack/damaged area and paint it. If you want it clear so you can see the carbon fiber that will be a way harder repair to hide the damage.

01-25-2016, 02:06 PM	#5
mav1178 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: 2005 Toyota Camry Location: 91745 Posts: 6,562 Thanks: 493 Thanked 6,093 Times in 3,029 Posts Mentioned: 95 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	CF as you and I know it cannot be "repaired", because it is often a CF panel with a fiberglass or clear coat overlay. If you just damaged the fiberglass or clear coat, you should repair it in the same way. True CF cannot be repaired, only replaced. -alex

01-28-2016, 09:35 PM	#6
sr86 Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Drives: ft86 all original Location: USA Posts: 38 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Any pics? Either you sand it down and reapply a new layer of resin or its totaled.

01-28-2016, 11:12 PM	#7
root Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Drives: Raven FR-S Location: Hawaii Posts: 268 Thanks: 4 Thanked 80 Times in 53 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	I've heard of people repairing carbon fiber, saw one guy repair a crack in a bicycle frame on line himself. I'd be a bit wary of something like that, but a spoiler isn't terribly structural so I'd think it can be done. It should be pretty close to repairing fiberglass. If its visible weave though, it won't look the same.

01-28-2016, 11:50 PM	#8
justatroll Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Drives: Full race 4cyl boxer Location: CO, USA Posts: 587 Thanks: 310 Thanked 510 Times in 269 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	It can be repaired, but if you started with an "A-Grade" surface, you will never get it back. Working on CF is nearly identical to fiberglass, just with different materials. A fender or hood would be relatively easy, but since the wing is a closed surface, not easy at all.

01-29-2016, 12:45 AM	#10
retoocs Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Drives: BRZ Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 168 Thanks: 2 Thanked 63 Times in 43 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Carbon fiber can be repaired structurally and is done all the time in the bike industry and aviation. Depending on how it is damaged, basically you grind away the damage area and feather it out. Then cut patches, each one larger than there one before to cover the areas ground away. Then epoxy the layers in place, preferably vacuum bagged. After it cures, sand smooth and reapply the finish.

01-31-2016, 12:15 AM	#11
wheelhaus Join Date: Jul 2012 Drives: 2013 BRZ, 2020 KTM Super Duke 1290R Location: Denver Posts: 1,788 Thanks: 714 Thanked 1,141 Times in 624 Posts Mentioned: 49 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	@retoocs has the right idea for structural repair, that's basically how it's done. @_frs I do aviation composite repair and a buddy I work with does carbon bicycle frame repair on the side with some really impressive results cosmetically. Send me a PM for email contact (or post pics) and I'll see if it's something we can do.

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