Skip to Content
4 min read
The road to repair

How to choose the right car glue

Artificial Content Title -- to be hidden

You don’t need to go to garage for every car repair: with the right car glue you can fix many cosmetic repairs. This guide tells you how to select the perfect car adhesive for your project and save on expensive garage bills in the process.

Which is the right car glue for your project?

Choosing the best car adhesive depends on what you are trying to achieve and what materials the parts you want to fix are made from. For example, an all-purpose glue might be the best option for numerous small repairs. Universal glues such as Loctite Super Glue Liquid Universal can be used on many materials, including leather, metal, rubber and plastics (except polyethylene and polypropylene), making it suitable for multiple tasks.

If you are repairing a part that’s made of one particular type of material, however, select the glue that is specifically suited for it. For example, Loctite Super Glue All Plastics is an ideal glue for plastic car parts, as it will even work with difficult-to-bond plastics such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

Car glue example project: Re-attach a rear-view mirror

A simple repair job you can do yourself and save money on is re-attaching a rear-view mirror. All you need is an adhesive like Loctite Super Glue Glass, which can bond glass to metal, and a pair of nitrile gloves, which are resistant to common chemicals and substances.

  1. Prepare. Many rear-view mirrors have an attachment plate at the base of their stem – take a close look at this and place it against your car’s windscreen to get an indication of how to align the mirror. In most modern cars, a black area of the windscreen will show where the mirror should be attached, but if yours doesn’t have one, use a piece of masking tape on the outer side of the windscreen to mark the correct spot.
  2. Remove the attachment plate. This makes re-attachment much easier.
  3. Clean the surfaces. Use a product like Loctite Glue Remover to remove any old auto glue from the attachment plate and the windshield. If necessary, use your car’s windscreen heater to remove any condensation and ensure it is dry for effective bonding. 
  4. Apply car glue and hold in position. Apply the automotive adhesive to the centre of the attachment plate and hold it in the correct position against the windshield for the length of time specified in the glue’s instructions. 
  5. Allow car glue to dry. The car adhesive on the attachment plate must be properly set before you can affix the mirror to it. 
  6. Reattach mirror. Once the glue is set, slide the mirror back into place on the attachment plate.

Products used

  • Loctite SuperGlue Glass Packshot
    LOCTITE SUPERGLUE Glass

    LOCTITE Glass Bond: Perfect for glass repairs! Bonds glass to glass, metal, stained, and tinted glass. Dries transparent for invisible, strong bonds.

  • Loctite Glue Remover Packshot
    LOCTITE SUPERGLUE Glue Remover

    LOCTITE Glue Remover: Easily tackles adhesive mishaps! Efficiently removes glues, stains, and labels. Non-drip gel formula for versatile applications.

  • Loctite SuperGlue Original 3g tube Packshot
    LOCTITE SUPERGLUE Original

    LOCTITE Superglue: The extremely strong superglue by the Henkel-brand LOCTITE is ideal for smaller repairs in the house or crafting jobs.

Share your own projects

You might also be interested in

  • Choosing the strongest metal glue
  • Glues for every type of job 
  • How to choose the best plastic glue
  • Glass glue: How to choose the best glue for glass
  • How to use spray adhesive
  • Using super glue for strong and fast repairs 
  • Fabric glue for a quick fix
  • How to get super glue off your fingers
  • How to remove super glue from different materials
  • Adhesive remover: How to remove glue 
  • How to get super glue off skin – quickly and simply! 
  • How to remove super glue from countertop: Tips and tricks