Best way to glue on a used OEM Beast bar

hemiarch

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So I acquired one of the OEM beast bars not too long ago. It has been installed once before as evidenced by the black stuff on the bottom, but it’s otherwise basically new looking and works.
Clearly, Tesla will not be installing this for me. It will be a diy job.
I know this may be sacrilegious to some of you so I apologize in advance and please try exercise restraint with the “if Tesla can’t do it what makes you think you can?” or the old “you didn’t buy a beast so you don’t deserve the bar” type stuff.
I’ve been chastised for all that plenty already.
Constructively, can anyone suggest a method/procedure that’s likely to work for sticking it to my windshield? What are the pros and cons of things that have been tried?
What’s the best method?
VHB? Double sided clear tape? Silicon? Something else?

Currently my front-runner ideas are nano tape:
https://a.co/d/fb1VPhR

VHB (but I’m not sure which kind)
Leaning towards this:
https://a.co/d/ftMkrnq

And 3m windshield adhesive:
https://a.co/d/cyDC8Mb

Please talk me into or out of one of these or propose another plan.

Tesla Cybertruck Best way to glue on a used OEM Beast bar IMG_4655
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mongo

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So I acquired one of the OEM beast bars not too long ago. It has been installed once before as evidenced by the black stuff on the bottom, but it’s otherwise basically new looking and works.
Clearly, Tesla will not be installing this for me. It will be a diy job.
I know this may be sacrilegious to some of you so I apologize in advance and please try exercise restraint with the “if Tesla can’t do it what makes you think you can?” or the old “you didn’t buy a beast so you don’t deserve the bar” type stuff.
I’ve been chastised for all that plenty already.
Constructively, can anyone suggest a method/procedure that’s likely to work for sticking it to my windshield? What are the pros and cons of things that have been tried?
What’s the best method?
VHB? Double sided clear tape? Silicon? Something else?

Currently my front-runner ideas are nano tape:
https://a.co/d/fb1VPhR

VHB (but I’m not sure which kind)
Leaning towards this:
https://a.co/d/ftMkrnq

And 3m windshield adhesive:
https://a.co/d/cyDC8Mb

Please talk me into or out of one of these or propose another plan.

IMG_4655.jpeg
The chemicals Tesla uses are available online (well, except for the primer on national backorder last I checked (though Canada seemed to have it)).
 
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hemiarch

hemiarch

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From Tesla? Or do you know who to contact or what to order?
My only reservation is they don’t seem to have the best track record. I had pretty good success with my aftermarket bar using VHB and those suction cups they provided.
It was rock solid. Wondering if this thing is similar enough I could replicate the same process.
 

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From Tesla? Or do you know who to contact or what to order?
My only reservation is they don’t seem to have the best track record. I had pretty good success with my aftermarket bar using VHB and those suction cups they provided.
It was rock solid. Wondering if this thing is similar enough I could replicate the same process.
Nah, Tesla won't sell you the chemicals (at least mine said they wouldn't, not that I wanted them anyway)
BETAPRIME 5504G: Amazon
BETASEAL EXPRESS: pksupplies
BETASEAL 43533: Nissan (Canada)

VHB is good stuff too
 

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I'm going to take a first principles approach here and answer with:

"Don't"

It was a bad, stopgap solution when they first revealed it and it's a bad choice still today lol. I'm not convinced a single glued lightbar will last and remain stable.
 


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hemiarch

hemiarch

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Fair point. I’m fairly intent on doing it though. Already spent the money on the bar. There is no other way I can think of to attach it
 

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VHB, done right, works exceptionally well, especially on glass. The challenge with a piece this large is maintaining a constant contact area (having cleaned both surfaces and prepped with adhesion promotor. This technique is the best way to ensure you maximise the contact area. I really don't know why Tesla opted for a more complicated technique that's clearly more error prone.

Beware of fake VHB on Amazon, it's everywhere. Most of the time the fake stuff is fine, but not for this, and the seller "Couzeely" screams of yet another Chinese temporary brand. I think this is the VHB you'll need. I'd switch out the nano tape you have with this, the nano tape doesn't do well long-term with UV exposure and high-vibration environments.
 

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Fair point. I’m fairly intent on doing it though. Already spent the money on the bar. There is no other way I can think of to attach it
yeah, it is a very specific design with little to no wiggle room. I was thinking about a way to introduce a physical clamping mechanism, but you are probably better off using the exact materials and procedure that Tesla is currently using.

Just make sure you install it under the most ideal conditions.
 
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hemiarch

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Wanted to get your thoughts on how to best remove this stuff. I’ll be installing it with enormous VHB instead. Bought this set of suction cup clamps and planning to basically preform the same procedure I did with my aftermarket bar. Clamp and leave for 48hrs.
Worked awesome on that one.
I need a flat surface to do it on though so I’d like t get this off but I also don’t want to damage the plastic below.

Tesla Cybertruck Best way to glue on a used OEM Beast bar IMG_4722


Tesla Cybertruck Best way to glue on a used OEM Beast bar IMG_4723


Tesla Cybertruck Best way to glue on a used OEM Beast bar IMG_4721
 

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hemiarch

hemiarch

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It’s very hard though. not gooey at all. I’ll probably use that at the end but I think I need to do something mechanical first.
Oyster shucking knife maybe?
Probably too thick to sand
 
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hemiarch

hemiarch

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Good idea. Ordered one similar.
 
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hemiarch

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Never met adhesive I couldn’t get off with a heat gun and this thingy
Damn. That’s intense. But I’m guessing effective.
do we think a glue gun is safe near the light/electronics?
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