Fixed my dash this evening, very simple process to stop the rattling and shaking. Thought I'd take some photos to help others. Total cost $6.49. Time 10 minutes. Easier with two people.

First remove the screws holding the passenger kick panel.
Upper:


Lower:



Inside: Take this out with a screwdriver or your thumb. Just pulls straight out:


Here's the screw after I pulled it out:



I wanted to put this heavy duty brace in, because I had it on hand and heavy duty is better! But I would have had to cut the kickpanel so I drove to the hardware store and picked up the inside L brace:



Inside L brace I bought. No need for galvanized, but that's all they had:



Had my helper hold the dash up in the original position, marked the lower holes, drilled them, then had the helper raised the dash while I screwed them in. Then put a screw in the dash to tie it together:


If I were doing it over I would use 2 1/2" braces just to get two screws into the dash. It's working great for now, and way cheaper than the $30 plus kits I saw on Ebay.

Real simple job, stops a lot of noise, and it took me a lot longer to do this writeup than the actual repair.

 

Looks great, that's exactly what I did to mine- except I went ahead and used JB Weld on the broken bracket as well. Has held up so far.

 

I should have. Just forgot. Don't want to undo the screws if I don't have to, so if it holds I'm just going to leave it alone.

 

i used epoxy and screen to put the pieces back together.

let it dry for 24 hours then put it back together over 4 years ago.

 

So happy you made this thread. my dash is exactly the same and i havent had the time to look for the problem. Now I know what I am doing on my day off this week!

 

It's not going to take long! I am going back and gluing the piece.

 

I used the repair kit from Ford.

 

I used the repair kit from Ford too, but after repairing other broken plastic pieces with Quicklook2's screen and epoxy idea, that is how I will repair the next broken dash I run into.

 

what's the kit ford sells like?

 

Ha, I was just thinking about how to do this when I was cleaning my truck out the other day. Mine is broken in the same spot, the shaking drives me nuts. Thanks for the helpful thread.

 

Man, I'm in the same boat. I'm new to this truck, only driven it about 200 miles since I bought it just recently. The thing shakes so bad I was about afraid it was going to break off completely and fall on the floor. Thanks for the great fix-it tips.

 

Thanks for the post and pictures. I have the same problem on mine and was just about post asking for help when I saw yours. Trying to go through the truck and fix all the little annoying things.
Thanks,
TC

 

I went ahead and used the corner braces as a quick fix and it's working OK so far. Eventually I want to either try the epoxy/screen idea or just buy the replacement part. I stopped by the dealership a while back and they have a replacement part listed. I don't know if I would call it a kit. The picture looks more like just a new bracket. I think he said it was about $25 and had to order it, of course.

 

I need to try the JB weld or the epoxy and screen idea. The bracket is holding, but it allows a little movement. I tried Gorilla Glue and that lasted for a few months but I'm back to just the bracket. Still better than it was by a long shot, but not quite right.

Got the same issue with the A pillar trim pieces separating right where they bend down.

 

Mine broke on that same place too, and i just got metal bend it to how it will fit and adjust it and there you go.