Black tar resin on struts

[Troutbumwannab]

I live in Belgium and drive a 3.2 Carrera. I had my wheels aligned and the guy who did it had to break into the black resin on top of the front struts. Doing this is considered tabu here as it shows that you messed with the struts (as in - front end work due to an accident). Not my case, just wanted the car to track better.
Anyway, I want to replace the black stuff so that it looks like it did before. Of course the stuff is hard and brittle now, so filling in the gaps with 3M's dum dum strip chaulk probably won't pass as original.
Any ideas here would be highly appreciated. I did search this form, but didn't get far. Seems most want to remove it rather than put it back on. While I agree it looks pretty bad, I guess the Engineers at Zuffenhausen knew what they were doing and who am I to second guess them.
Thanks guys!

[tharbert]

From what I've read, that tar is only there as a weather seal. It was probably the easiest/cheapest way to seal it back in the day. There are certainly better alternatives today. Lots of folks suggest removing it altogether as it can impeded realignments.

I guess, if you chip it off and collect the pieces, you could warm it and reapply...

[SoCalSK8r]

It's a must to get his crap off to properly align the car. It was not a fun job.


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[SoCalSK8r]

Keep in mind though, I'm in S. California so re-sealing was not an issue for me.


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[BFT3.2]

I did the exact same thing as SoCalSk8r last Fall but finished it up with Elephant Racing's camber plates. To weather seal it I used 3M strip calk in the strut well around the plate instead of on top. I had excellent results removing the hard old brittle sealant with a heat gun, needle nose pliers, a plastic chisel and acetone for the final cleaning.

[Troutbumwannab]

Thanks guys, I must say it does look much better without that black stuff caked all over the struts, but that's not how it left the factory.

Does anyone out there know the exact material they used back in the day when the car was built? I guess I could use 3M's Dum Dum strip caulking, but is it original? Does it also get hard and brittle over time? The idea here is to bring it back to as original as possible.

[javadog]

It's not 3M strip caulking. I'd say it is more like the tar used on roofing projects.

JR

[JohnJL]

Dont use he roof stuff though, it emits stink forever. Check the Wurth catalog, I bet they or 3M have something.

[bpu699]

I used SEM black seam sealer. Pretty much perfect match. I suspect that any black seam sealer would work just fine, $20 a tube...

[Chuck.H]

Use the SEM as suggested if you want an OEM look.

Use plumbers putty if you want a removable alternative.

Use nothing if you don't drive in the rain (not an option for me). Water will come in if you don't use anything.

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 392k miles (last 300 miles (yesterday) were all 'rain' miles, ugh)

[Troutbumwannab]

You guys are great - thanks for the help!

[SoCalSK8r]

At this point I would kill for some rain in my area!!! Nice tip on the plumbers putty Chuck


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