How to repair broken headlight tab (not a Tacoma)

Edit: See below. Ended up using JB weld quick to repair the tabs
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This is for my daily driver, not the Tacoma. Figured Id post on here though as there's lots of knowledgeable folks.

Need a new headlight assembly due to a minor hit and run that cracked the lens. (Luckily no other damage) My state will not pass broken lenses during inspection, even though all the bulbs still work...

Anyway. Typical fleabay find here. Showed up with a broken mounting tab as you can see. What would people suggest to fix that? My first thought is an epoxy that will hold up over time. But I'm sure people have good products they can recommend for this exact application.

 

I have used jb kwikweld on cracked headlight housings in the past

 

Honestly that was my first thought

Didn't know if there was something better to consider

 

Given I need to get this fixed ASAP I might just send it with some JB quick

 

Used JB a broken headlight tab after having success on taillight tabs. The taillight tabs lasted a few years before I added more JB. Be liberal so the load can spread out. I shoulda done that in the first place.

 

My son used one of the cheap plastic welders from Amazon that uses the S shaped wires to fix a headlight tab on his Ram Power Wagon. He siad it worked great. The machine heats the little wires and they melt into the plastic "welding" them back together. I have one and have used it for some DIY stuff around the house. They work great. You can pick them up on Amazon for around $20. Mine uses a Dewalt 20v battery for power. Here's the one I have.

$30 Cordless Plastic Welding Gun for Dewalt 20v Battery,120W Portable Welding Machine for Dewalt 20v Tool, Car Bumper Crack Repair Welder Kit with 6 Types 600PCS Staples for Fuel Tank Repair, Automotive

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C4XJZ92D

 

I second plastic welding it. Shit I’ve even used a solder iron to use some scrap plastic of similar composition to “weld” some plastic pieces together and the result ends up quite strong albeit ugly. You could then run some jbweld for plastics over that.

 

I've also used a standard soldering iron as well, and cut some small pieces of metal window screen and melted it into the plastic. That's had limited sucess, but it worked, sort of.... And surprisingly enough the soldering iron didn't get all gummed up with the melted plastic. It was VERY clean when I was done.

 

If you can use a splint along with the epoxy, it’ll help a lot.

A tab of aluminum, steel, a compatible plastic, glass fiber, or even a popsicle stick embedded in the epoxy spanning the patch will help spread the load and give the repair a better chance.

 

Thats a good idea to use some sort of 'splint' material in the epoxy

 

JB Weld Plastic Bond, works great!

 

Thanks fellas. Went for some good ol JB quick with a tiny piece of metal to brace the crack.

 

You did a GREAT job repairing that broken tab! It's fortunate that the broken piece came with your e-bay headlamp.

 

WELL.. Broke another tab / bracket thing last night trying to install this damn thing. Fucking German plastic - look at it wrong and it turns to dust

 

I used a heat gun to soften the plastic tabs on my headlights as I was installing them so they wouldn’t break.

 

At least you know how to fix them.

 

Been about a week with no issues. I think the JB will be stronger than the 20 year old german plastic