Remove Window Trim?

[inm]

First off, sorry if this is the wrong section. Move it if necessary, I just didn't seen anywhere else to put it.

Anyway, how do your remove the chrome window trim? I want to PlastiDip it, and would prefer to remove it to do so, instead of taping.

I know on most cars there's a screw on the side of the door, but the Sonic doesn't have one, or it's under the door panel. Anyone here that has replaced the front speakers, got any input?

Thanks,
Michael

 

[doreo]

id tell you how i did it but i doubt you will like it so ill tell you what i tell others, experiment

 

[wingman]

Be better off masking it off. I believe AndrewGS removed his to swap for black ones he found online, and bent them up a little.

 

[inm]

Damn. They felt like they were gonna just slide off with some pressure, but I didn't want to try to hard and end up breaking something.

 

[AndrewGS]

When you remove them it takes a bit of force and it bends the stainless steel or whatever metal they use for the chrome.

 

[vento]

It appears there is an end cap or something that keeps it from sliding off. There has to be a way to slide it off the end without damaging it.

 

[Savage_383]

If you really don't want to tape them off, You could go to the dealer and have them quote you a price for the trim. I have noticed that the cost of trim for these cars isn't too outrageous.

Then you could just paint those and keep your existing ones.

It's worth a shot.

 

[inm]

That's a good suggestion but I'm sure there has to be a way to remove them without damaging them...

Sent from my ICS DROID3 via Tapatalk

 

[doreo]

if you can pull the end cap back slightly they slide out without bending, just dont use needle noses or it will leave impressions on the soft plastic end cap

 

[vento]

Managed to get it all off without any damage yesterday. Friend of mine brought home a couple plastic trim pry-bars from work and it took all of 10 minutes. We slowly worked each piece of moulding off the car, and had to pop out a couple clips along the way. We also put masking tape down at the base to prevent from damaging the paint. (The perks of having a best friend who is a mechanic eh?)

Now I will say he admitted to messing up a couple trim pieces before, and it takes some practice to get it right. But after the moulding was off we scotchbrited the chrome (which appears to be just polished aluminum). Put down 2 coats of automotive primer, 3 coats of Duracote OEM matte black, and 3 coats of Duracote clear coat. It resulted in a semi-gloss finish that looks about as OEM as you can get with a rattle-can. I'll post pics of the finished product all I have now is the pics of the moulding.


IMAG0779 by v3n7o, on Flickr

I really think that the scotchbrited metal looks awesome if you get a nice smooth grain pattern, like brushed aluminum. Just would need a clear coat on it to keep it from oxidizing.

 

[inm]

Any chance you could find me a link to somewhere to order the removal tools? Brand name, anything?

I would appreciate it.

 

[vento]

SIR Tool mini plastic prybars. Can find them pretty much anywhere online, big box retailer link is below. (might be cheaper on amazon)

Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

Here is what we used.


IMAG0780 by v3n7o, on Flickr

The trim pieces have a clip along the b-pillar that you have to be careful with, you want to slowly work the length of the trim using the thing plastic strips to hold up areas you removed to they dont bend. I wish I could make a vid of it, but I didnt think of it at the time. The front trim slides into a hold below the mirror, and the rear slides over a tab at the back of the window. before clipping at the B-billar area.

Here is what it looks like after 2 coats of black primer, 3 coats of Duracote matte black, and 3 coats of clear sealer. I waited 15 minutes between each coat of primer, and let it cure for 45 mins after the 2nd coat. 15 Minutes between coats of the black, and let the last one sit for 45 mins. Then finally 3 coats of clear, 10-15 between coats and I did a double pass on the 3rd coat and let it cure for 24 hours. Has a satin/semi-gloss finish.


IMAG0781 by v3n7o, on Flickr

Ill try to get some better pics in daylight tomorrow, its was raining all day.

 

[Wolfhound]

VEERY Nicely done ! Sure makes a much cleaner look . . .

 

[BrentnKC]

The 4 trim pieces are $48 a piece for the black rubber pieces from the LS model. Your mod definitely saves some money and looks great. To see if I liked it, before I bought the trim pieces, I stretched black electrical tape on the chrome. Did not look too bad and was easy.

 

[xtremsonic]

The 4 trim pieces are $48 a piece for the black rubber pieces from the LS model. Your mod definitely saves some money and looks great. To see if I liked it, before I bought the trim pieces, I stretched black electrical tape on the chrome. Did not look too bad and was easy.

I did the same thing yesterday, I had black and red electrical tape on several locations around the car to see if I was going to like any of my and others ideas.

 

[AndrewGS]

The 4 trim pieces are $48 a piece for the black rubber pieces from the LS model. Your mod definitely saves some money and looks great. To see if I liked it, before I bought the trim pieces, I stretched black electrical tape on the chrome. Did not look too bad and was easy.

I got all four pieces for $105 shipped to my door.

 

[xtremsonic]

I got all four pieces for $105 shipped to my door.

where from?

 

[AndrewGS]

where from?

From my mod thread:

The GM part numbers are 95480182, 95480183, 95480185 and 95480187. I got them from GMPartsDirect.com for $104.99 shipped.

 

[xtremsonic]

thank you sir.