Body/Trim: Side mouldings

[240]

Going to have some body work done but cant get side rubber mouldings off. How aee they removed? Ive tried pulling but they bend and dont want to break them. Tried to slide them off towards the back and then front but wont budge!! Any ideas?

Thanks

[Mike_Brace]

The waist level ones are easily removed - slide a paint scraper behind and they will flip off. If you are on about the ones on the door bottom these are glued on with a locator pin either end.

Mike

[wooble]

Pry gently with a trip remover tool, or failing that a flathead screwdriver wrapped in tape so as not to scratch the paintwork. there's a pop-in stud every 6-8 inches along the back of the trim strips. They always seem to come off a bit bowed, but you can gently bend them back and nobody'll be any the wiser! You'll probably break a few of the studs too, I'm told they're still available from volvo.

[jetronic63]

Before you take the ones on the bottom of the doors off, think whether you really need to. They get brittle as they get older and can snap when trying to separate them from the door. If you manage to get them off in one piece, often they distort in the process and getting them to go back on flat is impossible. Essentially they weren't designed to be removed and unless you have new ones to go back on, you can end up with something worse than when you started !

[240]

Thanks, its the waist high ones having wheel arches done so may as well paint up to trim level. Ill give it a go in morning. Ive noticed that i seem to be getting black streaks running down the doors and sides after its rained is there a way to stop it? Think its coming from the window rubber and side moldings

[Mike_Brace]

Originally Posted by jetronic63

Before you take the ones on the bottom of the doors off, think whether you really need to. They get brittle as they get older and can snap when trying to separate them from the door. If you manage to get them off in one piece, often they distort in the process and getting them to go back on flat is impossible. Essentially they weren't designed to be removed and unless you have new ones to go back on, you can end up with something worse than when you started !

You could always end end with the smooth look by welding all the holes up:



Mike

[jetronic63]

Originally Posted by 240

Thanks, its the waist high ones having wheel arches done so may as well paint up to trim level. Ill give it a go in morning. Ive noticed that i seem to be getting black streaks running down the doors and sides after its rained is there a way to stop it? Think its coming from the window rubber and side moldings

Those are much easier, it's just the clips that break on those LoL ! Particularly in the cold weather. Not sure what's causing the streaks, they do get crud in behind them though it's probably this causing it. I resprayed mine with satin black bumper paint before they went back on - they looked brand new for the cost of a can of paint- still look good 3 years on.

[chesters6]

i didnt bother with new clips i used squared off number plate bolts ,you have to cut a small part of the trim to be able to slide the bolt heads along the metal groove but on reflection you could open up the groove a little in one place so the heads slid in
the either end bolts are a bit fiddly to get the nuts on (i shortened them being plastic its easy) whilst your inside the doors you can give the locks and window mechanism a squirt with spray grease to make it worth while ,i went the whole hog and waxoyled the doors as well.