Removing side moldings

[tinwhisker]

I have an 88, and the previous owner pulled the rubber side trim off, leaving behind a stripes of ugly black adhesive. Kinda detracts from the look of my new Enkei's, LOL. How do you get this stuff off? I tried some goof-off. No-go. Then I hit a little part with freeze spray in hopes it would become brittle and I could chip it off. Nope. I cant think of anything that would take it off without taking my paint off along with it.

Any suggestions not involving explosives or sledgehammers would be greatly appreciated.

**NASA should look into using this stuff to seal up those solid rocket boosters.

-Tin

[benms79]

I have an 88, and the previous owner pulled the rubber side trim off, leaving behind a stripes of ugly black adhesive. Kinda detracts from the look of my new Enkei's, LOL. How do you get this stuff off? I tried some goof-off. No-go. Then I hit a little part with freeze spray in hopes it would become brittle and I could chip it off. Nope. I cant think of anything that would take it off without taking my paint off along with it.

Any suggestions not involving explosives or sledgehammers would be greatly appreciated.

**NASA should look into using this stuff to seal up those solid rocket boosters.

-Tin

yes i had the same problem,couldnt get it off without damaging pant,had to use electric sander/grinder with sandindind pad. i tried everyting!!

[tinwhisker]

Aaaarrrggghhh!!!!

I was hoping someone had a magic formula to disolve this stuff.

I can do bodywork, so I can physically sand it off and repaint, but it seems like an awful lot of effort repaint an entire car just because it has glue on it...

I'm thinking of spreading peanut butter on the globs of glue and see if the squirrels in the front yard will gnaw it off. Its worth a try. But before I do, does anyone else have a suggestion?

[mechanic_of_doom]

I had an 89 and I took a razorblade and carefully scraped as much off as I could. and then at the tech school I was at they used some kinda wheel that takes off pinstripes to get the rest off.

its kinda like an eraser wheel? i'm not sure what its called.

I ended up having to repaint it after everything was said and done, but it got all of it off.

[tinwhisker]

Thanks for the tip. I'd never seen those things before.

I might try that. I have a harbor freight in town, so I think I will go next week and pick this up:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93048

I'm not too hopeful, because that adhesive seems too tough to "erase", but I'll post the results I get. Even if it doesnt work, I'm always looking for an excuse to add more tools to the mess in the garage, so its all good.

-tin

[MONSOON]

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/Marine/Home/Products/Catalog/?PC_7_RJH9U5230GE3E02LECIE20S4K7_nid=BZFJVSQS17beQH8HT14PGTgl

Couple different solutions from 3M that are supposed to be safe on paint.

[festivaWES]

None of that stuff ^^ will take off all the glue just the residue. I've used the gallon form and arisol version. Use a rubber pinstriping remover wheel or a razorblade.

[benms79]

None of that stuff ^^ will take off all the glue just the residue. I've used the gallon form and arisol version. Use a rubber pinstriping remover wheel or a razorblade.

yea none of that stuff works,gonna take ALOT of carfull shaving with razor and the remover wheel!

[Justin]

I've Tried that 3M stuff b/f but Did'nt get it off. That stuff is Stuck like Flies on ... Try the Pinstripe Remover tool or Razorblade but You'll end up needing Touch up Paint. There really is'nt any way to get it fully off w/o losing some paint.

[Justin]

Maybe you can get some side molding & put it back on from a GL or LX that is already Painted your Color.

[Jasin]

Take it to a body shop that have those infrared lights, they heat the stuff up from underneath, I know its great for getting vinyl off and assume would work just as well for the adhesive used on those moldings. Just use plastic razors.
I also used heat guns and eraser wheels like others suggested but this way is MUCH easier and no chance of damage, as long as you are careful.

[tinwhisker]

Thanks

Hey everyone, thanks for all the ideas.

The squirrels broke their teeth on the stuff, so scratch off that method. :rabbit: Serves the little bastards right, though...

Seriously, I'll end up using a combination of your suggestions and post what works best. Later this week I'll spring for some 3m and a rubber wheel, maybe a heat bulb.

-tin

[AlaskaFestivaGuy]

Try GooGone. Work it in with a toothbrush and let it soak in overnight in warm temps. It might require several applications to get it all off. Don't breath the vapors, which are also flammable.

You can also add baking soda to make a powerful paste that removes stubborn soap scum and petrified moose droppings from finished surfaces.

[gareth69]

Usually they are stuck on with the worlds biggest badest bastard double sided tape. I usually use some mineral turpentine. Let some soak into the goo for a while, it penetrates the sponge down to the sticky stuff. Then you apply more and rub it like hell with a rag. You may have to repeat two or three times but I garantee you won't damage the paint.

[m715]

The center strip of the early mouldings were urethaned on, while the outer perimeter was attached with double sided tape. I have to assume you are trying to remove the urethane since you are having that much trouble. If you have a single stage solid color paint, you have a *slight* chance you could get it off without too much damage taking the bulk of the strip off carefully with SHARP razor blades changing them often, the following up with a light rubbing compound like 3Ms 06085 or Evercoats #26 in their Body Magic line. These work really well to clean up a cars paint all over too and will prepare a neglected car for a good glaze/ wax. The clearcoat colors are too thin for the most part to do this to, but it still is an option to try.
What about reapplying the mouldings with a matching or contrasting color in the center strip? I have been doing that with 3Ms reflective tapes with really good results. It looks great, and makes up for no side markers on our cars. I also use it in the stripe on the front and rear bumper covers too. You don't really notice what it is until light hits it at night. The blue strip in the pic is an example. It is the blue reflective tape, but it comes in a few other colors.

HTH
Michael