Molding removal 4000...

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Dec 2, 2001 | 05:38 PM

SteveAngry

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Molding removal 4000...

I may need to remove the side molding strips on the front doors of a 4000Q. The car I am going to take the molding off of is located deep within a junkyard far from any heat/power sources...

Therefore I will not really be able use heat to soften the adheasive behind the molding to remove it...

Anyone have any good ideas on how to remove the trim without heat. Do I really need heat anyways?
I'm not so much worried about damaging the car as I am about damaging the trim...

Thanks!
Steve
Michigan

Dec 2, 2001 | 06:18 PM

Chris in VA

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Putty knife?

Since you don't care about the door, why not just use a small hammer and putty knife? I think that would work well, especially a fairly wide one.

Dec 2, 2001 | 06:57 PM

AudiSport4000

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From: Indiana

I agree

Dec 2, 2001 | 07:24 PM

1hot4000s

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Re: Molding removal 4000...

i need that stuff too....what u can do is take a lube then let it soffen into the glue. then pry it off gently

Dec 3, 2001 | 02:41 AM

Dwight V.

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Wire

This is how body shops do it:
Some type of rigid wire, like piano wire. Get it started behind one edge of the molding and just draw it along behind. Should come off relatively easy. Be very careful to keep the molding from bending as it has a metal band molded into it, and once bent they don't like to go straight again.
Once off, clean the backside completely (I use a die grinder with a 3M cookie pad) and re-glue with 3M trim adhesive specifically made to do this. Using the wrong adhesive tape will get you a molding that will fall off, believe me. 3M may mean 3x the money but their stuff works!

Dec 5, 2001 | 09:29 PM

SteveAngry

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Thanks for all the replys!

Dec 10, 2001 | 06:21 AM

alannarvaez

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Don't use a putty knife...

I tried this method on my moldings. If you're not extremely careful, and patient, the knife gets caught in the back of the molding and will cut through before you know it. Also, the glue Audi used to affix the moldings is one helluva adhesive, even after sixteen years that stuff sticks! its very hard to chip through it esp. because of the ridge in the doors right at the center of the molding. Best bet is to use a heat gun or some knid of solvent. Don't count of saving the paint behind or around the molding either!