i just finished doing the timing belt job, seals, head gaskets... next will be the clutch and axles

 

 

Good looking car. I just got one too - am going through wiring gremlins and rear brakes (including ebrake on pass side).

I noticed you replaced the rubber rocker panel trim piece. Where'd you get the piece? Mine is swollen with rust on one side.

Thanks,
Matt

 

i just removed all of them and eventually im going to paint where they were

 

Hi, you can still get that lower trim piece from dealer or audi gem dealer on line about $74.00 a piece but I heard you need new clips and the clips come as 100 pieces per bag. I know someone mention about going together to get the molding clips when we all do our lower door moldings. Mine on the drivers side just started to pop up and the rear door I know I want to do all 4 gem all at one time before you can no longer get them. I had the part number written in my notes at one time. I hope this helps and its listed in previous forums. Yes I like the Red, it really stands out. Duane, MI

 

No need to replace clips. In front of the molding there is a retaining piece, take that off, the whole molding slides off the door if you pull back. The reason they swell is the metal inside rusts. I've got a few bad ones, and you know generally the whole thing isn't rusted. I'm going to attempt to cut one of these open, salvage the good metal and use it to fix a couple others using JB Weld. The trick will be to reseal the "repaired" one--otherwise the same thing will happen again. And this will be no easy trick since reinstall means it will have to clear the clips and not break the seal apart in the process. lol. I am thinking 3M seam sealer. That stuff is tough as hell.

 

I replaced all my lower trim last year. As I recall the stock is getting really low and might be NLA as of now. Email bill at Gvap to get an updated inventory count before you decide to purchase.
All 4 arrived from 4 different warehouses/dealers around the country and they were dated 2004 and older suggesting new trim has not been produced in quite sometime.
It is possible if the warehouse runs out but there is still demand Audi could contract a limited run to replenish their stock.

I did not replace my white clips, I removed them from the door [tricky without scratching the paint], cleaned them up and waxed them and put them back on. I took the opportunity to put a few coats of wax around the nail heads and the lower door where the trim covers as extra protection.

The plastic barb/spade with metal barb holds the trim in place once installed although the new trim is so tight they might not be needed. Once you install the plug and if you wanted to remove the trim you will not be able to easily without tearing up the lower trim piece.

The plug does help keep road debris from collecting and in an area with salt you certainly do not want salt getting packed in so it can start dissolving the metal.

As stated the rubber trim has flat metal rebar [for lack of a better word] which rusts thus removing the tension against the door.

If this metal was stainless the trim would be twice the price but also stay rigid for 20+ years. I am sure Audi figured it was overkill as most 90's would not be on the road after 20 years but many still are.

<a href="http://img216.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=488005858_IMG_2028_122_124lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img216.imagevenue.com/loc124/th_488005858_IMG_2028_122_124lo.JPG" border="0"></a><a href="http://img135.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=488031412_IMG_2029_122_456lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img135.imagevenue.com/loc456/th_488031412_IMG_2029_122_456lo.JPG" border="0"></a><a href="http://img229.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=488063930_IMG_2030_122_367lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img229.imagevenue.com/loc367/th_488063930_IMG_2030_122_367lo.JPG" border="0"></a><br><a href="http://img247.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=488083400_IMG_2026_122_353lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img247.imagevenue.com/loc353/th_488083400_IMG_2026_122_353lo.JPG" border="0"></a><a href="http://img43.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=488096270_IMG_2027_122_360lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img43.imagevenue.com/loc360/th_488096270_IMG_2027_122_360lo.JPG" border="0"></a><a href="http://img15.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=488106177_IMG_2035_122_93lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img15.imagevenue.com/loc93/th_488106177_IMG_2035_122_93lo.JPG" border="0"></a><br><a href="http://img211.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=488123425_IMG_2031_122_1090lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img211.imagevenue.com/loc1090/th_488123425_IMG_2031_122_1090lo.JPG" border="0"></a><a href="http://img220.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=488138599_IMG_2032_122_896lo.JPG" target=_blank><img src="http://img220.imagevenue.com/loc896/th_488138599_IMG_2032_122_896lo.JPG" border="0"></a>

 

i hear you guys but ive known that they are hard to find... and they are 74+ each to get... so ive decided to remove all of them since they were all rusted inside.... i cleaned the area pretty good and in the spring time im going to paint that area black...

 

thats a nice looking car man! keep it up!

 

thanks

now im going into the axles... i need to buy some tools!! yay its a trip to sears