Does exterior trim come off?

[Duramax52513]

I have a 2004 LB7, I recently painted my front and rear bumpers black due to some surface rust I had to sand off, now I have the trim that goes midway down on the doors and runs across the back door and front door with a chrome strip on it, can I take that off or is there's holes in the door for holding that trim on, of you can take it off how do you do it and I'm assuming after it
Comes off you have to buff it? Please help me out and give me some advice

 

[06_6.6]

It comes off. You'll need: fishing line, heat gun/blow dryer/hot day, 3M adhesive remover, a drill and an eraser wheel to remove double sided tape. Don't pay $40 for one at a parts store, get one off of ebay or amazon. Got mine off of ebay for $15 to my door. It's also a good idea to get a clay bar and clay that surface underneath and then wax where the moldings were. Spray wax should be fine. That clay bar will really help getting the dark spots from the tape off.

Sent from the land of teepee's and buffaloes

 

[Duramax52513]

Does it look bad after you take the trim off, like can you notice a
Color difference once you take the trim off, fishing line and a heat gun I have, where can I get the clay bar at and how does it work, do I rub the clay bar on it and then wash it and wax it?

 

[durallymax]

A good heat gun will help, your wifes blowdryer will take awhile. With a good enough heat gun you can just rip them off. Fishing line can be used also. Plastic putty knifes can help gt you under it to start.

3M adhesive remover always lets me down, get some Rapid Tac remover. Works great. You can use a pinstripe wheen, just don't get too carried away. A good heat gun, some Rapid Tac and a little chisler will get you far.

On an old black truck like that you will most likely need to get it buffed so you don't see the difference where they were at.

 

[durallymax]

Does it look bad after you take the trim off, like can you notice a
Color difference once you take the trim off, fishing line and a heat gun I have, where can I get the clay bar at and how does it work, do I rub the clay bar on it and then wash it and wax it?

You can get a cheaper Mothers or Megs clay bar kit locally. Heres a link to some on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Meguiars-C-20...=UTF8&qid=1402613808&sr=8-8&keywords=clay+bar

http://www.amazon.com/3M-38070-Perf...id=1402614049&sr=8-1&keywords=perfect+it+clay


To use it you need a detailing spray for lubrication. Spray the area generously then glide the clay bar across it with no pressure, you will feel the contaminants being picked up and the resistance will go away when the surface is smooth. Don't do it dry, add more lube if needed. Work in small sections so you know what gets done.


Personally I quit using clay, too slow. I use Nanoskin pads on a DA now, much quicker. Heres a link to their hand pads.

http://www.amazon.com/Nanoskin-AS-0...=UTF8&qid=1402613852&sr=8-2&keywords=nanoskin

 

[Duramax52513]

I think I'm going to give it a try, doesn't sound to hard to do minus the buffing part, I've never used a buffer before and I don't want to mess it up so idk if I should try it or not

 

[Emanlb7]

I took all me Crome and badges off with that method on a 2004 with dark grey charcoal color and after a hand polish (three stage, cut then polish and wax) and there is no sign of where they once were, looks great.

 

[06_6.6]

I got the mothers kit and it came with a bottle of ds.

Sent from the land of teepee's and buffaloes

 

[durallymax]

I think I'm going to give it a try, doesn't sound to hard to do minus the buffing part, I've never used a buffer before and I don't want to mess it up so idk if I should try it or not

Buffing isn't brain surgery like many make it out to be. If you have no interest in doing it outside this project though just try hand polish. It wont do anything unless you have some serious dedication. I myself am lazy and like power tools. You do have to know what to look for so you don't wreck things but its not that hard to do. You can just get a DA and not worry. Nothing to mess up with those really.

If you want to polish your entire truck, get a Porter Cable 7424XP. Cheap, simple, works. Get some foam pads for it (tons of options). Then pick your polish. Personally I like and use Menzerna. FG400 will eat the deep stuff and finish out nice enough for most people. In the sun on a black vehicle though a finish step with lighter pad and SF4000 will really make it pop. PF2500 is a good one step though. Meguiars Ultimate Compound and Ultimate Polish should be available locally and are good products.