Hello, I'm new here and this is my first post, let's see how this goes. I've just bought a 99 XLT 4x4 stepside and in pretty good shape. My only problem with it is that the previous owner put this chrome trim running below the doors on both sides and I want to remove it. Any ideas on how to take it off without taking off the paint too? Any help is appreciated.

 

First thing you need to do is to bring your truck indoors or wait till a warm day to remove it, since its easier to remove if the adhesive is warm. You could also use a hair dryer or heat gun (on low) to gradually warm up the trim and try to separate it from the adhesive. Take your time here, or you could lift the paint with the adhesive. Heat the trim a bit, test to see if it will separate, heat some more, etc. Dont worry too much about removing all the adhesive just yet, because theres a solution to that in the next part.

Once all the trim is off, then you need to remove the left over adhesive. 3M makes a tool called a "stripe off wheel" that goes in an electric drill and acts like an eraser to quickly remove the old adhesive. I used one on my trucks stock pinstriping and liked it alot. Once all the adhesive is removed, then its just a matter of buffing out the paint so it all looks uniform.

Its not a tough job, its just time consuming and takes a bit of patience. Good luck!

 

Thanks! I had completely no idea where to start and if it would be tough or not. I do think I might wait on it just because I would probably try to rush it.

 

For those hard to remove adhesives, eraser wheel works great.

 

I heard some guys use fishline or dental floss to remove badges before painting. Getting off the residue from the adhesive can be done using a heat gun. I took off those plastic fender gauard that came on the truck off that way. I used a rag soaked in keorsine and a plastic puddy/spackel blade of get the rest of it off.

 

Once you have all the chrome panels off WD 40 works fairly well to remove adhesive residue and won't hurt the paint. Soak, wipe and repeat as required.

Good Luck