Removing Body Molding

[svaneld]

Is there any way to remove body molding off a 2005 GMC Sierra? I would like to take off the side chrome molding but I dont know how and if the paint underneath will be damaged.

[88K5]

Should just be taped on. Use a plastic putty knife. Use wax/grease remover to remove any glue that is left over.

[dirtfan21]

Yes, pretty easy actually. Use some heat, credit card or fishing line, roll the rest of the 3M tape off with your thumb, and then wax off any dirt left under. Just did my buddy's 2006 GMC HD last week and it took like an hour. Just go slow and dont rip the trim off.

[pm26]

I cannot seem to understand the futility of this exercise. People actually pay extra to get body side moldings on cars and trucks these days. They really protect the doors from dings. Just what is the rationale for ripping these off? They at least break up the dull look of large expanses of sheet metal.

[05silvycrew]

Just what is the rationale for ripping these off?

 

because it's the "clean" look poeple are after, flowing from one end to the other without distractions. more importantly, it's their truck and that's what they want to do.

 

I pulled mine off last year. I used fishing line to cut the 3M tape behind the molding, then rolled the rest off with my thumbs, goo gone to get any stick residue, clay bar to pick up any little deposits, polish, and wax. Can't even tell they were ever there.

 

like mentioned before, TAKE YOUR TIME, don't get impatient and yank or pull the molding. oh yeah, buy some band-aids for your thumbs

[Sean006]

Yeah I would like to do this to mine also. I don't like it cause it makes it harder to clean the truck down the sides....too many small sections now. Also i would like to take it off cause i don't like all the chrome.

 

Wish i ordered the truck instead of buying what's on the lot.....i never would have gotten these or the chrome mirrors. Would like to have it so my wheels, steps and door handles are the only thing chrome.

[hockeypro1411]

I took mine off of my '03. I did it mainly because they were dirt traps, but I also wanted to clean the truck up a bit. All I did was hit them with a heat gun a little bit and tug gently. Don't hit them straight on with the heat because they're thick and it won't even heat the adhesive; it'll just burn the molding. Instead go from the top down to start, and then go from the side as you gently pull. Just be careful to not heat the paint too much so you don't mess it up.

 

Before:

 

During:

 

Post-Molding:

 

Final clean-up:

 

The paint behind the moldings was literally stained brown from the dirt. Getting it back to white took me about 45 minutes per side including re-waxing the whole door.