Removing Door Emblem

star2323 · January 28, 2008

I'm replacing the door emblems on my Silverado. Are there any tricks for getting the old ones off?

When putting new ones on are there any tricks for getting them straight?

tobias · January 28, 2008

I'm replacing the door emblems on my Silverado. Are there any tricks for getting the old ones off?

When putting new ones on are there any tricks for getting them straight?

For removing them:

High-test fishing line and Goo Gone. If you do it outside or in the cold, take a hair dryer and heat up the area first. That will allow for the adhesive to release easier.

For replacing them:

Measure for some reference points before you remove the old ones and then use a China Marker to mark the reference points after you have cleaned the area but before you apply the new ones.

The China Marker will come off with some thinner or Naptha. Use a rag damp with the solvent though as you don't want that stuff running down behind the adhesive.

Notes:

If you are upgrading to a different style of emblem, make a nice China Marker Line that is parallel to the door molding or other straight line on the vehicle then use that line to align the emblem when sticking it.

*Remember, measure twice, cut once. I realize you aren't cutting but "measure twice, stick once" doesn't sound very good.

Daddy

star2323 · January 28, 2008

Excellent. Thank you. What is a China Marker though? Where do I get one?

Darkanion · January 28, 2008

Out of curiosity, what are you replacing the emblems with?

tobias · January 28, 2008

Excellent. Thank you. What is a China Marker though? Where do I get one?

You won't need a dozen of them but this should help you understand what they are. You've probably seen them before but known the name. Here you go.

Daddy

Mazer18 · January 28, 2008

The side of a tree works nicely. Quick, simple, and you don't have to mess with any nasty chemicals

BSsil · January 28, 2008

you may have already done it, but before you peel them off, take masking tape (the blue or green stuff for painting) and just run a strip under all the letters... theres your horizonal reference.... then figure out what gap you want between each letter (find a rectangular object in ur garage somewhere, even a wide marker) and stick one letter, put the object agasint it, then get the next letter and place it right beside that.... and so on... way less time involved than marking it all, then having to clean up all the marker...

also for taking them off, can use fishing line, jsut put it behind the letter and pull the line though... sorta like flossing ur teeth, but on ur truck. you can almost even get away with dental floss, bit its weak and breaks... i took all of the molding and a few gm logos off my truck, and soemtimes they can leave a cloudy look that is hard to get off (i have a black truck so i can see EVERYTHING), but i just got it waxed and it looks prime now.... much happier after i took the molding off.... best improvment looks wise for my truck yet, really makes it alot cleaner.

cc1999 · January 28, 2008

I used, some plastic razor blades, that I picked up at Orieley's and some 3M adheisive remover, to remove my green E-85 emplems off my Suburban. The plastic blades worked real well, and did not scratch the paint.

tobias · January 28, 2008

you may have already done it, but before you peel them off, take masking tape (the blue or green stuff for painting) and just run a strip under all the letters... theres your horizonal reference.... then figure out what gap you want between each letter (find a rectangular object in ur garage somewhere, even a wide marker) and stick one letter, put the object agasint it, then get the next letter and place it right beside that.... and so on... way less time involved than marking it all, then having to clean up all the marker...

also for taking them off, can use fishing line, jsut put it behind the letter and pull the line though... sorta like flossing ur teeth, but on ur truck. you can almost even get away with dental floss, bit its weak and breaks... i took all of the molding and a few gm logos off my truck, and soemtimes they can leave a cloudy look that is hard to get off (i have a black truck so i can see EVERYTHING), but i just got it waxed and it looks prime now.... much happier after i took the molding off.... best improvment looks wise for my truck yet, really makes it alot cleaner.

The emblems for a 2001 are solid, if I recall correctly, and the individual letters for the 07 and newer come joined together for application. The letters are not attached physically to each other but all of them are attached to maintain their spacing by a heavy gauge tape similar to what is used for applying vinyl. The reason for using the marker and not tape is that the application tape sticks to tape more readily than it sticks to wax marker. It's much easier to reposition an emblem when not having to worry about the emblem itself or the application tape sticking to the painter's tape. It might seem easier up front but I have run into this situation before and while it may take 30 extra seconds to clean up the marker, it doesn't ruin an entire emblem by getting tape stuck to the back of it. Accidents happen and it's always best to mitigate them before hand.

Daddy