Rub Strip Removal How To?

[Mad_Marx]

Does anyone know how to remove the rub strips gently without breaking the plastic push-through clips?

M_M

[Petros]

The front edge is actually two small studs with 8mm nuts on them if I recall, and the rest of the plastic squeeze tips ('87 and '88 are actually glued on with doubled sided foam tape, so this applies only up to 1986). if you can get behind them you can squeeze the tip and than push them through. Also, they slip in to slots on the back of the rub strip, if you can get the front edge free, you should be able to carefully wiggle it off the squeeze tip buttons. You may still have to remove get behind the squeeze tips to get them free of the door skin. Plastic this old tends to be brittle and will just shatter when you pull on them. Lubricating with Armorall might soften them some.

[rer233]

Maybe warm 'em up a little with a heat gun??

[Petros]

that should help according to what I read. I have tried heat to return the sun faded plastic trim on newer cars to return it to charcoal grey color, it works good. likely it repairs the plastic bonds and returns the color back to normal. So heat might also work to make old brittle plastic pliable again.

[marlinh]

https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php? ... il+plastic

Doesn't apply to the rub strips, but good info.