For the most part, minor dings, paint-chips and body blemishes arise in parking lots when someone in an adjacent car opens a door too quickly or carelessly, and the door-edge comes in contact with your vehicle's exterior. Many vehicles come with decorative side-moldings, strategically placed at "door-ding height" to help prevent this from occurring. If your vehicle lacks such protective accessories, you may want to consider installing it yourself. Installing side molding is a fairly simple undertaking, provided that you take the time to apply it carefully and meticulously. Before you begin, make certain that all the doors on your vehicle are aligned properly.
There are various types of moldings available from your auto-supply retailer. Some are simply thin rubber strips (figure A) with an adhesive already applied to the back. In our demonstration, however, we chose to install wider molding with a faux-chrome center-strip. The molding is held in place by double-sided adhesive strips designed specifically for this purpose (figure B).
Materials:
Side-molding installation kit, including double-sided adhesive strips
Cutting tool or snips
Rubbing alcohol
Clean white rag
Guide tape (1/4" electrical tape will work)
Masking tape
Grease pencil
- Prepare the surface by cleaning it thoroughly with alcohol and a clean white cotton rag (figure C). This removes wax and readies the surface so the adhesive can bond to it securely. Avoid using colored rags for cleaning, as the dyes in the fabric may leave behind a film or residue.
- Apply a thin strip of guide tape along the entire length of the vehicle to help you position the molding so that it's perfectly straight.
- Once the guide tape has been installed and you are certain that it provides a straight and reliable guide, use masking tape to temporarily fit the entire length of molding in place on the vehicle (figure D). This will allow you to determine where you'll need to cut the molding to allow for the vehicle's doors and seams, and to prepare for a precise and accurate installation.
- Use a grease pencil to mark the exact locations on the molding where you'll need to make the cuts (figure E).
- At the door-opening, and where the molding terminates at the edge of the wheel-well, you'll need to cut diagonal lines to match the line on the vehicle. To ensure an accurate cut, determine the angle of the cut, then mark the location and angle of the cut with tape (figure F).
- Once you've marked all the locations, use a cutting tool to carefully cut the molding. The molding is made from a relatively soft plastic, so cutting through it shouldn't be difficult.
- Concentrating on one section at a time, peel the backing from the adhesive strips (figure G) and press the section of molding into place (figure H). After it is applied to the vehicle surface, rub the section of molding firmly with a cloth to help ensure that it is seated securely.
- At the hinged edge of the door, you'll need to bevel the ends of the molding (figure I) so that there's enough clearance between the two molding ends when the door is opened. Use your cutting tool to cut beveled ends on these adjacent pieces of molding (figure J).
RESOURCES:
Auto Repair for Dummies
Author: Deanna Sclar
ISBN: 0764550896
Vehicles provided by McNelly-Whaley Ford Lincoln Mercury
750 Dolly Parton Parkway
Sevierville, TN 37862
Phone: 865-453-2833
Web site: www.ford4u.com
Vehicles provided by Lance Cunningham Ford
Vehicles provided by Lance Cunningham Ford
4101 Clinton Highway
Knoxville, TN
Web site: www.lancecunninghamford.com
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