flynhi

Are there any tricks to removing the trim pieces to avoid breaking the attachment tabs?

Kale

It takes a bit of force to get them out toward the top. The attachment clips are fairly sturdy, but the metal teeth will stick in the car.

The part to be concerned with is the thin bits of plastic at the bottom of the pillar trim. It's extremely fragile, don't bend it. When the attachment tabs are loose, pull it STRAIGHT back.

When I was remolding mine, I dropped one about 6" and busted that part right in half. Fortunately, I was remolding them anyway.



I refer to the thin plastic at the top right...

LoneStarFRC

Nope. No tricks really. Make sure your hands are clean and dry (so you won't slip) and grab it with both hands and yank it off SHARPLY. I like to yank it at a (~) 45 degree angle, towards the center of the car when I first break it loose. Just yank it enough to pop the tabs loose. Maybe an inch or two.

When re-installing, push the front end (closest to the windshield) into position FIRMLY and come time to smack it (to latch the tabs back in), keep forward pressure towards the windshield, make SURE your tabs are lined up to the holes, and just give it a good whack on the side.

The key to not breaking any tabs is when re-installing, not removing. Having those tabs aligned with the holes is key. Same is pretty much true for all the interior trim pieces.

HTH

flynhi

Thanks Lone Star

jrose7004

Grasp firmly and pull up and out with force.

flynhi

Thanks Fellas - I got 'em off OK.

SG Lou

Can the louvers be popped out of that trim piece ?

mcgilles

I ended up breaking mine! once you get the pilar trim off look at the louvers from the inside, you can see the tabs that secure them. just remove them carefully. I broke a couple of the tabs that hold it in trying to remove mine. if that happens some hot glue or anything of the sort will hold it in place. I took mine out so I could mount it directly to the opening in my gauge pod. glued it in place with something that could be removable if I ever needed to, works perfectly.

Red Devil Z51

Any 1 know where u can get a new driver side a pillar cover I am in need of a good 1?

SG Lou

James, Are you looking for a Brand New OEM piece or a good one out of a wreck / part out?

Did you check the Classifieds? Lots of guys are always parting out Cars.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...ale-wanted-53/

There are also a few guys who have Vette Recycling Yards
Marc @ Vette Nuts is a great guy to deal with and has good quality 2nd hand stuff.

http://www.vettenuts.net/index.php

Here is one of his threads :

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-p...-99-coupe.html

LoneStarFRC

Marc is a good man.

The new ones are still available from GM AFAIK, just a bit on the "spendy" side. The current ones are being made by a different vendor for GM and have much stronger "egg-crate" reinforcing ribs on the inside and a better quality (a little thicker) covering material. I just installed one recently.

jetx11

I just pulled mine out...very easy...started at the top, then middle, then lower...i then reinstalled from the bottom up...i found it helpful to pull out the door sill upper push pin enabling the lower tab on the A pillar trim to fit in easier...i also sprayed the 3 tabs with white lithium grease to make removal easier...