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Best tools/method for removing interior trim panels?
Taking my interior out for a harness bar and it's fighting me. So many stubborn trim clips in areas hard to get to. I have plastic trim tools, a metal one, and a nylon wedge set. Am I missing some magic tool or technique? Garage temp was mid 60s. Got most apart, but some I just kept pulling a little harder and I feel I got lucky. My passenger quarter lower trim had two broken clips from prior owner. Technique wise do you:
1. Just pull?
2. Use a tool to pop each clip?
3. Heat?
Still have to do the quarter window trim... my car may be harder as it's not new and fresh. It's a 2014 with 55K Miles.
Last edited by RapidC84B; Nov 27, 2018 at 10:34 PM.
You have way more than probably 90% of the folks have tool wise. Try to use one with the center gap so it can pop evenly on both sides of tabs if it is a single post tab. If a clip type I would try using a wide blade tool on EACH side of the clip to spread the force. Using a blow dryer this time of year at each location might warm/loosen the fit to make it easier. Dealer should have or can order those that you break. Good luck!
You have way more than probably 90% of the folks have tool wise. Try to use one with the center gap so it can pop evenly on both sides of tabs if it is a single post tab. If a clip type I would try using a wide blade tool on EACH side of the clip to spread the force. Using a blow dryer this time of year at each location might warm/loosen the fit to make it easier. Dealer should have or can order those that you break. Good luck!
What do you mean by single post vs clip? All of them are various sizes of the metal clips that I call "trim clips". They have two sharp prongs on each side that hold them to the trim panel and then use spring tension to insert into a female slot. Do you prefer metal or plastic tools? I find the plastic ones flex a lot, but the metal handle one can dent trim.
Last edited by RapidC84B; Nov 27, 2018 at 11:01 PM.
My bad, I was thinking of the plastic post type fasteners for other things. Definitely use plastic or padding of some type to prevent scratching the panels. Others will have differing opinions I'm sure. They are a bear to pop loose. I took the center console apart to install a MGW shifter & the door side panel trim off to fix the dreaded Base (from music) vibration from the door speakers. Couple of the bottom (thank goodness) door panel clips didn't close completely but since it was the bottom & I'm not totally **** I let them be.
Last edited by madrob2020; Nov 27, 2018 at 11:09 PM.
Good luck. You are better equipped than I am. The metal clips are way to strong in my opinion. The best you can hope for is to know where the clip is, get your tool or fingers as close to the clips as possible, then pull or pry straight out. Meaning not at an angle. It's pretty normal to pull the plastic out of the clip, and have the clip stay stuck in the hole, at least some of the time.
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Best tools/method for removing interior trim panels?
Good luck!
