Rear window 'trim/surround'

Topic: Rear window 'trim/surround' (Read 2222 times) previous topic - next topic

Rear window 'trim/surround'

August 21, 2006, 12:55:41 PM

How do you remove the ring around the rear window? Is it just glued in? I swear I saw something about this before, but I can't find it anywhere.

Also, is there a reasonable way to remove the door handles? They seem riveted in. What about the locks? They seem like they should be easy, but they're in the far corner of the door.

Just need to take these last things off to finish the prep work and get the thing painted tomorrow.

Rear window 'trim/surround'

Reply #1 – August 21, 2006, 01:04:02 PM

Not sure about the 87-88 window trim.

Drill the rivets to remove the handles.

The locks are held in by large clips you can see if you look at the end of the door by the locks.

Rear window 'trim/surround'

Reply #2 – August 21, 2006, 01:21:41 PM

I believe the rear window trim is held on by clips.
From what I've heard, it can be very dicey to remove it. Those clips were designed to hold the trim, and they do it very well.
Bending that aluminum is certainly possible when trying to remove it.

Rear window 'trim/surround'

Reply #3 – August 21, 2006, 01:35:53 PM

Quote from: cougarcragar

I believe the rear window trim is held on by clips.
From what I've heard, it can be very dicey to remove it. Those clips were designed to hold the trim, and they do it very well.
Bending that aluminum is certainly possible when trying to remove it.

I learned that quickly enough when removing the back glass from that parts TC. I had originally hoped to remove it intact to use on my car (get rid of the chrome), but the situation quickly degraded from "I'm gonna save that trim" to "Oh please come off" to "Oh, you're coming off, you SOB". needless to say the trim did not survive. The worst part is that I've gotta pull the back window from the '88 to fix a water leak. I think I may let a glass shop take care of (and therefore take responsibility for) that job...

Rear window 'trim/surround'

Reply #4 – August 21, 2006, 01:51:00 PM

Glass shops have the correct tool to remove that trim safely (i.e. without breaking the glass). That's what I'd recommend. Is yours an '87 or '88? Metal or rubber trim?

Rear window 'trim/surround'

Reply #5 – August 21, 2006, 03:41:34 PM

88/rubber. Pulling up on it seems to move the entire rear window so at this point, we're thinking of shooting around/under it.

Replacement passenger door from AM was rust-less but finding some surface rust on my drivers side door that needs to go away now. Time to break out the acid again.

Rear window 'trim/surround'

Reply #6 – August 22, 2006, 02:07:40 PM

You can also get that trim remover tool at the parts store. They don't cost to much.

Rear window 'trim/surround'

Reply #7 – August 22, 2006, 04:53:51 PM

I can tell you that the best way is to remove the entire window, I had 87 parts car and curiousity got the best of me so i tried everything i could on the passenger side to get the trim off and as TC said its not a good idea...so I took off the inside panels on the drivers side and undid the bolts holding the window frame in and ran apiece of floss like wire around the rubber sealant and it came out very nicely. Now keep in mind i did not put it back in so i cant give any advise on resealing the window but i really dont think that would be a problem once its painted.

Rear window 'trim/surround'

Reply #8 – August 22, 2006, 05:36:46 PM

I must have misunderstood, I thought we were talking about the backlight (the one with the defroster grid). I didn't even know the quarter window trim came off...

Rear window 'trim/surround'

Reply #9 – August 22, 2006, 06:00:24 PM

uhhhhmmm...i think i may have been the confused:dunce: one, sorry about that

Rear window 'trim/surround'

Reply #10 – August 22, 2006, 08:21:59 PM

Well just to let you all know the quarter window trim does come off. None of the window trim is that hard to get off. I did it with a small flat blade screw driver.