Dislodging/Missing/Warped Rub Strip Fix
09-09-07, 05:55 PM
#1
Dislodging/Missing/Warped Rub Strip Fix
Sorry for the lack of pictures, but I literally just did this today. It may seem common sense to some people, how this is done, but to others...this might be a good find.
The S4 rub strips are grand things, aren't they? In the event you remove them and leave them on anything other than a flat surface in any degree of heat or sunlight, they will warped, stretch or even shrink! So how might one go about fixing this problem and remounting the strips?
Assuming the rub strips have been removed from the car, set them out in the hot sun, under a heat lamp or a heat gun. You now must remove any traces of glue, tape, epoxy or gunk...whatever was holding them on before. If it's the factory stuff, then it's probably dried up and hardened, so it's easiest to remove. Epoxies, glues and tapes can be more difficult. So grab yourself some Goo-Gone and a PLASTIC paint spatula (or scraper, whatever you call it) and get to stripping the old crap.
Once that's done, you must repeat this process on the rub strips themselves.
Smoothed things out now? Alright. Leave all that be and concentrate on the rub strips. This will ONLY work if you have had the strips in the sun or whatever heat source you were using for at least an hour. The rubber needs to be compliant. If you've got some sort of roller, then use it. Set the strip face up on a flat, hard surface and give it a few rolls until the shape is more flat.
Since I don't have any sort of rolling pin, I just did it my way. FIRMLY grasp each end of the strip and pull. Hard. This will be difficult, but pull as hard as you can and hold it there. You will feel he strip stretching back straight. Make sure that you keep it taught for a few minutes! So don't be a wimp and get tired after thirty seconds, use some muscle!
Once you're reasonably sure that it's the right length and level enough again, it's time to ask someone to get a bucket of cold water and start pouring it over the hot, soft rub strip while you're still holding it taught. This will cool the rubber down, and because you're stretching it taught and keeping it there, it'll firm up in the shape you're forcing it in.
Set the rub strip down on a level surface, in the the shade or inside the house (Your choice), and go grab yourself some 3M 'wide' automotive trim double-sided tape.
Flip the rub strip over, make sure the back is clean, and lay down one, long strip of the tape down. Make sure it's firmly seated.
Peel off the backing, carefully lift the rub strip off the table and hold it vertically and go out to your car. Remount, starting from one end to the other and 'push' out any bubbles by working the rub strip from one end to the other, firmly, with your hand.
Repeat the process for the other side and you're done.
Hope this helps someone out.
The S4 rub strips are grand things, aren't they? In the event you remove them and leave them on anything other than a flat surface in any degree of heat or sunlight, they will warped, stretch or even shrink! So how might one go about fixing this problem and remounting the strips?
Assuming the rub strips have been removed from the car, set them out in the hot sun, under a heat lamp or a heat gun. You now must remove any traces of glue, tape, epoxy or gunk...whatever was holding them on before. If it's the factory stuff, then it's probably dried up and hardened, so it's easiest to remove. Epoxies, glues and tapes can be more difficult. So grab yourself some Goo-Gone and a PLASTIC paint spatula (or scraper, whatever you call it) and get to stripping the old crap.
Once that's done, you must repeat this process on the rub strips themselves.
Smoothed things out now? Alright. Leave all that be and concentrate on the rub strips. This will ONLY work if you have had the strips in the sun or whatever heat source you were using for at least an hour. The rubber needs to be compliant. If you've got some sort of roller, then use it. Set the strip face up on a flat, hard surface and give it a few rolls until the shape is more flat.
Since I don't have any sort of rolling pin, I just did it my way. FIRMLY grasp each end of the strip and pull. Hard. This will be difficult, but pull as hard as you can and hold it there. You will feel he strip stretching back straight. Make sure that you keep it taught for a few minutes! So don't be a wimp and get tired after thirty seconds, use some muscle!
Once you're reasonably sure that it's the right length and level enough again, it's time to ask someone to get a bucket of cold water and start pouring it over the hot, soft rub strip while you're still holding it taught. This will cool the rubber down, and because you're stretching it taught and keeping it there, it'll firm up in the shape you're forcing it in.
Set the rub strip down on a level surface, in the the shade or inside the house (Your choice), and go grab yourself some 3M 'wide' automotive trim double-sided tape.
Flip the rub strip over, make sure the back is clean, and lay down one, long strip of the tape down. Make sure it's firmly seated.
Peel off the backing, carefully lift the rub strip off the table and hold it vertically and go out to your car. Remount, starting from one end to the other and 'push' out any bubbles by working the rub strip from one end to the other, firmly, with your hand.
Repeat the process for the other side and you're done.
Hope this helps someone out.
