How To- Side Moldings Removel and Reinstall

[o2_designs]

This will be a how-to for removing the side moldings off of any Focus, and reinstalling or replacing with new ones.

Its my first How-To, so for it might not be the greatest at first, but I'll add to it, where I see it needs it...

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You will need:
(1) Ford Focus. Any year, model or color will do...
Fishing line. Or Dental floss, but that seems to break more...
A set of side moldings to install, if your replacing the moldings.
(2) Packages of 6ftx1/2" 3M Ext Autobody Doublesided tape
(2) Packages of 6ftx1/4" 3M Ext Autobody Doublesided tape
Some type of adhesion promoter
Some type of adhesive remover

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Even tho the Kona side moldings are wonderful and all, I much prefer the SVT moldings. They clean the car up so much on the side. So I'll be installing painted side moldings in place of my Kona moldings...
Since the 00-04, have alignment pegs, and the moldings I'm using are off an 05' car I painted, there are no pegs. So if your installing moldings off a 00-04, to a 05-07, you will need to cut the pegs off the back of the moldings. I don't recommend drilling holes in the door just for the pegs...


Alright, start with your car, open the door, and start removing the moldings. I've found the best method of doing this is using that fishing line or dental floss, and slowly "cutting" thru the double sided tape. This is similar to removing the rear badging on our cars. If you have a 00-04 Focus, you will need to be careful, as there are pegs on the back of the molding. If you get crazy with it, you will cut right thru the pegs. These pegs are for alignment of installing the moldings. 05-07 do not have pegs on the molding or holes in the door. So you can go right thru without worrying about cutting the pegs. Refer to pics to see where the pegs are at...




After we get both moldings off the car. We need to remove ALL of the left over tape that is on the paint now. There are several methods to removing this stuff. 3M makes a wonderful little rubber wheel, or you can pick it off with your fingers. There are a few other methods as well. Pretty much, anything will do, just as along as you don't ruin the paint on the door. Once all the tape is gone, clean it up real good using a paint prep or adhesion promoter...


Next we need to do the same with the moldings. This will be just as fun. We need ALL the tape off the moldings. You can typically use the same method you used on the doors to get the tape off the moldings.
If your installing new moldings or pre-prepped moldings, you won't need to remove the old tape, unless, of course, there is old tape on there. Then remove if there is...


Now that the tape is clean off the moldings, once again use your adhesion promotor or any sort of paint prep, and clean the back surface of the moldings, where the tape will be going. Once clean, pull out the 3M tape, and start rolling it onto the moldings. I use the 1/2" on the top of the moldings, and the 1/4", on the bottom. That seems to stick better then the two really thin strips that come factory...


After you have both moldings retaped, its pretty simple to align the holes and pull the tape backing off. If you have a 05 or newwer, I'd suggest starting to the edge of the door, and working your way towards the fender. That way you get it the leading edge of the molding aligned, then the rest will follow towards the fender. There is a groove the top of the molding will fit into on the door as well, that will help align the proper height.
Do the same for the rear. Take note on how the other side of the car looks, and do the same steps for the front door, for the rear molding. Starting towards the front of the molding, and working your way towards the rear. Using that same groove to align the height.

Once both are on, use a towel and your hand to push on the moldings to get them tight and firm on the car. Don't use alot of pressure, the Focus door skins are not that tough, and you can easy dent or crease the door using alot of pressue.

Once you've got both on, stand back and enjoy your new moldings...

Before...


After...

[DisrupTer911]

very nice o2!!

I need to get myself a set of smooth SVT moldings for my car

[o2_designs]

Thanks

I highly recommend color coded side moldings for EVERY Focus...

[DisrupTer911]

added to the Exterior How-Tos

[rpkittle]

Great, now i can steal molding off another car to use on mine =]

jsut kidding, but that would piss me off

[zlarson]

where did you find the new molding?

[focusonfocus]

i didn't know there was red font kona moulding

good job on howto

[o2_designs]

Originally Posted by focusonfocus

i didn't know there was red font kona moulding

good job on howto

They come with yellow. But redid them to match the rest of the car when I had my time attack EAPs. The red is vinyl over the old yellow, and can be removed...

Originally Posted by zlarson

where did you find the new molding?

Salvage Yard

[LornesBored]

nice how-to, yeah I wouldnt change a thing.

I was able to just peel mine off though, after I got the 2 sided tape started coming off, cuz of those stupid holes

[focus-blue]

Nice post! Helped me out!

[glowboi87]

question! can you remove and then paint? my dad is a car painter so im sure he can take them to his booth once i sand and prime them. but do you think it is ok to do this? or do the "OLD ONES" get damaged when removing them?

[o2_designs]

There is holes there. Those will need to be filled first. Unless you have an05 or newwer, where don't have holes.

With an 05 or newwer, you can just remove the moldings, and you'll be fine. Since they don't ruin the paint. But 00-04 will need to have holes filled and painted.

[Hillyard]

Great write up!

[ThundeR]

Originally Posted by glowboi87

question! can you remove and then paint? my dad is a car painter so im sure he can take them to his booth once i sand and prime them. but do you think it is ok to do this? or do the "OLD ONES" get damaged when removing them?

If you're careful when removing them they soudn't get damaged, so you'd be able to get them painted and get them back on.

The one o2 installed looks like they're used and they seem in perfect condition.

[o2_designs]

No they came Sonic Blue.

I painted them CD Silver off the car and reinstalled.

[Pappy]

Pimp write up.

o2 pulled my stock black sides off when we re-did my exterior last year. I had them painted and I put em back on.

He's a pro taking those things off and mirror caps

[technoshark]

3M makes a great adhesive remover, for once you get the moldings off. Made my molding clean-up A LOT easier.

[nepa03focus]

i have a question problly dumb . i know the svt ones are smooth, but can you sand down the zx3 ones and get them just as smooth as the svts? ive never seen a svt in a junkyard. they do look great.

[ThundeR]

I haven't done mine yet, but it looks to be the same texture as the mirror covers, which I did. You could shoot a couple coats of high build primer (with wet sanding in between each coat). That should make it pretty smooth.

[o2_designs]

Yes, you can sand down the regular Focus ones and paint them. Actually, my side moldings, one side was SVT, the other were stock ones I painted. And you can't tell which side is which. It does'nt matter, SVT or not. Its just alot less work with the SVT ones.

[glowboi87]

ok. i am planning on pulling mine off. thanx for the write up! im sure it will make a big difference!

[starfuryt550]

What is this wonderful rubber wheel called???

[nepa03focus]

Originally Posted by o2_designs

Yes, you can sand down the regular Focus ones and paint them. Actually, my side moldings, one side was SVT, the other were stock ones I painted. And you can't tell which side is which. It does'nt matter, SVT or not. Its just alot less work with the SVT ones.

good to know, thanks for the info. now i just have to get to the junkyard.

[o2_designs]

Body shops carry that rubber wheel. 3M makes it. Can't remember what its calls. But its like 25$ for the wheel.