Removing Chrome Strip Around Trunk Well Lining

Q: Removing Chrome Strip Around Trunk Well Lining

I need to replace my trunk well lining. How do I remove the crome strip around it and then replace it? What do I need to buy to replace the rubber looking stuff under the trim to seal it to the body?

A: REMOVAL:

There shouldn’t be too much to it….but I didn’t find it easy….especially knowing it’s expensive to replace! So…

(1) : remove all of the retaining screws (philips head). Most of these are on the seat back side of the trim. I think there is also one facing more upwards right at each end of the trim. This may not be easy if you haven’t taken the trunk well liner out and if the screws are rusted. Mine were so I gave them a dose of RP7 (WD40) every day for a week, put the philips head screwdriver in and tapped the end of the scredriver with a hammer to help break the rust seal. You should also be able to spray the screws from inside the trunk.

(2) Start at one end and wiggle the trim loose slowy. It’s held on to the metal lip with retaining clips but these should slide off the lip with a bit of force. The hard part is that there is a putty/sealer under it running the full length of the trim and this is pretty good at holding the trim on. I also wiggled the whole trim by standing where the back seat is (was) and rocking it where the two pieces of trim join at the centre.

I’d suggest you take your time and if the trim doesn’t move easily spray under the full length of it with RP7 to loosen it all up, including the putty/sealer. It will come off but it took me a fair amount time!

A: REASSEMBLE:

There’s no rubber involved that I’m aware of, I can’t exactly tell what the putty was but I bagged a sample of it for when I reassemble the car. It’s Black and putty like but not really sticky (maybe because it’s so old).

It should sit within the “channel” back from the lip all the way around where the trim will sit and seemed to be all one continuous flat piece the same width as the trim. Also, it extends a 1/2 inch or so back from the metal lip, over the lip and then down under towards the trunk for about a 1/4 inch. This seems to make a good seal to stop moisture. It doesn’t look like the stuff that’s used on the bodywork, it’ was reasonable pliable even though very old. When I took the trim off, the trim came off with the mounting clips and the putty was still sitting there in the “channel” (the half inch or so dip back from the metal lip), over and under towards the trunk as above. So, I guess to reassemble in reverse is spot on.

That is…

(A) put the putty down first (about 3 millimeters thick),

(B) put the mounting clips onto the trim evenly spaced making sure that there was one close to each outer end…but not too close as there’s a screw to hold it down….I don’t think I’d put the mounting clips on the lip and then try to put the trim onto the lip & clips…seems pretty awkward given the way I took it off although that’s probably how the factory would have done it?,

(C) mount the trim starting from one side and working my way towards the centre and then around to the other side….assuming the two trim pieces fit together in the centre hasn’t been compromised…that is, if it was polished or re-chromed they still fit together as per original…the female? side has the same size opening.

Sounds pretty simple but I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun getting it all centred.

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