Body Side Molding Installation Guide

Torso side molding does double duty when it comes to your vehicle'south artful value. On one manus, body side molding adds a custom look to your car or truck, creating lines and angles that set up it apart from similar models directly from the dealership. Consider chrome body side molding, which can bring sharp and shiny definition to a ii-door workhorse, a iv-door passenger transport, or whatever yous've got. On the other paw, auto body side molding besides protects the paint, interim as a guard confronting things that go crash-land in the parking lot.

What is Trunk Side Molding?

Body side molding from Cowles tin can exist considered a "protective accent." It comes in the form of a strip with adhesive on one side and an attractive, compatible surface on the other. The adhesive is 3M pressure sensitive acrylic foam attachment tape, which allows for a tight, secure bail. The side facing out toward the rest of the world may exist black or silverish, rounded or flat. There are many sizes, colors, and styles to choose from, in fact, all of which will serve as a barrier that can proceed motorcar doors, runaway shopping carts, and other hazards from scratching or chipping the paint on your own vehicle's side.

Some cars come with torso side molding already installed, only many practise not. Dealerships may offer it as an choice—an "actress" or "bonus" that adds to the price tag—but body side molding is something that you yourself tin purchase and install, saving money, investing in the life of your vehicle, and exercising complete control over the expect and security of your pigment job, trim, and accessories.

Trunk Side Molding Placement

Each brand and model of a car, truck, SUV, or van should have its ain manufacturer-recommended trunk side molding type and placement guidelines. With Cowles' torso side molding, universal styles can be applied to any vehicle, though you may notwithstanding want to inquiry the recommended installation details.

For style reasons, body side molding should be placed wherever it will enhance your car'south appearance. Chrome trim is another pop choice for people looking to add an aesthetic edge.

For pigment protection reasons, think almost the places your own vehicle is most likely to go dinged. The doors are obvious selections, but even then, there's a lot of body to encompass. Consider that the areas that stick out the uttermost are the ones that suffer the most impacts. These areas are where body side molding should be practical. Call back of it like suiting upwards your car or truck for a contact sport. You don't wrap the players in bubble wrap; you protect the most exposed and/or vulnerable parts with knee and elbow pads, wrist guards, and a helmet.

The molding's flexibility allows information technology to bend and bend to fit the exact contours of your ride, and so it tin can hug the side for the length of your vehicle.

Trunk Side Molding for Cars

Car body side molding comes in a variety of colors to either match or complement your existing pigment job. There'south a range of sizes, as well, with fine-line and mid-line options for a subtle look. The universal style volition, as the name implies, work with any vehicle with its flat, basic surface, only it'south not the only option. Other styles include European, which has a more pronounced slope, likewise as round, trapezoidal, and pyramid shapes. The caprice and taurus options bear a groove that adds visual dimension.

Body Side Molding for Trucks

Truck body side molding, similar its automobile counterpart, is available for color matching—but remember that it comes in chrome, likewise. Since trucks tend to be bigger, drivers are oft looking for molding to match. There's a bold-line option, likewise as torso side molding sizes that range up to 2 inches. Note that non every colour is bachelor in every style, and so be sure to double-check that the kind yous want comes in the tone you want. Download the Cowles Products itemize to view all styles and lengths.

Body Side Molding Installation

Step one

First, continue in mind that the ideal temperature for this work is 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Mark the exact area y'all want to install the torso side molding past outlining it with a tape that tin safely adhere to your car's paint without damaging it during removal. Painters tape should work, but you may want to test it first on an camouflaged expanse, just to be certain. Once satisfied with your choice of record, and with the precise location of your body side molding, run a long strip of tape just above the length of the surface area. When the time comes for installation, you tin can just follow the line past applying your molding directly under the lower edge of the tape.

Step 2

Prepare this area by removing any and all grit, grease, soot, or grime from where y'all want the body side molding to stick. Cleaning it well with soap and water, then drying it effectively with a lint-free fabric is the minimum requirement for this step. Y'all should also utilize a auto-paint-safe solvent to remove any trace of oils or other greasy residue to provide an ideal surface for the trunk side molding agglutinative. Use a fifty/50 mixture of rubbing alcohol and water on a soft cloth to clean the surface.

Footstep 3

Cut the molding to the proper lengths to fit where it'due south needed. We recommend using shears for a clean, quick cut. Peel the backing off of the first stretch of body side molding to be practical, then begin sticking information technology to the vehicle at the pre-ready line. Move slowly but evenly, smoothing out the molding with steady pressure every bit you go to ensure that it stays level and direct. Avert touching the adhesive side or allowing any dirt or debris to come into contact with it during the installation. Once the entire strip has been applied, run a soft cloth along it from start to terminate.

Step iv

Remove the guiding tape, and allow the body side molding adhesive to sit for several days before washing the car or otherwise assuasive the strips to be disturbed. Once the molding is firmly in place, the only thing left to do is bulldoze!