Removal & Reinstallation of "Roof Panel Joint Finish Molding" -- Any Advice/Experience?

[Scrappycrow]

Y'all,

After a year and a half of ownership, I'm finally about to treat my Tahoe's exterior to some TLC. I'd like to take care of as many nooks and crannies as possible, so I'll be removing & reinstalling various pieces. As part of that, does anyone have any advice or experience with the "Roof Panel Joint Finish Molding" (the black strips along the top sides of the rear portion of the roof)? Will it matter for sealing if these are simply left off? These things are absurdly expensive, so I'd like to not damage them or any panel sealing.

Before anyone asks, yes, I understand (and have used multiple times) the "dental floss trick" for removing trim pieces held by double-stick/foam.

Thanks in advance,
Scrappy

 

[solli5pack]

I currently do not have any experience with them but I will soon since mine started peeling up. I think they're just glued in there.

 

[ReaperHWK]

Yes. When you buy a new one it comes with the adhesive. Best way is to remove the old one, clean all the residue off with alcohol mixture, and apply new one.

 

[Rocket Man]

They’re only for looks, they serve no purpose as far as sealing. They are used to cover the body seam thats welded and seam sealed along the roof line. They’re held on with 3M Hi Bond tape.

 

[mountie]

I currently do not have any experience with them but I will soon since mine started peeling up. I think they're just glued in there.
View attachment 457390

I used 4" black gaffers tape on the leading edge...... So far so good... ( you can't tell the gaffers tape is there.
( "Gaffers tape"...... The concert stage flat black 'anti-reflective' type duck tape..... Actually lasts a long time.

 

[Scrappycrow]

Thanks for the input, Y'all!

 

[petethepug]

Ironically just had a buddy refer me to this 3M product for boats. I used it to lock in a plastic anchor into a marble shower dam wall that a piece of 4x8 glass needed a frameless glass shower clip mounted on.

It’s only made in white but this particular version dries in 24-48 hrs and can be shaved or removed with a razor or friction. Some of the best for weather protection I’ve seen. Be careful, don’t buy the one that takes a week to dry.

3M Adhesive Sealant

Amazon.com

 

[mountie]

Ironically just had a buddy refer me to this 3M product for boats. I used it to lock in a plastic anchor into a marble shower dam wall that a piece of 4x8 glass needed a frameless glass shower clip mounted on.

View attachment 457657

It’s only made in white but this particular version dries in 24-48 hrs and can be shaved or removed with a razor or friction. Some of the best for weather protection I’ve seen. Be careful, don’t buy the one that takes a week to dry.

3M Adhesive Sealant

Amazon.com

View attachment 457658

The 4 inches of the rubber trim end, was so firm, it took a bit of effort to allow the adhesive to keep it flat.

 

[j1req]

I've just teared them off. Was a pita to straighten them back for reinstallation.
All they do is help to prevent water gathering up on the sealant that's underneath. If you leave them out, be prepared to re-do the sealant because it will definitely crack after some freeze-unfreeze cycles in winter

 

[Rocket Man]

I've just teared them off. Was a pita to straighten them back for reinstallation.
All they do is help to prevent water gathering up on the sealant that's underneath. If you leave them out, be prepared to re-do the sealant because it will definitely crack after some freeze-unfreeze cycles in winter

They are beauty strips, they do not seal water out. They don’t fit in there super tight like a gasket would. Nothing will happen to the seam sealer if you leave them out. And the seam sealer used there is the same that’s used everywhere on the truck where two pieces of metal come together in a seam that needs to be sealed, and water has zero effect on it. I bought a pickup that had those pieces missing for years and the seam sealer was unaffected of course. If you have an opinion that’s fine, but if you state something as if you know it as a fact you need to be able to back it up in which case you can’t on this. For another thing, there is no sealant on any vehicle that I have ever heard of being affected by freeze/ thaw cycles. If there were, there would be leaks from panels everywhere. Nonsense.

 

[Rocket Man]

Ironically just had a buddy refer me to this 3M product for boats. I used it to lock in a plastic anchor into a marble shower dam wall that a piece of 4x8 glass needed a frameless glass shower clip mounted on.

View attachment 457657

It’s only made in white but this particular version dries in 24-48 hrs and can be shaved or removed with a razor or friction. Some of the best for weather protection I’ve seen. Be careful, don’t buy the one that takes a week to dry.

3M Adhesive Sealant

Amazon.com

View attachment 457658

For fiberglass and wood? I didn’t know our rigs were made out of either!!!!!

 

[j1req]

They are beauty strips, they do not seal water out. They don’t fit in there super tight like a gasket would. Nothing will happen to the seam sealer if you leave them out. And the seam sealer used there is the same that’s used everywhere on the truck where two pieces of metal come together in a seam that needs to be sealed, and water has zero effect on it. I bought a pickup that had those pieces missing for years and the seam sealer was unaffected of course. If you have an opinion that’s fine, but if you state something as if you know it as a fact you need to be able to back it up in which case you can’t on this. For another thing, there is no sealant on any vehicle that I have ever heard of being affected by freeze/ thaw cycles. If there were, there would be leaks from panels everywhere. Nonsense.

That sealant there is not covered up by paint and has no UV resistance, that's why it will eventually fail without these beauty strips. Freeze/thaw cycles will help it fail faster because more water will build up on top and on already flaring edges of completely solid sealant with almost zero flex/expand capability. Every sealant is indirectly affected by freeze/thaw because water gets in the tiniest cracks and flares and then expands significally when frozen.
English is not my native tongue so I may not have made myself clear enough, but your reaction seems to be excessive, to say the very least. I had to re-seal this exact place on my '08 hoe this spring: with a lot of ice buildup on it during winter and being constantly freezing and unfreezing the whole sealant strip on both sides came off with only a half an inch piece keeping it on the roof.

 

[petethepug]

For fiberglass and wood? I didn’t know our rigs were made out of either!!!!!

Goodness Mark, I thought you developed some interpersonal skills since you last got butt hurt interacting with me. Sending out weird, unsolicited DM to new participants (like me) on this forum is creepy.

You DM me and practically begged me not to interact with you, but many years later, here we are again. You need to put away that 7 year itch you have for me. It’s embarrassing to watch you go down this road again.

 

[mountie]

Goodness Mark, I thought you developed some interpersonal skills since you last got butt hurt interacting with me. Sending out weird, unsolicited DM to new participants (like me) on this forum is creepy.

You DM me and practically begged me not to interact with you, but many years later, here we are again. You need to put away that 7 year itch you have for me. It’s embarrassing to watch you go down this road again.

I’m from So Cal……. So you should know……. Rules are to be broken…..

 

[petethepug]

I’m just waiting for the “I was just kidding” reply. Everyone breaks rules and everyone knows Mark needs to speak for himself. He’s asked for attention and already regrets it.

 

[alpha_omega]

I currently do not have any experience with them but I will soon since mine started peeling up. I think they're just glued in there.

Take it through the auto car wash. It will pull them up a little more. Removal is easy after that. Ask me how I know…

 

[mountie]

Take it through the auto car wash. It will pull them up a little more. Removal is easy after that. Ask me how I know…

I was thinking ( ??? )… Remove them, lay them out in the hot sun… soften them up, then re-install??

I wonder what the part number is, and buy new ones….

 

[alpha_omega]

I was thinking ( ??? )… Remove them, lay them out in the hot sun… soften them up, then re-install??

I wonder what the part number is, and buy new ones….

They never go back to the normal shape. Wind grabs them easily and they are ripped up again. Clean and install new is the best option.

Depending on your vehicle and the color will determine the p/n. Mine was GM 15826605

 

[solli5pack]

Take it through the auto car wash. It will pull them up a little more. Removal is easy after that. Ask me how I know…

Working on it!

 

[alpha_omega]

Working on it!

Yeah like that! See you can ruin it. Don’t ever let anyone tell you it’s impossible. I believe in you.