GX 460 Door Side Molding Removal

[Trapper]

Just picked up a 2012 GX 460 for a daily driver/family hauler. I'd like to remove the door side moldings for a cleaner more LC150 look. Are they just stuck on with adhesive or are there also holes/clips in the sheet metal to attach and line them up? I know when I pulled the flares and molding on my 80 there were holes in the body that needed to be covered/filled. Hoping to avoid that this time around.

 

[gxgonz]

I'm not sure how they attach but some guys were adding those on the early models to make them appear like premium models. They were only on the premium models the first couple of years. From what I remember they attached w adhesive when those guys attached them.

 

[Jacket]

The parts diagram would imply that there are at least two bolts/clips to mount the door moldings. But I'm not sure how that jibes with adding them after the fact.

Edit: Here's a thread with a link to another thread that shows clips as part of the process. So if your GX came with the moldings already installed, there are likely holes in the doors. If you install them after the fact, you can remove the clips and just use the adhesive.

Side Molding Installation on 2011 Base GX - Club Lexus Forums

 

[Trapper]

Fantastic info! I didn't think to search the web for installation. I only looked for removal. I agree, there are going to be holes in the doors. Looks like I'll be leaving the molding on the truck. My 80 is Line-Xed down the side, so I aluminum taped the holes and sprayed over them. No such plans for the GX haha.

 

[gxgonz]

Fantastic info! I didn't think to search the web for installation. I only looked for removal. I agree, there are going to be holes in the doors. Looks like I'll be leaving the molding on the truck. My 80 is Line-Xed down the side, so I aluminum taped the holes and sprayed over them. No such plans for the GX haha.

Oh come on. You don't want to be the first 460 with line-x protection?

 

[thzpcs]

Oh come on. You don't want to be the first 460 with line-x protection?

You have to go the full monty and do the whole thing.