Rear belt molding option

[Herrett]

I’ve got brand new belt moldings to go under the sliding windows. Here’s my question. Would I be better off just sliding the original belt off and siliconing around the clips and sliding the belt back on or completely replacing it with my new parts. Which is going to provide the better seal from water.

Thanks

 

[tech_dog]

I replaced these a few times, and you can just slide in a non-marring trim removal tooll and pop them off. If they're really old the clips will probably break, but the new parts come with new clips.

Once you've done it a few times it only takes a few seconds. Save a few of your old clips in case you ever need to r&r for some reason.

 

[reklund5]

I replaced these a few times, and you can just slide in a non-marring trim removal tooll and pop them off. If they're really old the clips will probably break, but the new parts come with new clips.

Once you've done it a few times it only takes a few seconds. Save a few of your old clips in case you ever need to r&r for some reason.

THIS

 

[Herrett]

Yep, I agree, it’s not that hard. I just replaced the below molding under the windows. I was just wondering if sliding the molding off and sealing the holes around the clips and sliding the molding back on would provide a better seal than the foam gasket around the new belt molding. Any thoughts?

 

[Kernal]

As already mentioned above, a thin plastic auto trim tool can be used to get under the molding (or even a credit card), slide it over to a clip and pry upward. Or, if you remove the interior cargo area panels, IIRC you can push up on the clips while squeezing/bending the tiny tabs that poke through the holes.

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Been discussed a lot but FWIW, IME/IMO there are better sealants (than silicone) to use if you need to seal a leak, if you use silicone it will be much more difficult in the future to remove the molding. Also there's not much space under the molding once it's installed, a little too much sealant/rubber and it will squeeze out from under the molding and make a mess.

FWIW I've used put a very small pea sized button of butyl rubber tape/rope (3M window weld) over each clip hole then reinstall the molding. Or if you have a leak and you don't want to remove the molding you can put a small button of butyl rubber (working inside the quarter panel cavity) over the bottom of the clip and the hole. I've also used 3M strip caulk (small pea sized button) and it worked but IME it makes more of a mess if it squeezes out from under the molding. (easily cleaned up with a paint safe mild solvent or rubbing alcohol).

As you mentioned the new molding comes with very thin gaskets around each clip that are meant to seal the hole so they should be good enough, at least for ?? years. But then you could use a small button of a non-hardening product and forget about it for the next 30 years, main thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't take very much to seal around the clips and any excess will squeeze out.

 

[effjay80]

Just did all my belt moldings, door weatherstrips, and window runs on my 94.

Personally I would just remove, clean well, and replace with the new as they come. Easy work.

 

[BuzzAZ]

Same. ^ They seal plenty well without any help.

 

[Kernal]

The OP asked:

"Would I be better off just sliding the original belt off and siliconing around the clips and sliding the belt back on or completely replacing it with my new parts"

Take your pick.

If the original moldings are still in good shape but you've got a couple of leaks because the thin clip gaskets have deteriorated it's fairly easy to push a button of (your choice) of sealant/butyl rubber etc in/under the clip hole. Then keep your new moldings in their plastic bag/box stored in a cool/dry/dark space (inside a closet for example away from heat/cold and UV rays). Then install them ?? years from now when your originals are falling apart and new moldings are NLA.

FWIW that's what I've done to one of my 80's where the molding is still in good shape (sealed but kept the originals), but the other 80 has moldings that are peeling (rubber coating) and looking funky. I've already sealed some of the clip holes but those moldings will get replaced sooner (at the same time as a repaint most likely).