What's the best way to remove stainless rocker panels for a pickup without messing up the paint?

Question

I have a 1991 Toyota pickup that came with stainless rocker panels and I would like to replace them with new ones. What's the best way to remove the old ones without messing anything up?

Answer 1

Usually, they are attached to the body with double-sided tape and can be pulled or pried off with a little work....you can heat up the parts with a hairdryer on hot setting to soften the tape. Then remove any excess tape with a dull knife, paint mixing stick or old credit card and finally, remove any glue residue with WD-40. Clean the area good with rubbing alcohol before you put the new ones on.
Good luck, Paul

Answer 2

They make a tool that hooks up to an air hose that you can run behind it and take it off. I don't know for sure what yours look like but if they are similar to the ones on the 8-98 chevy silverado you can use that and there will be a double sided tape left beind and you can get a pinstripe eraser that will remove the tape without damaging the paint.

Answer 3

loose all of the mounting screws. then once its loose, wedge pieces of folded up newspaper in the gaps, tape them in place, and repeat once every 1/10 of the way around, then remove the screws and youre golden, to install, just put the folded pieces of newspaper onto the new one in the same spots, and screw it in place.