This subject has been brought up multiple times and I didn't see a thread about it in here yet, so I thought I'd describe the process.
Supplies:
Wax and grease remover
self etching primer
sandable primer
base coat
clear coat
various grits of sand paper
3M body cladding tape
Remove cladding:
Easy enough with the correct tools. Just be weary of the locating clips (the ones with just a hole instead of a slot) as they are hard to remove without breaking the trim. Its easiest to unclip the rest and just slide the trim off of these last clips. They are the middle ones on the front doors and the front ones on the rear doors. If you do break a clip mounting spot on the trim its an easy fix as I will describe later.
Pop out all clips but the locating ones:
Slide the trim off of the locating clips:
Middle one on the front
Front one on the back
Remove locating clips from door (much easier this way!):
Now is a good time to fix a broken clip mount and apply the new 3M tape at the rear of the front trim.
To fix a broken clip mount, us a soldering iron and a tip you wont miss. Melt the plastic back together.
Next, clean with wax and grease remover. I cannot stress this enough. If there is any residual wax on the trim, the paint will not stick. You must remove all wax BEFORE you sand, as sanding will just embed it into the metal.
Sand the metal (200 or 320 should do) until the surface is no longer a mirror:
Clean with wax and grease remover again (once again clean as much as you can. I even used a toothbrush in the lettering)
Next, prime with self etching primer. Once that dries, prime with sandable primer.
Use some 400 or 600 grit sand paper to clean up any blemishes.
Next its on to the base coat. I got mine at a Sherman Williams auto paint store. I used the Sherman Williams paint code available here on WKJeeps and had them mix me up 2 rattle cans (cost was just under $100).
I did 3 coats. I then fogged over the last coat to give a consistent metallic appearance.
Lastly I applied 3 coats of clear. I used a more expensive clear as I plan on color sanding and buffing later.
I also removed the rear bumper to access the rear chrome strip. I wont elaborate on the process as its quite simple and self explanitory after the bumer is off. Instructions for removing the rear bumper are available here. As far as the rear sonar sensors go... I sanded very lightly, applied a very thing coat of self etching primer, followed by 2 coats of color and 1 of clear. Hopefully the rear sensors will still work once reassembled. I'll have to report back on that one.
Supplies:
Wax and grease remover
self etching primer
sandable primer
base coat
clear coat
various grits of sand paper
3M body cladding tape
Remove cladding:
Easy enough with the correct tools. Just be weary of the locating clips (the ones with just a hole instead of a slot) as they are hard to remove without breaking the trim. Its easiest to unclip the rest and just slide the trim off of these last clips. They are the middle ones on the front doors and the front ones on the rear doors. If you do break a clip mounting spot on the trim its an easy fix as I will describe later.
Pop out all clips but the locating ones:
Slide the trim off of the locating clips:
Middle one on the front
Front one on the back
Remove locating clips from door (much easier this way!):
Now is a good time to fix a broken clip mount and apply the new 3M tape at the rear of the front trim.
To fix a broken clip mount, us a soldering iron and a tip you wont miss. Melt the plastic back together.
Next, clean with wax and grease remover. I cannot stress this enough. If there is any residual wax on the trim, the paint will not stick. You must remove all wax BEFORE you sand, as sanding will just embed it into the metal.
Sand the metal (200 or 320 should do) until the surface is no longer a mirror:
Clean with wax and grease remover again (once again clean as much as you can. I even used a toothbrush in the lettering)
Next, prime with self etching primer. Once that dries, prime with sandable primer.
Use some 400 or 600 grit sand paper to clean up any blemishes.
Next its on to the base coat. I got mine at a Sherman Williams auto paint store. I used the Sherman Williams paint code available here on WKJeeps and had them mix me up 2 rattle cans (cost was just under $100).
I did 3 coats. I then fogged over the last coat to give a consistent metallic appearance.
Lastly I applied 3 coats of clear. I used a more expensive clear as I plan on color sanding and buffing later.
I also removed the rear bumper to access the rear chrome strip. I wont elaborate on the process as its quite simple and self explanitory after the bumer is off. Instructions for removing the rear bumper are available here. As far as the rear sonar sensors go... I sanded very lightly, applied a very thing coat of self etching primer, followed by 2 coats of color and 1 of clear. Hopefully the rear sensors will still work once reassembled. I'll have to report back on that one.