De-chroming Interior!

Posted in “What have you done...”, but might make this easier to find.

Pulled and painted the a/c rings, start button bezel, change holder bezel, shift knob boot ring, and steering wheel logo.

Disconnected negative terminal so I 1, didnt honk a hundred times, and 2, felt better working near the airbag. ALSO, the dash plastic is very soft. Be very careful on your use of tools to pry lest you get some unwanted residual scoring or tool marks.

Steering wheel logo:
It is VERY rubbery, so dont be afraid to torque on it. Its a malleable plastic not ABS. You cannot break it*. It is held on with 11 elastic posts that extend through the cover and are melted on (3 on each side, 1 top, 1 bottom, and 3 center). I used a dentists scraper to pry up from the center, then flat snips to cut the posts flush. I sanded to rough it up but probably too much. It appeared a little fuzzy around the edges. Go easy and just rough it up vice sanding off all the chrome. Hit mine with 4 coats of Krylon matte black.


A/C rings:
These are a bit trickier. Pry off the dash surrounds. Just pull straight out. They come off easy. On the back you will see each a/c vent come out by slightly lifting three tabs. Remove the guts of the vent then look for the 6 melted posts that hold on the chrome ring. I used needle nose pliers to pinch the nub/mushroom tip and a small punch to push the ring through. Do this for all 4 vents. Roughed it with 60 grit then some 220 gently and hit each with 3 coats of the same paint.



Start button bezel:
Easy day here. Just pry from the outside with a fingernail to start it, then use a plastic pry tool to pop it straight out. Same prep for paint as a/c rings.


Change/Cup holder bezel:
Pretty easy removal. Just pry straight up with fingers to start. Used a bike rim pry tool to continue and remove. Prep for paint as above.

Shift knob boot ring:
This one is easy but took some exploratory prying.
Pull the boot down and unsnap it from the knob. Unscrew and remove the knob. Then just pull the whole center assembly straight off. Just be cautious with the electrical assembly that connects beneath (I didnt need to disconnect this). The e-brake boot just pops out after. Push the shifter-boot through the top and you will see the zip tie holding the ring to the boot. Snip the tie and push the ring through. Prep for paint same as above.



Fun to see it all removed. Last coats are drying. Debating hitting them all with a coat of matte clear. Only thing left chrome inside is the 4wd knob and the door handles... ill figure those out soon. Will post reinstall pics after!

 

Interesting. I can't wait to see the final result.

 

Following for future reference. I'm going to hit my chrome with mgm. Thank you for the quality post, this is why I love TW

 

I'm excited to see what it looks like when you're done. Although, to be honest, I don't mind the chrome on the inside. It's when it is on the outside I have a problem with it.

 

Maybe I’m in the minority, but I don’t mind the chrome accents

 

I have no idea if you are majority or minority thus the poll. Im interested to see once there is a large enough sample.
I suppose I didnt “dislike” it. Nevermind. Yes I did. Especially if the sun catches any of it just right and temporarily blinds you.
I considered the vinyl overlays but Im not very patient when it comes to sticker application. And to do that right seemed like a lot of the same prep work. Plus any mistakes on that and my guess is the chrome would peek through from the uncovered edges.

 

Definitely hit them with the clear. It'll help protect them from the UV and high heat in the summer as well as with wiping and cleaning.

 

Consider it done.

 

I’ll wait to see how yours looks before I make an official vote on the poll.

Also, the SR model comes with black door handles. Probably best to buy a set of those instead of painting your. I can’t see painted ones holding up very good with the amount of use they get.

 

Seems like your cutting stuff that’s melted into place like the steering wheel logo, what is your plan to get it back on? I do think it’s going to look great in the end.

 

Good looking out. Probably the way to go!

 

There's a vinyl kit that covers all the chrome accents without the having to take everything apart. Just another option.

 

Correct on all. Plan for the a/c rings will be a small drop of hot glue for the back side of the vent. It is completely unseen and I left enough meat on the stems to reach back through.
For the steering wheel emblem, Im thinking of an epoxy applied directly to the wheel and just applying pressure. If you remove the wheel and its cover and then the airbag, you can remelt the stems on the backside with a heat knife or more glue but I really did not wanna mess with the airbag. There is a thread for that (“custom steering wheel cover” I think). Plus glue on the outside will let me remove later if needed for any reason.

 

I was aware of the kit. Saw one from TVD vinyl decals. But for one, I feel like that install would be tricky to make it look good. Plus, not all of the decals give full coverage. See pic.

 

Thanks OP. That Toyota symbol on the steering wheel is the only chrome on my truck and I’m just like “why?!?!” But I’ve exercised self control ripping it off because I felt like it would break. It will he nodded tomorrow.

 

Agreed. “Why?!”
Just go easy on your prep sanding. The clear and chrome coes off very easy for the steering wheel logo exposing the soft rubber underneath, even with 220 grit.

The other items are hard plastic so you can sand away for the prep.

 

Oh no I’m totally throwing it away. I’m just glad it won’t ruin the steering wheel. In its place I’m putting a holster with knives in it.

 

*honks horn*
*drives straight to ER*

 

That will work. Pics!!
I had intended to replace it with this ( purchased from a TW member) but the fit and finish are a bit off, so going back to the sombrero, just matte black now!

 

I almost bought those, sucks about the fit and finish. Thanks for the heads up