Restore your window belt trim

So it’s been a month now since I got the Tacoma. I have been posting mostly in the regional forums. One thing I did recently was restore the Window belt trim on the Tacoma. I highly recommend this. I was thinking about purchasing new ones, but that would of cost about $200 for all 4 (double cab). If anyone is interested I can write down the details later on how to remove, prep, and paint. I didn’t take much photos of how they were before, but all 4 where peeling and cracked showing the chrome below. Now they are like new. Makes a difference on how your vehicle looks overall.

 

Great DIY! Looks very nice.

 

Well done!!

Has any one figured out how to remove the sunspots from the rubber trim?

 

Thanks!

Thanks! You can try

$9 Meguiar's G15812 Meguiar's Ultimate Black Plastic Restorer, Durable Car Restorer That Gives New Life to Exterior Black Plastic, Vinyl, and Rubber Trim, 12 Oz Bottle

Meguiar's G15812 Ultimate Black Plastic Restorer. It’s one of the products I used to detail my engine bay.

 

Looks nice. What type of paint did you go with?

 

Plasti Dip Black with Plasti Dip Clear Coat. I went with Plasti Dip to give it the same rubber feel as the original.

 

I would be interested to know how you removed, preped, and repainted the trim if it isn't too much effort. I recently (about a month ago) purchased a 2001 Xtra cab with the same problem and don't want to pay for new ones.

 

I would love to know the details also if you dont mind

 

I'll try and post up some details this week or next week.

 

Removing is the main thing I would like to know. Do they just lift up?

 

Was it hard to removed them out ??

What kind off paint did u used ?

Looks good

 

First roll down or open all windows. I'm not sure about the extended cab windows, but for the back windows on a DC you would grab the rubber felt liner at the rear and pull up. There are 3 tabs that hold each one in place. Wiggle as you pull up to help free the tabs from the door. The front windows you have to remove your mirrors. You don't have to unplug them if you have power mirrors. Pull the rubber felt liner from the front where the mirrors were covering the trim.

Easy to remove. Plasti Dip Black w/Plasti Dep Clear Coat.

I will mention that when you spray paint them, try to evenly get the top portion of the trim. My sides came out more glossy with the clear coat than my top on the trim pieces.

 

Man I need to do this, mine look horrible, great job

 

How did you strip them? I think that part looked the worst when I thought about doing mine. I think I found the fronts for the extended cab for $60/pair on Amazon (Toyota) so if it is more than an hour of prep for each I'd probably just buy new.

 

you don't have to remove the mirrors, they slide out. I replaced my outer a few years ago because they stopped removing the water when rolling down.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nz_C2y6VS-A

this is for a D-cab

 

I did not take that route. You don't have to fully remove the mirrors, just partially because the trim that it covers was where I pulled up from first. The mirror assembly is very easy to get to as well. You can get at it how best you think it would work.

If you can find them for $60 a pair I would get that unless you want to put in some work. Prep and painting with multi-coat, easy, but does take time. I couldn't find any when I was looking or I didn't look hard enough. Make sure it's the right piece as well.

You would peel and cut off what you can. Then get a dermal with a sanding bit to take off the rest. I guess it's a good thing most of mine came off easily. Some of the ends still had the rubber coat stuck to it that I dermal out. Also if you can remove the molding that goes over the end pieces of the belt trim. Some came off easily than others since they are glued on. If those pieces are glued on good I would just leave it.

Tip: When putting the belt trim back on, put the 3 tabs on the door frame first. Then you just have to snap the trim in place. Putting them back on was the easiest out of everything.

 

I need to do this, mine are all peeling real bad. I'll probably use either sem trim paint or a spray bedliner, not sure which one.

 

Good question. Try to find a parts diagram of the door or window assembly to see if they sell that piece separately.