1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Removing Plastic Chrome Handle Covers

Discussion in 'Detailing' started by chadwhitt, May 3, 2013.

  1. May 3, 2013 at 6:46 AM
    #1
    chadwhitt

    chadwhitt [OP] Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2013
    Member:
    #103398
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Male
    Ontario, Canada
    Vehicle:
    07 DCSB SR5 Tacoma
    Custom Grill
    Hello All,

    This is my first post and this is something that I have wanted to do for a long while.

    I bought my Speedway Blue 2007 Tacoma 3 years ago now and it has some chrome accents on it (the handle covers, a large cover around the tailgate handle, as well as a couple other areas). What I would like to do is remove all the chrome pieces from the truck as well the badges. With the badges I was thinking on spraying them Black, any thoughts if this will look good?

    To the reason of this post, does anyone know a method to remove the plastic chrome handle covers?

    I will take some pictures of the handles and the tailgate and post them soon.

    Thanks,
    Chad
     
  2. May 22, 2013 at 5:59 PM
    #2
    Trevor

    Trevor Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    Member:
    #103830
    Messages:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trevor
    Ocala, FL
    Hey Chad. I did the same to my Tacoma. Owner before really liked chrome accessories. I just started pulling the chrome off. Most of it broke because it's just cheap plastic. What you'll most likely have left is some 3M tape stuck on the truck and the best thing I found to use it the 3M Adhesive Eraser Wheel. You can find these at most auto parts stores. Got mine at my local Advance Auto store. Just be careful when using the wheel. You can burn through the paint if you hold it in one spot too long. And use a nicer drill that has a variable speed trigger. It doesn't need to spin fast to get good results.

    [​IMG]

    3M tape left from pealing off the chrome covers:
    [​IMG]

    Nice clean results. You would never know the chrome was there.
    [​IMG]
     
  3. May 23, 2013 at 4:40 AM
    #3
    chadwhitt

    chadwhitt [OP] Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2013
    Member:
    #103398
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Male
    Ontario, Canada
    Vehicle:
    07 DCSB SR5 Tacoma
    Custom Grill
    That's Awesome! Thank you so much, I can't wait to peel off those stupid covers. Now that I know what i need i will hopefully get to it this weekend.

    Thanks again Trevor!
     
  4. May 24, 2013 at 6:47 AM
    #4
    Trevor

    Trevor Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    Member:
    #103830
    Messages:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trevor
    Ocala, FL
    No problem. Some of the chrome was stuck on there really well. I had to take a flat head screwdriver to get under the plastic pieces to get it started. Just be careful not to pry against the truck and scratch it.

    Let us know how it goes.
     
  5. Dec 3, 2013 at 12:08 PM
    #5
    CanadaToy

    CanadaToy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2013
    Member:
    #116081
    Messages:
    1,680
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Greg
    Toronto
    Vehicle:
    17 DCSB TRD OR Alpine
    TRD Pro grille & skid, OEM tonneau and roof racks
    How long did it take to get them all done? I have to do my handles and mirrors... already bought the wheel.
     
  6. Dec 4, 2013 at 5:32 AM
    #6
    Trevor

    Trevor Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    Member:
    #103830
    Messages:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trevor
    Ocala, FL
    Not very long at all. Maybe an hour or so. I didn't have the mirror chrome so I don't know how long that takes or what that looks like. You want to take it slow and steady so you don't damage the paint. Definitely have to be patient with it.

    Also, do you have the paint matching door handles and mirrors or do you have the black plastic ones? Usually the TRD Sport models like mine have paint matched handles and mirror. I noticed on my tailgate (which has a black plastic handle) that it gets a weird scuffed look to it with that eraser wheel. It's not that bad but is a little noticeable. So just know that the wheel works best on paint.

    Also, try some goo-gone. This might be better to use on the black plastic. Just might not work as quickly as the wheel.

    Good luck with it. Let us know how it goes.
     
  7. Dec 5, 2013 at 6:27 AM
    #7
    CanadaToy

    CanadaToy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2013
    Member:
    #116081
    Messages:
    1,680
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Greg
    Toronto
    Vehicle:
    17 DCSB TRD OR Alpine
    TRD Pro grille & skid, OEM tonneau and roof racks
    Awesome, i'll probably have a go at her this weekend.
    Yep mine is also the sport with paint matched mirrors and handles. the tailgate handle does not have a chrome cover, but i am swapping to a popnlock anyways.
    the mirror cap should just pull off, i can half pull them off without trying. I'm going to use my heat gun to warm the pieces up before i pull them off (it is around freezing temps up here).

    I let my buddy borrow the 3m wheel yesterday to debadge his truck and he said it worked great.
     
  8. Dec 6, 2013 at 5:51 AM
    #8
    Trevor

    Trevor Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2013
    Member:
    #103830
    Messages:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Trevor
    Ocala, FL
    Awesome! Great to hear! I just installed the Pop & Lock Power tailgate lock on mine and I love it! In fact we just shot an install video on how to install it in case you want to do it yourself. So if you want I'll send that video link to you as soon as we get it edited. I am the photographer at AutoCustoms.com and we do these install videos all the time. Let me know if you need anything.
     
  9. Dec 10, 2013 at 6:57 AM
    #9
    CanadaToy

    CanadaToy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2013
    Member:
    #116081
    Messages:
    1,680
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Greg
    Toronto
    Vehicle:
    17 DCSB TRD OR Alpine
    TRD Pro grille & skid, OEM tonneau and roof racks
    The mirror caps came off easy... most of the glue had been removed already! Just one strip was left, a few seconds with the heat gun and it popped right off. Just used my nail to push off the remaining glue.. didn't need to use the 3m wheel.

    The handles were a bit trickyer, i used the heat gun to warm them up (it was around freezing, if it was a hot sunny day it wouldn't be necessary) and used a plastic trim removal tool to pry it off, working my way from the front to back. I used my thumb to roll off the big pieces of glue, then used the 3m wheel for the "hard to get" spots... it worked great!

    Everyone loves pics, so:
    31F066F6-F769-41D3-BA0A-AE3C898CBCDF_zps_d03657b85f5770601eb57c3f08f8873957fca5f1.jpg
    B90B4D8B-0415-4A66-8C56-613C7CFA5C91_zps_9eca802f9ebd7fe57fc1314566cff99e3d817224.jpg
     
  10. Dec 11, 2013 at 4:44 AM
    #10
    chadwhitt

    chadwhitt [OP] Active Member

    Joined:
    May 3, 2013
    Member:
    #103398
    Messages:
    35
    Gender:
    Male
    Ontario, Canada
    Vehicle:
    07 DCSB SR5 Tacoma
    Custom Grill
    Nice job, the truck looks awesome! :D

    Where did you get the plastic removal tool?

    I have still yet to remove my shitty chrome on my truck... i figure winter is here now so might as well wait for the spring...
     
  11. Dec 12, 2013 at 9:37 AM
    #11
    CanadaToy

    CanadaToy Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2013
    Member:
    #116081
    Messages:
    1,680
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Greg
    Toronto
    Vehicle:
    17 DCSB TRD OR Alpine
    TRD Pro grille & skid, OEM tonneau and roof racks
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2013

Products Discussed in

To Top