Rubber rocker trim strip installation.. The easy way w/ photos..

[HFR_Racer]

Fellow Pelicans...

This evening I set out on the journy to clean out the rocker trim rails on my 930. I've seen several threads on here about difficulties in re-installing the rubber trim moulding. I wanted to share the FAST way that I found to re-install this trim without killing your hands trying to twist and bend the trim into submission.

1) Remove the aluminum end cap trim that resides at each end of the rubber moulding.

2) Remove the old trim from your vehicle. Simply pull it away from the vehicle. This trim removes easily from the vehicle with moderate pulling force.

3) Clean the rocker panel and the channel that the trim snaps onto.

4) Clean and lubricate the rubber rocker moulding.




5) Lubricate the rocker panel (channel) so that the rocker trim slides on easier.

Be patient... We are getting to the meat of this thread now....

6) The trick to easy installation of this trim is to load the lower ede of the trim into the channel first.

7) Load the lower edge of the rubber trim into the first notch in the rocker channel. The first notch is approximately 12 inches rear of the front fenderwell..

8) Push the lower lip of the trim into the channel and then slide the trim forward by simply pushing (sliding) it forward.



Nice.. Your 1/4 of the way done....

9) Once you have loaded the lower lip for the first 12 inches... Then you work your way toward the rear of the vehicle. Continue loading only the lower lip of the rocker trim into the rocker channel. You can use a plastic trim tool to push the lip of the channel into the rocker channel as you go..



It helps to hold the rubber trim ( 90 deg. to the door surface ) as your pushing the lower lip into the channel. I used a small screwdriver instead of the plastic tool since it worked better for me.

10) Once the lower lip is loaded then you can simply roll the upper lip onto the channel. This is easy and takes very little pressure to seat the upper lip.

[HFR_Racer]

11) The result... I re-used the OEM rubber strips since mine are still in good codition thanks to Aeorspace protectant

.

[sm70911]

Good stuff HFR, thanks for taking the time to post and adding pics.

[bkreigsr]

dude, paint that torsion bar cover black or something.

[Cipotifoso]

Thanks HFR_Racer. I had to take off these rocker panels to get my rear torsion bars off to replace the bushings. As I was peeling off the rubber, I was thinking that it wasn't going to be easy getting it reassembled. It still is a pain to do, but thanks to your efforts to document what you did I have a clue.

[timmy2]

Huh, Guess I got lucky, Pulled mine off last friday night while removing my oil lines and thought it was a good idea to clean it up.
I just cleaned both pieces (rocker and rubber), lubed it with some soapy water (dish detergent) and slid it right back on using both grooves. Didn't have to fold it back on or anything.

Pushed it on from the curved part, made sure it reached the end, then pushed it back a little from the middle as I over shot the front a bit. Took about 3 minutes. No real effort at all.

[Ccporsche]

Do you have any pictures without the rubber inserts on the car?

[jimtweet]

done this a few times. Soak in hot water while you are cleaning or doing whatever,..

rub some dish soap on rocker panel, slides right on.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by jimtweet

done this a few times. Soak in hot water while you are cleaning or doing whatever,..

rub some dish soap on rocker panel, slides right on.

Yep, warm up the ol' strip in hot water.

I like the silicone idea and/or soap.

I just used KY with water and shoved it all the way in - I mean all the way.

Factory says use Glycerin.

HFR_Racer, Your procedure looks awesome. Seriously, I never would have thought the top lip would go in that easily once the bottom was positioned.

[redridge]

Originally Posted by timmy2

Huh, Guess I got lucky, Pulled mine off last friday night while removing my oil lines and thought it was a good idea to clean it up.
I just cleaned both pieces (rocker and rubber), lubed it with some soapy water (dish detergent) and slid it right back on using both grooves. Didn't have to fold it back on or anything.

Pushed it on from the curved part, made sure it reached the end, then pushed it back a little from the middle as I over shot the front a bit. Took about 3 minutes. No real effort at all.

+1... soapy water dries up and becomes tacky, so it stays put and doesn't slide around once in place.

[mnez]

A different method...
With some slippery silicone spray and some patience, I was able to slide the whole thing on, starting from the back. Was easier than I expected.

[hank911]

BMW Airhead mechanic show me how he uses rubbing alcohol
to install pushrod tube seal.

Works great, uses it on window trim also.....
Just don't be smokin!

[Peabo]

Thanks HFR_Racer. I fought replacement of the rubber and decided to ask The Google and it led me here. This worked brilliantly. Thanks again

[Mervo]

I had to replace the LH rear black stone guard decal and only peeled back the section of the rocker rubber strip that was necessary. Then cleaned that and its track on the body with a tooth brush and added some silicon paste along the edge. Warmed up the rubber for flexibility with my heat gun and it went in quite easily with a panel screwdriver.

[richard.w.bates]

Racer's method above worked well once I got the hang of it. Tried Moose Snot and dish soap but theydid not allow me to merely slide the molding on. it would hang up after a foot or so. Its an older car and i was using the original molding. Perhaps a new molding would have worked, but I resorted to Racer's approach and it worked fine but took some time and patience.

[eastbay]

Same process, no lube, no problem. I thought everyone did it this way.