Anyone remove these successfully?

Anyone have a trick for removing these moldings without snapping all the clips off? Already broke 1.

 

This doesn't show removing those, but gives a good look at the clip side of this piece, if that's any help:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmvdHf1ca8Y

 

Thanks. I guess years of baking in the sun make these clips brittle.

 

Why? To see what is underneath?

 

I put a new window molding on and had to pull one side to get it under the piece in question. The clip snapped. I would like to remove it, epoxy the clip in place and reinstall if possible.

 

You can buy that clip for about 40 cents at a dealer. They are used all over the car to hold panels in place as well as the door rockers. I’ve broken a few removing the interior of the car and they are simple and cheap to replace.

 

Where the blue clip mounts to this piece is broken off.

 

You mean the black trim piece is the piece that broke? That's wild - those clips are pretty flimsy. I bet a new trim piece isn't too expensive either, especially if you order online from a dealer.

 

Correct-the area circled in red(pic is from ebay item) is snapped off. I might just buy a new piece and not worry about the rest breaking when I remove it.

 

Well that sucks. Sorry to hear that. I guess the sun did make that piece a bit brittle over time. You could just epoxy that clip in there, if there is enough left of the slot to do that.

Of course, ordering a new piece would solve any other clips breaking.

 

Update for anyone interested. I pulled the old trim piece off and all the clips stayed on the body. After 13 years they were brittle. It took a ton of force with a trim removal tool and they basically shattered and some fell into the hatch frame. Plan on buying a new piece if you are removing these from an older model-mine is 2011. The finish isn't a perfect match but close. Snaps in easily.

 

Sometimes that has helped me too, or saved some clips:
Rather than just pulling the panel outwards with force, try to push it in the right direction to slide of the clips.
But it is not always possible or only possible if part of the panel is already loose. And it is also difficult to recognise the correct direction.

 

For future reference, you don't need to remove those pieces to replace that window trim. You bow it upwards in the middle, scoot it into the left and right side, and then push the middle down. Just did that exact replacement two weeks ago and didn't need to touch those trim pieces.

 

Yes! I made the huge mistake of not paying close enough attention and being afraid to flex the belt trim. Would have saved me $60 for the trim piece I broke.