cladding "welt" ???

[tsmart]

I just bought an 06 baja sport with only 17K on it. Looks showroom, EXCEPT for the vinyl transition string moulding where the cladding on the fenders meets the metal. About 2 feet of this transition is located above every fender. This vinyl stuff has lost its paint and does not look new.
Does anybody know where this trim "transition" is available?? I have tried all the genuine subaru body parts places. Nothing listed.

If it is IMPOSSIBLE to find, I am tempted to pull the existing "welt", paint it with a silver plastic paint, then reinstall....I cant be alone here, this problem has to be widespread. How would you deal with it?

[canuck37]

I just bought an 06 baja sport with only 17K on it. Looks showroom, EXCEPT for the vinyl transition string moulding where the cladding on the fenders meets the metal. About 2 feet of this transition is located above every fender. This vinyl stuff has lost its paint and does not look new.
Does anybody know where this trim "transition" is available?? I have tried all the genuine subaru body parts places. Nothing listed.

If it is IMPOSSIBLE to find, I am tempted to pull the existing "welt", paint it with a silver plastic paint, then reinstall....I cant be alone here, this problem has to be widespread. How would you deal with it?

Same thing here on my '03. It seems to be primarily on the leading edge that catches the air flowing over it, on mine at least. I wasn't aware it was removable, so I just went and bought a little jar of the OEM silver paint that matches the cladding and was planning on taping it off and painting it in place one of these days when I get brave enough.........let us know if there is alternative!

[Sabber]

yeah, mine too. I assume it is from being parked in the same place and being hit by sunlight. I have no idea where one would get a replacement.

[tsmart]

It was fairly easy to remove the welt. Now, I am checking into a flexible auto paint by SEM.
They have a prep product and a silver metallic spray too, they say it is very flexible, no prime needed.
Since it was so easy to get off I am really tempted to do this. It's the only thing unsightly on this car.

I can get the SEM silver #15083 on Amazon for less than $9 a can.

[tsmart]

well today I went to a few body shops asking where to get this vinyl "welt". One guy said just get the vin and head off to subaru dealer. I did that. Yes, you can get it but its attatched to the clad. No sub assembly offered, so that leaves paint.

OK. For those that want to do it:

The welts (theres seven pieces total) come off with a little heat from a hair dryer. They have some kind of gooey glue applied to them, but it gives under heat. Theres also three little dots they of cynoacrylate glue over each fender....a little bit at both ends and one little glob at the uppermost part of the fender/cladding intersection.

Those CA dots were a little more stubborn, but eventually got it out with the dryer. When alll parts were removed, I went at each welt with some "GOOF OFF" (available at Home depot)...used this to get all the glue off. That stuff will give you a buzz so be careful.... Used a wooden stick and a tiny flathead screwdriver to scratch the stuff out. Followed by a rag, etc, and finally some alcohol... I didnt want to paint glue (more like remnants of scotch tape, no big deal) The goof off did well and did not attack the plastic welt.

For the exposed part of the welt, I lined it up with the edge of my work table, and sanded it with 320 grit sand paper...did this by hand...you can use a steel ruler to hold it down which makes it easier to sand the visible edge, (about 1/4 inch wide)...

There was some glue left on the inside edge of the cladding too, so, more heat, then I used the plastic knife...and the glue wanted to stick to the knife more than the cladding. That was fortunate...So that got most of it off. Then I put a rag around the knife, soaked it in alcohol and shoved it down in the crack (where the welt was)...this cleaned up all glue remnants. Then I took car polish and shined up the area where I intend to reinsert the welt figuring I would get less resistance if it were really slick.

That led me to the internet to find a very good paint for very flexible plastic. Theres a company called SEM that makes automotive spray-can paints specificly for very flexible plastic. I emailed them to find if this was indeed the best product. They emailed me back and said I was on the right track.

I got a can of SILVER, and a can of some VINYL PREP (by the same company) Cost about $16 total....you can get it on Amazon if you dont have a car paint specialty shop nearby.

Lastly, since most of this "welt" isnt even seen, I masked off all but the visible part, figuring this would help with the re-insert.

So thats where I am at now; paint will be tomorrow so stay tuned. 75 degrees tomorrow here in Florida. I have about 2 hours in the job now, but if this really works, it'll make the car look like new.

[slow03]

Post some pictures of your progress!
This will come in handy when I attempt to fix mine this summer.

[tsmart]

I finished the job today. I think it came out great! the vinyl welting went right back in without problems. I only used a little of the paint and a little of the vinyl prep, but it was so cost effective, if I see it start to deteriorate down the road, I would not hesitate to do it again.

I took a few pics, but it is nothing that would show well if I posted it. But it looks totally like new now, there was no cracking as I bent the vinyl to go back into the slot....the paint was HIGHLY flexible.....so we will leave it at that!

Our Baja is gonna live in the NC mountains. Very steep hills with really harsh switchbacks is the norm to get to our shack. Cannot wait to see how she does on the hillclimbing. (ain't no mountains in Florida!)

If its anything like what I see stock Foresters do on YouTube, (do a search "forester off road"...you would be amazed ) I will be VERY happy. And it should 'cause its really the same car, drivetrain, etc. SO GLAD I did not buy a Jeep!!!! Thats the direction we were originally going....I have heard many tales about Foresters and Bajas leaving the Jeeps behind.

Then I watched the traction test on You Tube where ONE WHEEL TURNING moved the car forward, whereas other more expensive AWD's didn't!

[Emsanon]

Well, that's cool! I'm going to have to try that. Mine has been discolored forever. Like you guys, it's the only thing that really looks bad on the car just due to the weird off color that doesn't match anything since the paint has worn off of it.

[Sabber]

definately some good info. Good job I will have to look into this myself. see I love it when people have problems, find solutions and then post it up on forums. Its almost guaranteed that someone has had the same problem and has been wondering about a fix. Thats why I love these little communities.


PS. The Baja should be able to do anything a stock Forrester can do dependent on ground clearance.

[bgc]

The man who does my pin striping has the exact same color as my silver paint and he can cut it to the exact size for the welt.

I am having that applied this week. It should accomplish the same thing as painting.

IK will let you know later.

[tsmart]

I was thinking about the same pinstriping idea, but the local autobody shop said to paint it. Concerns about car polish getting in there, also the fact that it is a flexible joint between metal and plastic fender...and concerns about the fact that the "welt" needed sanding...it's surface was pitted a little and that pitting would have shown through the pinstripe tape. (his opinion, but sounded reasonable to me)

I hope it works out for you. If it does not, then it would be easy to remove the striping and go the other way.

The best would have been to replace it, but that was not possible at any price.

[bgc]

Just had the pin striping placed over the welt. It looks like it was painted on! Fifteen minutes and $ 40.00.

I spoke with my body/paint man and he thought the pin striping would work as well as painting.

It really loooks great.

[millarg]

Realize that this is a really old thread, but had this issue on the 03 all silver BAJA I bought this week, welting really stood out as a yellowish line between the cladding and body panels.

My solution, silver marker from OfficeMax (2 for $6) - free handed over the welting, 10 mins and looks great - not sure how long it'll last (it has already withstood washing and buffing) but it's quick and easy to repeat.