How to Remove Chrome Rocker Panels

Vintage cars and trucks routinely used chrome rocker panels to protect the lower half of the car from dings and scratches caused by road debris. Unlike today's cars, which use foam compression tape to attach rocker panel trim to the car in conjunction with plastic fittings, vintage cars and trucks used metal pins to hold rocker trim in place. When removing these trim panels from the car, it is important to avoid damaging them at all costs, because vintage trim panels are difficult to find today. Trim was also occasionally installed using screws hidden behind decals

Instructions

1

Determine the type of rocker molding that is on your vehicle. If there is a decal on the rocker that extends all the way from the front of the car to the back, it is likely that the molding is screwed into place. The decal will have to be removed. Unscrew the molding and remove it from the car.

2

Insert the pry bar between the body of the vehicle and the chrome trim on vehicles that are not fixed in place with screws. Gently but firmly work the pry bar back and forth to loosen the retaining pins underneath. They are likely rusty, and may require several minutes to remove. You will hear a squeaking sound when they begin to come free.

3

Move the pry bar to another position on the rocker and continue the back-and-forth rocking motion until the entire rocker molding appears slightly loose. This is indicative of heavy rust under the panel that will have to be repaired.

4

Pry the trim away from the rocker panel gently, working no more than 1/4-inch at a time to prevent the trim from bending and becoming damaged. Work all the way down the trim piece, then work your way back. On the way back to the other end, the pins will release from the door panel or may break off, depending on how badly rusted they are. When the panel is completely loosened, pull it gently away from the vehicle.