Ford bezel rubber coating is not good

**trader007** · 07-15-2009, 07:31 PM

in my truck, the bezel has this rubberized coating on it from factory... and over the years it started to peel off on the edges. so when i hacked it up and formed it for a slide-out lcd, i didnt have much choice to remove the rubber coating.

and its been hell. i wasnt successful in simply sanding the rubber off with paper, so i used a dremel with soft wheel... most of the rubber was removed, but i left gouges all over the bezel... and only when i shot a coat of primer on i noticed the whole thing has little strips here and there of rubber still attatched. i basically ruined the bezel by creating the rocky mountains all over it.

ive been scraping each rubber peice off with my fingernail, and filling in every gouge for the last 5 days. i think part of my problem is im using bondo and enamel primer. the bondo brand bondo has a lot of downfalls to it... and the primer is hard to sand, but at least its adhering ok to the plastic. so if anyone is going to work on a ford bezel that has that rubber coating on it, dont do what i am.

**bratnetwork** · 07-15-2009, 07:49 PM

My VW had a thin rubber coating on a bunch of the interior pieces and I also had the problem with it wearing off. But I managed to sand mine off. It was a pain and clogged up the paper a lot, but using a 220 grit paper seemed to work of then I just used a filler primer then lighter paper to make it smooth.

But for people who need to do this and sand paper isnt working i would suggest taking it to a local shop somewhere and have then lightly sand blast or glass bead it off for you. Ive done it a few times and it works great.

**trader007** · 07-15-2009, 08:28 PM

that would have been a good plan.

i think using filler primer would have been a lot easier too... im using the rustoleum pro series primer, its really nice stuff but it doesnt fill many scratches or anything in.

**rdholtz** · 07-16-2009, 10:48 AM

Originally Posted by trader007

. . . i think using filler primer would have been a lot easier too... im using the rustoleum pro series primer, its really nice stuff but it doesnt fill many scratches or anything in.

If you read through Nexson's threads, he's absolutely sold on SEM products, which aren't really marketed much to amateurs; they're truly pro-grade products. They're available from paint-and-body shop suppliers, and online.

**trader007** · 07-16-2009, 12:03 PM

actually i found out that the rustoleum im using can be applied THICK.. like... im not even sure if i could get it to run if i tried...

i was simply getting tired of sanding/filling so i just started to cake that primer on there... and it worked. ill look into the sem products for next time though, thats for sure.

**trader007** · 07-16-2009, 02:03 PM

i want to ask- would i be smart to stick the bezel in the oven when im done? hopefully to bake the paint on a little bit...

**Sicarius** · 07-16-2009, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by trader007

i want to ask- would i be smart to stick the bezel in the oven when im done? hopefully to bake the paint on a little bit...

Aieeeee! No, you don't want to do that. The dash is likely ABS which is a thermoplastic and will likely melt or deform even at your oven's lowest setting.

**trader007** · 07-16-2009, 03:27 PM

alright then. glad i asked. i would kill people if i had a total loss at this point... and like i tell everyone now- i dont care if someone steals my 400 dollar lilliput screen, just dont take or screw up my damn bezel!

i just shot the last coat of primer. stil a coulple imperfections, but im out of primer so thats it, good enough. it already looks nicer then the rest of my truck does anyway...

i will likely paint this today and let it sit for at least a day or two before i install... i am just so worried about bumping it or scratching it before the paint really sets up (and i know that can take months)

**TheGuv** · 07-19-2009, 06:09 PM

In the UK the MK3 Ford Mondeo (not sold ourside of Europe) has the same finish on the interior door grab handles and these are always wearing off, you can get them replaced but at about $30 a door only for it to happen again in about 6 months lol.

What we do is we rub the coating off with either a strong thumb or some sandpaper but also soak it in petrol or such before hand... Apparently this makes it really quick and easy to remove although I've not done it yet...