I have a 01 cherokee. Can someone tell me how to take the body molding off of the body. Is it glued or on with fastners? I am wondering if I can take them off and leave them off or will I have holes from fastners to deal with??

 

If your talking about on the doors, and if its like my 99, it is just held on with double sided foam type tape.

Around the fenders, its bolted on. you need a 10mm deep socket to remove it

 

The doors seems to be glued. Thanks

 

All 3 pieces on each side are double sided tape. I did mine as follows: The warmer the day/vehicle metal the better. Start pulling at one end of the molding until you get an edge then keep pulling slowly and evenly until piece is removed. Use some 3M solvent you can get from NAPA to remove excess glue left on the door panels. The glue will come off easier if you soak the glue spots with the solvent and then come back with more solvent on the rag and rub aggressively. A finger nail can assist with glue removal also. NOTE: Removing the side molding may cause the paint to chip off in spots. I didn't have this happen but it's always a possibility.

 

To avoid any paint damage use a heat gun to warm them up. Then take some fishing line and slide it, starting from one of the ends, between the molding and body. Clean off excess tape as instructed above.

 

^^^ Yeppers..

 

I stripped the molding off the doors last summer. I used a heat gun throughout the process. I went nice and slow, but I still had a lot of residue. I used a paint safe foaming bug and tar remover. I think the 97-01 XJs look much better withour the molding. Good luck, Steve.

 

I have been thinking of removing my fender flares too. Body has no trim pieces, just the flares

 

Good luck, I removed mine with alot of scrubbing with my fingernail and goo-gone.
I still have some kind of black discoloration on the paint, you can't feel it when you rub your finger over it but maybe I can buff it out with my drill and a buffer pad, I don't know.

 

Yup, going to do this myself in a couple weeks when I get back. Removing the side molding and going to have to remove the fender flares as I've already knocked one loose (30.5" tires, no lift..heh). Then I'm going to bedliner the rockers and quarter panels/front fenders.

 

Thanks guys great info. It is nice to have a place to go with questions and get great real answers. Thanks up!!!!!

 

When i removed mine i pulled them off and used a 3m decale remover wheel for an angle grinder you will be happy you spent the money on it save time and the paint as well you can get them from auto body shop

 

wear gloves. i used a ceramic heater and just peeled it back.

 

just dont get mad and rip it off...i learned that the hard way on my old 00'

 

Hahaha, thanks Tay! That is the most important piece of advice for me. I have little patience to begin with, but when things get frustrating, I tend to start using more 'persuasive' means

That fishing line trick sounds interesting. I might have to try that. And I have some 3m adhesive remover as well. Guess we will see when I get back in a couple weeks and tackle this.