Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Aesthetics Ding Guards, OFF!

This is a pretty well documented topic, but just wanted to add my voice to the multitude, and share with the only people I know who might actually give a damn.

There's a couple of different methods out there, one involving fishing line, and the other a rag-wrapped screwdriver. After breaking 3 or 4 lengths of fishing line, I went for the screwdriver to start it, then just pulled it off slowly with my hands.

Goo Gone seemed to make no difference until I actually had the strips off. Then I soaked the foam tape that was left on the car for about 30 minutes.

Best thing for taking off the stickum seemed to be the pad of my right thumb, with extra pressure applied by my left hand. Got a blister about halfway through the second side of the car, and had to switch thumbs. Badge of honor.

Goo Gone only went so far. Once the stickum was off, went back to get the thin layer of adhesive that outlined the original tape strip. Seemed to not matter how long I soaked or how I rubbed. Finally washed the sides of the car again, and used "Scratch Out" on an orbital buffer. That got most of it, but there is still a line there. Almost invisible. I'm not sure, but it seems like a flaw in the paint, as if the clearcoat had not fully cured when the dings were installed. Also found one tiny flaw that had been hidden by the strip. No rust, though.

Finished off with Polyglycoat, hand-applied. Didn't notice any color variation in my T-red paint.

Total job took about 2.5 hours.

Overall, I'm happy with it. The flaws are very difficult to see. You'd have to pretty much know they are there and then get down on the ground with just the right light angle to see them. Besides, I was also able to find a flaw before it became rust, which is a good save in my book. (Those little paint flaws are part of what makes this great car so affordable).



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"My other car is a minivan..."

'96 Contour SE

I love the clean lines you get when the ding gaurds are removed. One of the first mods I did. It was well worth the loss of SKIN

[img]http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1447543&a=10866454&p=46920619[/img]

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'98 T-Red Contour SVT
#2767 of 6535
DOB: 8/97

I am soooo very scared to take my Door guards off, in fear that there will be some RUST or some other blemmish and I will have to buy new ones. Should I be worried. I have only seen Red tours do this mod, and black ones out there. (I have a Black E0).

Any help,

Thanks

I think the later cars are easier to do than the early 'tours.

Besides, if there is rust under there, you want to know about it sooner rather than later. I've only heard one person say they found rust, though, so I doubt it is very common.

And no matter what, your palms will get sweaty when you get ready to start it. It just has to get worse before it gets better.

Good Luck.

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"My other car is a minivan..."

'96 Contour SE

I finally removed the ding guards last week and I am Super Happy It looks sooooooo much better. I used floss to get it started, then just pilled the puppies off. I then used "De-Solv-It"(a citrus based cleaner, got it from Home Depot) I sprayed it on, let it sit, and then used a plastic tool that my wife uses to clean her "Pampered Chef" baking stones to remove the tape and glue. I was very hesitant at first, thinking that it would scratch the car, but it scraped it off very fast, and left no marks.

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-- Mike --
Bel Air, Maryland
Black 98.5 SVT #5486
w/ a few mods
moesvt@yahoo.com

I removed mine last week, found a patch of rust which has now been sanded down and primered, just waiting for some nice weather before I finish it for good.
Didnt lose ANY skin whatsoever!!!
I used a plastic ice-scraper to remove the goo, and some evostik adhesive remover, it flew off a piece of piss!
Pleased with the results though, even if I discovered rust.

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WEBMASTER OF:
www.fordmondeo.org
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Car I own:
lightly modded mondeo
*********************

I removed mine no problems at all. Nice unwaxed shinny paint. I line in CO though, no salt and alot less rust....Consequently more rocks/chips and cracked glass!

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Chad Williams
chad5160@usa.net
'99 SVT Frost Silver #812 of 2760 Born on Jan. 12, 1999
Quite a few mods *) and some big tunes. Roaming the streets of Denver blowing exhaust at imports!

I am going to do this. This weekend I hope. I am not sure how hard it will be I read all of your posts and hope I have the same luck that you guys had. So there is clear coat underneath those ding protectors?? I have a 99 svt Silver. Let me know.
Justin

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99 Silver Contour SVT
No mods yet. Air silencer removed if that counts.
Airline707@yahoo.com

Justin it's actually pretty straight forward. get something under the guard to cut the adhesive a little ways in from the edge of the guard, I used 10lb fishing line, once you have that done just get a finger under it and pull it off slowly. I didn't use anything to soak the adhesive just worked it off slowly with my fingers then cleaned off the residue and polished the area and that's all there was to it.




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Kevin

'98 Silver Frost SVT ?? #3383 of 6535 built ?? Mille Miglia Spiders ?? Yokohama Paradas ?? Hoodliner Removed ?? Tinted & Pinstripped ?? Knauberized ?? Silver Painted Rear Valance

If you are lucky there will be clear coat under them. I had it on oneside and not on the other.



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'99 SE Zetec ATX
Medium Steel Blue.
Tint, Mesh Grill, Badgeless, Sidemarkers,
pre '98 sail panels, CEG sticker!
Pollo_loco69@hotmail.com