Cadillac & LaSalle Club Discussion Forum

Cadillac & LaSalle Club Forums => General Discussion => Topic started by: KD on November 10, 2011, 05:29:37 PM

Title: Removing running board rubber
Post by: KD on November 10, 2011, 05:29:37 PM
Does anyone know of an easy way to remove the running board rubber. I'm using a heat gun and a chisel and it's killing me, it's really stuck on. HELP!!!!!!
Ken D.
Title: Re: Removing running board rubber
Post by: Hankk17 on November 10, 2011, 06:43:27 PM
whenever I've dealt with removing rubber like this I've always gone the opposite way - cold.  heat makes the rubber super pliable and it'll fight you every step of the way.  Try getting a can of compressed air and invert it.  make sure you don't have any open flames nearby and blast the hell out of the running board and then see if you get better results with the chisel.  also DON'T inhale the fumes..  wear a mask for sure.  Other than that you're probably looking at the caustic chemical route which will be way messier and a whole lot stinkier.

note - I've never done this to a running board ever.  it's just a thought.
Title: Re: Removing running board rubber
Post by: Alan Harris CLC#1513 on November 11, 2011, 12:11:04 AM
I once had to remove the rubber from the accelerator pedal of my 40 LaSalle.

Lacquer thinner softened up the rubber so that it was wasy to scrape off.

I let it soak over night.
Title: Re: Removing running board rubber
Post by: Glen on November 11, 2011, 12:36:14 AM
Where are you applying the heat? 

I would use a propane torch and apply the heat to the metal backing.  The rubber should melt and peel of fairly easy.  Too much heat could start the rubber burning so be careful. 

I have not tried this on running boards yet, but I have used this method to remove the rubber from the front suspension bushings.  They slid out with little effort. 
Title: Re: Removing running board rubber
Post by: Bruce Berghoff -#1476 on November 11, 2011, 07:07:22 PM
Ken...If you're preparing the surface to get it ready to bond a replacement covering, you might do better by leaving a thin coating of the old rubber on the metal surface if it is still bonding well. I've used a coarse aluminum oxide grinding disc and cut the old rubber down to a thin smooth surface, and then used a high bond industrial rubber cement to laminate my new covering right to the old rubber. It's not an indoor project, but with the right disc you can make quick headway outdoors with the right mask and protective gear. bb
Title: Re: Removing running board rubber
Post by: KD on November 12, 2011, 05:56:37 PM
I'm going to get my running boards powdercoated so I need them to be really clean before the sand blasting.
Ken D