I need to remove the trim pieces from the top of the center bar on an 89 TTop car so I can clean up the rust on them. These are the black metal pieces that are visible from above when you remove the glass panels. I've removed the 4 Philips screws but the pieces won't budge and I don't want to bend them trying to remove them the wrong way.

Anyone removed these and knows how?

Steve

 

They're held on with some adhesive and foam. Make sure when you put it back on you reseal it with silcone otherwise you'll have a nasty leak. It might be rusted down or just really stubborn adhesive. It should just pop out except for the sticky gunk they put on it to seal it. If you bend it a little bit it wont me too tough to bend back so you shouldnt have to treat it like a piece of glass. Just use common sense.

 

if you want to remove the center t-bar you have to carefully remove the weatherstripping near the middle of the roof. once that is out of the way carefully pry up on the t-bar piece because it has some weatherproofing adhesive under it. just go slow so you don't bend or rip anything.

 

You really need to invest in a heat gun to soften the tar like sealer and get it heated up real good.

 

Are you removing the T-Top bar in the center? If so, I believe there are more than 4 screws. I removed a couple at the junkyard, and the corner screws are hiddend under the weather stripping. When you get them out, get a long flatblade screw driver and carefully pry under it. The adhesive shouldn't be that strong, just do it carefully to not bend the bar.

 

there are the six you can see, and four you can't, if I remember correctly .

 

Nice

I have a dime sized spot of rust there that I've wanted to fix but never had the ***** to pull that up, not knowing what was holding it down made me think i might mess it up on removal

Now I'll be getting rid of the only rust spot on my whole car.