Now that the warm weather is here in VT, it's time to catch up on repairing rust. I'm working on a 96 Legacy wagon. There seem to be regular places you can expect them to rust. I've been keeping up with the rear fender behind the tires, but now the back doors are starting. It seems that mud and salt works itself between the trim strip and the door and starts it's evil work. I can touch up the visible areas above and below the strip, but unless I can remove the trim, I can't get at the source of the problem.

 

I have the door panel off, but there don't seem to be any bolts or clips protruding. Is the strip glued on? What is the best way to non-destructively remove it? BTW, I'm also treating the rust hole from the inside with rust converter and tigerhair.

I have a thread asking questions in the same vein just below yours a bit and haven't heard any responses either.

 

The srtip is either held with plastic clips or glued on, but there is only one way to find out I am afraid. I usually take a thin putty knife and a cloth a pry from below gently and see if it comes. Start about 2-3 inches in.

 

I was asking about if anyone has any experience with the two tone color on the lower section of the doors and around the wheel fenders. It looks like the outside lower color is actually a heavy duty adhesive sticker type material. I am going to call 1stsubaru and see if there is a replacement part for it, otherwise, I may just have to grind it off and repaint the two tone color with the stripe back. PITA

 

Best of luck.