Topper Maintenance

[99sierraman]

As the fellow northerners on here can atest to, winters are hard on vehicles up here thanks to all of the salt that the DOT likes to cake the roads in... I just noticed that my rockers are starting to rust but I'll have to deal with that some other time. It has been hard on my Leer topper too. So now because everything is corroded and won't work properly, I am replacing all of the hardware on the back window, including the cracked plastic piece.
This is where I need some help. I have everything taken off of the glass (which was a pain...). The only issue is that they used some strong azz shiz to glue the plastic trim to the glass. And it isn't like any 3M adhesive I have seen before. I got most of it off now, but I was wondering if anyone new of some good adhesive remover that won't hurt the glass?

Pics when done! Promise.

 

[Zembonez]

Glass is not normally affected by many chemicals. If you are trying to remove black urethane, you may have to use a razor blade. I like to use a razor blade to remove as much as possible first. Most of the stuff I've seen used on glass just laughs at typical adhesive removers. I've successfully used acetone to remove stubborn stuff off of glass with no problems. Acetone will remove the black painted masking on glass so you have to be careful if they have that.

 

[PenguinLTZ]

Have you tried some MEK?

 

[tleach17]

This was the solution for my topper.

Open bed FTW!

 

[99sierraman]

This was the solution for my topper.

Open bed FTW!

Haha I actually usually take it off in the summer!

I used a razor blade to get most of the glue off and right now the is just the residue left. The black painted area is were it was glued which is why i was asking.

 

[Riggs]

when i have to replace the plastic on the rear doors i do exactly what you did, i use a razor blade to get most of the glue off and then use 3m adhesive remover to get the rest off, i usually use it in a spray bottle and then with it wet use the razor to get the rest off.

as long as you get most of it off, it will be fine and then clean with rubbing alcohol and use a heat gun and get the window warm and the new tape warm and it will be fine, plus all the latches and handle will hold it on anyways

 

[99sierraman]

As promised:

The new skirt.

Close-up of the new handle.

The new door hardware.

I also cleaned up, painted and reused some of the old stuff:

And I also ended up replacing all of the rubber seals on it too. Hopefully I won't have to do that for another ten years...