Does anyone know how to remove the black plastic trim piece around the rear lift gate handle. The plastic coating is cracking off. Any suggestions on how to refinish?

 

It is a whole handle assembly, if you pull the interior panel off you will see several nuts that hold it in place (11mm I think), and swing clips that hold the rods for the lock and the handle. As for refinishing, let some one else answer that. I was not so successful the first time around. I have to redo it.

 

Subscribed

 

Subscribed also, mine looks like it has crackle paint on it.....

 

I am in process of doing mine. I have sanded with 220, and now am hitting it with 400 grit. Just tape off the area around the handle when sanding. I am doing the sanding by hand. I then plan to paint it with a black paint intended for plastic and a clearcoat. Should look good when I am done. Texas heat has taken a toll on mine.

 

Also subscribed, mine's doing it too. I think the paint for plastics would work the best.

 

If you take the plastic off to paint, can you still open the gate? I want to do mine but it's our only vehicle while we're on the road and it might take a few days to prep/paint.

 

Pop the plastic off the interior and there are a few 10mm bolts holding it on. Remove it and sand it down for best results and to keep overspray from being an issue and accidentally scuffing surrounding areas.

 

I wet sanded mine and hit it with rattle can gloss black. Just taped it off. Came out great.

 

Can some folks post pics and the paint they used? Wondering how hard it is to match the handle...

 

subscribing

 

If u dont care for it to being really shine. Dupcolor trim black is very nice stuff it makes it look just like the mirrors and the other black trim parts. And it last for a very long time. Did my parts on my jeep and been 7 years and still looks great

 

I just wet sanded mine and left it. Once I got all the clear coat off of it it looked fine

 

Do u recall how fine of grit?