Sideskirt adhesive problems - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

RandallNeighbour · 03-23-2007, 11:32 AM

I put my sideskirts on this Saturday and they're already starting to come away from the car in spots. I used rubbing alcohol to clean both surfaces before I put on the tape and installed them. I used the supplied tape that came with the skirts. It's black tape, 1/2 inch wide, and unbelievably sticky stuff.

Anyone have any ideas for me as to what to use next that will stick better?

BTW, here's some crappy phone camera shots of the car today with the painted humps on it as well as the skirts. Sorry about the bad quality.

Boxtaboy · 03-23-2007, 11:43 AM

The factory sideskirts use a combination of adhesive tape and clips/screws to secure the skirts. Do your skirts have holes for mounting hardware?

RandallNeighbour · 03-23-2007, 11:59 AM

My sideskirts have the factory clips that go underneath the car and the skirts screw on to the clips. What's pulling away a little here and there is the adhesive tape on the top edge where it affixes to the body just under the door.

chaudanova · 03-23-2007, 12:09 PM

wow, looks good Randall, looks much nicer with skirts!

CJ_Boxster · 03-23-2007, 12:32 PM

Hey that building looks familiar... do you work at "Initech"

Grizzly · 03-23-2007, 12:35 PM

I hate to be the bearer of bad news Randall, but I've had similar issues with trim adhesive. Once it starts to peel away, it won't reattach. Especially if you drive the car, dirt and dust attach to the tape, reducing its adhesiveness. The only solution that I know of is to remove the trim (in this case the skirts), remove the tape from the skirts, and the car, and apply new tape. I hope someone contradicts me, but this has been my experience.

The problem was likely that the skirts were not pressed firmly against the car for a long enough period of time for the tape to bond.

Like I said, I hope somebody says I'm wrong, buddy.

Incidentally, the car's looking really good.

RandallNeighbour · 03-23-2007, 12:47 PM

I kind of assumed I'd have to gently remove the skirts and start over with new tape...

I'm wondering if I should double up on it or use a different brand.

Grizzly · 03-23-2007, 01:00 PM

As luck would have it, we're having dinner with my friend the painter tonight. Discovery Channel just bought a TV show that he was involved in. It was some kind of custom painting competition with Charlie from Foose's, Mike LaValle, etc. I'll ask him about the best tape to use and how to go about it. He'll know.

The best way to get the skirts off is to use a little heat, like from your wife's hairdryer, to heat the adhesive. You have to be careful though. Too much heat and you'll blister the paint. You can use a heat gun if you have one, but then you really have to be careful.

MNBoxster · 03-23-2007, 01:01 PM

Hi,

Well... there's always...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

986speedster · 03-23-2007, 01:50 PM

The best tape to use is 3M, and it should come with an adhessive promoter. It is like a little foam wipe with a liquid promoter. Clean the area again, wipe on the promoter, let it dry, then apply the skirts. Hope it helps.

Perfectlap · 03-23-2007, 01:57 PM

looks good!
Amazing what the wheels and side skirts will do in 5 minutes.

have you tried going to one of those body shops that do this sort of thing?
I'm sure they have some experience...then ther's always gorilla tape!

porsche986spyder · 03-23-2007, 02:06 PM

When I installed my side skirts I used the 3m tape first and then secured it in place with the factory clips that go underneath. But most importantly to hold it inplace in my opinion (3rd and final step) are the screws that should be mounted behind the rear side skirts where the old mud gaurds used to be. If you use 2 screws back there and 2 in the front that go into the plastic fenderwell area just behind the front wheel that should keep them from coming off. I've had body kits on 3 other cars and they usually bolt or screw into these same places on all of them. Let me know if you need pictures. I can take some this weekend. Hope this helps.

z12358 · 03-23-2007, 02:07 PM

Randall, did you remember to lick the skirts before application?

Z.

dcporsche99 · 03-23-2007, 02:11 PM

Hey Randall,
Despite your taping issues, the car looks mighty nice with those skirts!! :dance: I would probably find a way to mount some hardware on there along with the tape. I would hate for you to lose one or both of your sideskirts because of a bump in the road while on the highway going 70+

BTW, did you also get a new front bumper too?? ...along with the diffuser and sideskirts???

Let us know how it turns out.

porsche986spyder · 03-23-2007, 02:22 PM

Okay, I just used a red drawing tool in photoshop to show you where 2 screws should go. Just imagine the tire isn't there. You may want to remove the tires in order to drill the holes. Most shops do it this way. Makes installation easier. You will need 2 more in the same place on the front end just behind the wheels. Most companies that sell the side skirts don't give you these screws. You will most likely need to buy some the same size as the ones used on the old mud guards that were removed.

Houston C4S · 03-23-2007, 03:32 PM

Randall,

Looks like you were "humping" it a the office today, eh?

I thought your car would look like it was Speed Yellow with
all the pollen.

But it's still black. Are you keeping the ol' California duster
in the trunk?

My fleet looks all yellow.

It's been a long day, just got home and I have nothing of
any worth to say to help you so I thought I might just
amuse you this time.

Talk to you soon..

- Mark

Grizzly · 03-23-2007, 06:28 PM

Randall,

Here's what painter guy says, which is very close to what these guys have already told you:

He says there's no way to avoid taking them off and starting fresh.

If they aren't already there, install a couple of self tapping screws through the skirts into the front and rear wheel lips (2 front, 2 rear). The screws will take a lot of the load off of the tape.

Use a good quality paper towel with either Prepsol or lacquer thinner to clean the rockers and skirts where the tape will stick. Make sure it's cleaned well. If you let the paper towel rest on your paint for too long while cleaning it will ruin the finish, so keep the towel moving at all times.

For tape, use 3m's PT 1100. It is their strongest double sided foam tape. You can get it at an auto body supply house in various widths. You will easily recognize it because it is black as opposed to gray. This tape requires an adhesive promoter, so be sure to get some. Apply a thin coat of the adhesion promoter to the surfaces and allow it to dry thoroughly.

After installing the skirts, roll back and forth as close as you can to the tape on the skirt with a wallpaper seam roller. Get one with a rubber roller as opposed to a wooden one to avoid scratching the skirts. Use stiff pressure to assure that the tape is bonding well.

That should do it.

Good luck.