I’d use 5200 caulking and press it into place while it dries. Once it’s on, it’s never coming off again. Seriously.
I went with 3M automotive double-sided tape and clamped it for a couple of hours.
Deion said:
I went with 3M automotive double-sided tape and clamped it for a couple of hours.
Same here! Did this over a year ago, and it’s been holding great. My Explorer’s been through weather from over 100°F to as low as 20°F, all while parked outside.
Here’s what I did:
- Gently pried back the trim and cleaned the area with alcohol.
- Used a small tool (like a chopstick) to position the 3M tape.
- Double-stacked the tape for extra grip and used a ‘T’ pattern (horizontal and vertical strips).
- Pressed the trim back on and lightly clamped it with rubber-jawed clamps from Harbor Freight.
A tip: Peel the backer off the tape beforehand or at least start peeling it. Removing it in tight spaces was the hardest part for me.
@Taliesin
This sounds like the way to go. Is there a clip holding this in place besides the tape? I’m worried about breaking something when I try to remove it.
Keagan said:
@Taliesin
This sounds like the way to go. Is there a clip holding this in place besides the tape? I’m worried about breaking something when I try to remove it.
Yeah, there’s a clip at the top, but mine was already broken. That’s probably why it was coming off in the first place.
Wait, isn’t this something Ford should fix for free? Thought it was part of a recall.
Ashton said:
Wait, isn’t this something Ford should fix for free? Thought it was part of a recall.
Nah, that’s only for the A-pillar. The B-pillar isn’t covered under that recall.
Ashton said:
Wait, isn’t this something Ford should fix for free? Thought it was part of a recall.
Nah, that’s only for the A-pillar. The B-pillar isn’t covered under that recall.
Ah, got it. I thought they were the same. I replaced mine with an OEM part from eBay, but it started coming off again after a while.
You can find aftermarket replacements on Amazon for about $45. They come with clips in the middle and pre-installed double-sided tape around the edges. Just make sure you get the right one if you have the keyless entry pad.
If you want to go cheaper, use some caulking. Remove the trim, clean the area with alcohol, apply beads of caulking, then reinstall the trim and tape it down for a few days until it sets.
The B-pillar is held on with a clip and butyl tape. If the tape wasn’t applied right during assembly, it gets dirty and stops sticking. I’d recommend using decal cutting tape to remove the old butyl tape. Clean everything with alcohol and apply fresh tape.
Liquid Nails construction adhesive worked for me. It’s solid.
I just used Gorilla Tape. It’s held up pretty well.
Thanks, everyone! I’ll start with the least destructive method and gently remove the trim, clean it with alcohol, and scrape off the old tape. Then I’ll apply new double-sided tape and see how it goes!