2012 Subaru Legacy....The body side moldings are beginning to come away slightly (1/8") from the doors at the ends only. I bought 3M Emblem & Trim Adhesive thinking that I could squeeze some glue down behind the molding and reattach them. It's going to be difficult since the tube of adhesive doesn't have a thin applicator to get in a 1/8" space. Has anyone used this adhesive or is there one you would recommend and any trick to applying it. Thanks.

 

While I've used a good bit of the 3m adhesive I've never tried to force it into a crack. If you do try to do that make sure you have thinner handy to remove the excess as that stuff is extra sticky. I'd consider removing enough at the end to glue it back down.

 

I've never worked with that adhesive but I use a syringe and needle when I need to get glue into tight spaces. I usually buy the biggest needle they have in the veterinary section at a farm and fleet type store.

 

I'm not certain the 3M adhesive will go thru a needle.

 

Can you put some on a thin applicator (think old credit card) and apply it that way?

- Peter

 

Ice cream type stick or a thin flat blade screwdriver or even a scribe with a sharp point, put a little on one and work it into the available opening. Put tape on surrounding area that you don't want to mess up and remove tape as soon as you have applied adhesive.

 

Ron53 & pjaffe....your ideas are exactly what I was thinking of doing. I have some plastic slightly thinner than a credit card. I experimented using it but the adhesive dries so quickly it's difficult to apply it to the entire area. The tape is a must to prevent a mess. When I get the guts to do it I'll let you know how it worked out

 

Most of those adhesives are contact cements. That means you need to apply them to the molding and car, allow the glue to dry and then press together.

I'm almost thinking that clear silicone glue might be better for what you are trying to do.

 

I finally got around to doing the job and decided that silicone was the best solution. I cleaned the area by slipping a 1/2" strip of cloth dipped in naptha behind the molding.....Taped around the molding to avoid getting any silicone on the door.....lifted the molding slightly.....applied the silicone and spread it with a thin strip of plastic......pressed it in place and wiped off the excess silicone.......taped the molding to hold in in place. I remove the tape after 8 hours.........Perfect, clean job. Thanks to you guys for the ideas.

 

A putty knife works for something like this.

 

My local dollar store has some thin-blade putty knives that are so flexible they're useless for anything EXCEPT use as an applicator.
A set of feeler gauges works for the real narrow spaces.

 

Thanks for the continuing ideas, but the project is completed.

 

More people silently find answers here via Google than ask...

 

I've used double stick tape when you had more of a gap than that.