Many people remove their badges from their vehicle.Some people do it to improve the look of their car, others remove the indications of the trim they chose.You can remove the badges from your vehicle using items you can find around your house and after applying a coat of wax it will look like the badge was never there.Some vehicle badges are attached using metal or plastic clips that connect through the body of the vehicle, but it's important to note that they use strong glue.These situations are best left to a professional body shop, but de-badging your car is a fairly straightforward process.
Step 1: Determine how the badges are fastened.
Many automotive badges are held on with a simple glue, but some use clips or rivets that can leave holes in the body of the vehicle.The way the badges are fastened will affect how you remove them.If your badges include clips that attach to the body, removing them will require body work that includes filling the holes and painting that part of the car.This should be done at a body shop.You have to remove a lot of the badge to see if there are clips or rivets.You can conduct an internet search to find out how your badges are attached to your vehicle.Search for "how to remove badges on a 2004 mustang GT" in your vehicle's repair manual to find out how the badges are fastened in order to replace them if they are damaged.You can see if there are clips through the body of the vehicle if you remove the interior trim.
Step 2: Use hot water to cure the glue.
It is easier to remove the glue when it is warm.To pour over the badges, fill a thermos with hot water.Make sure the water is hot enough to be steaming, but not boiling, as that can damage the paint on the car and burn you.The hot water should be put on the body of the car.The water will be able to contact some of the glue as well as warm the rest of it through the badge.If you don't have a thermos, you can use any type of water container as long as you get it to the badge before it cools.The paint could be damaged by boiling water.Don't use boiling water.The softer the glue, the easier it is to separate from the body.
Step 3: The glue should be softened with the use of the adhesive remover.
You can also use a spray to remove the glue on the badges.Most office supply or big box retail stores have a product that can be used to remove the badges as well as the glue that remains on the body after they have come off.It's a good idea to look for a brand that can be sprayed on.If you want the glue to stick between the badges and the vehicle, spray it along the edges.It is possible that the clear coat on the paint is in contact with the wax.It is possible to get rid of the sticky substance on the body of a car.Don't get any of the glue in your eyes or mouth when spraying it.
Step 4: Use a hair dryer to heat up the hair.
Turn a hair dryer into its highest heat setting by plugging it into a nearby outlet.You can use the hair dryer to apply heat to the badges you want to remove.The dryer should be wiped back and forth a few inches above the badge.If the badge can move or twist under pressure, it means the glue is soft enough to begin removing it.It's important to heat the entire badge evenly so that the glue sticks to the vehicle.Try to wiggle the badge with your fingers to see if it's loosened.
Step 5: A plastic wedge is needed to pry the emblem from the body.
Place a plastic wedge or scraper on the body panel of the car and press the wedge between the metal and badges.The badge should be able to pry up the metal with little force if the glue is softened.If you run the risk of breaking the Badge, you may want to approach it from a few different angles.If you apply pressure to the scraper unevenly, you risk damaging the paint.If this method is used, the badge may be broken.You may want to use a different method if you intend to sell or reuse the badge.
Step 6: Dental floss or fishing line can be used to cut glue.
Wrap the ends of the floss or fishing line around your fingers.Pull the length of line between your fingers through the loose glue on the side of the badge.You may need to move your hands back and forth to pull the line through the glue.The badges should come off once done, but there should be a bit of glue left on the vehicle.Attach the badges to the body by cutting the line toward yourself.If the glue isn't sufficiently warmed, more force will be required to cut through it.This method will most likely allow you to remove the entire badge without breaking it.
Step 7: If you use a credit card, you can cut the Badge from the car.
You can remove the Badge with a credit card if you don't have a plastic wedge or fishing line.After the glue has been properly warmed, slide your credit card under the badge.If you want to get through all of the glue, you need to separate the badges from the metal by sliding your credit card around at different angles.You don't want to scratch your paint if the side of the credit card with the numbers is facing out.You can use your credit card to separate the badges from the vehicle.
Step 8: There is a method to remove the glue.
There will be remnants of the glue that was used to attach the badges to the vehicle after they have been removed.Use a clean microfiber towel to rub the remaining remnants off the vehicle after spraying an adhesive remover like Goo Gone.Rub the remover over it in a circular motion.The clear coat can be damaged if the glue is sprayed in a large area.
Step 9: The area needs to be washed with soap and water.
Warm soapy water should be used to make sure there is no glue on the paint.You don't want to seal the glue to your paint under a coat of wax because the wax will serve as a seal once applied.To thoroughly clean the area, use a sponge and scrub it lightly.It is important to use soap designed for automotive applications as it will remove more wax and clear coat from the paint.Before you begin scrubbing, make sure the sponge is clean.Damage to the paint can be caused by debris caught in the sponge.
Step 10: Allow the area to completely dry.
Once the area is completely clean, use a microfiber towel to dry it.It is important for the paint to be completely dry before you can begin applying wax, so you may want to allow it to air dry for an hour or two.Wait until the paint is completely dry before applying wax to wet or moist surfaces.Some waxes are designed to work on wet surfaces, but they don't offer the same level of protection.
Step 11: The vehicle should not be in the sun.
Wax should not be exposed to sunlight.The best environments for automotive wax to perform are cool and shady.It's important that the wax isn't too hot.The wax will dry out too quickly if the temperature is too high.Move the car so the waxing portion is in a shady area.Waxing your car in the sun will result in a lackluster shine and worse final product.The metal of the car should have cooled when you were heating it.
Step 12: Apply the wax in a circular motion.
With the vehicle completely dry, apply a small amount of the wax to the area that used to be under the badges.You only need a small amount of liquid wax for the area you are working with.Take up about a quarter of the space on the applicator by squeezing out enough wax.Rub the wax compound into the paint.The wax should be applied evenly to the area.A brighter shine is not necessarily a result of more wax.You should only use as much wax as you need.
Step 13: The wax needs to be dried.
Once you have applied the wax evenly to the vehicle, you need to allow it to dry completely before buffing it off.Some waxes are designed to dry quickly and can be buff in a few minutes.It may take up to half an hour.When the wax becomes white, you will know it is dry.Remove your index finger from the dry wax.It is dry if it rubs on your finger.Allow the wax to stick to the vehicle for a few minutes and try again.
Step 14: Place a microfiber towel over the wax.
Once the wax is completely dry, take a microfiber towel and buff it off using a circular motion.You will see the shiny paint beneath when you remove the dry wax.As you buff the wax off, it's a good idea to rotation the towel as frequently as possible.When buffing the wax off of a vehicle, do not apply too much force.The wax isn't dried enough yet if it's difficult to remove.There may be dust left over from buffing.To remove the dust, blow on the vehicle's body panel.