D-post exterior fabric

[dave1850]

Hello everyone
Can anyone advise me please? I have searched the forum to see what people have used to replace the vinyl on their D-pillars. On the off-side (but curiously not the passenger) I can feel the crunchiness beneath the vinyl and so it's time to have a look underneath. I would like to have some vinyl ready to recover - I may not do the repairs or trimming myself The forum points to Martrim as a preferred supplier, and there is an Everflex vinyl which looks close to my (original) trim - so I wonder whether this is the one people have finally chosen?

Also, what have people found when their vinyl has been removed? Are we talking surface rust or is major welding commonly needed? Am I likely to need to remove the interior trim especially the interior pillar lining?

All advice on this would be appreciated!

thanks
Dave

[geeksteve]

Mine sounded like the world was ending when I poked it so I removed the vinyl. Some bubbly surface rust, much grit. I hit it with a knotted wire wheel and didn't come out of the other side. A small amount can sound like a lot... But equally a lot sounds like a lot too!

One way to find out...

Steve

[Toledo Man]

When I took mine off I didn't find any serious grot. You don't need to disturb the headlining but you will need to remove the chrome trim from around the rear window, the D-post badges and the furflex trim to get access to the vinyl. Mine came off in one piece but they're a bit stiff. I'll be putting them back on eventually but in the meantime I've painted the D-posts with satin black to cover the primer that I'd put on. This is what mine was like after I'd taken the vinyls off.

[dave1850]

Thank you both for your replies. It's encouraging that the grot wasn't as bad as you feared

Toledo Man - one question - did you need to take out the rear window glass to remove the vinyl?

D

[Toledo Man]

No need to touch the rear window. The edge of the vinyl is covered by the chrome trim. It doesn't go anywhere near the glass. This photo of my rear glass shows it better.

[Edin Dundee]

No need to remove the rear window, but you do need to remove the rear chrome trim.
Heating GENTLY with a hair dryer helps a lot, the plastic is VERY fragile.
Under my vinyl was a LOT of rot, particularly at the bottom where the holes for the stainless trim securing clips were, and at the rear under the chrome trim on the offside.
It's been cut out and welded on one side, cut out and fibreglassed on the petrol tank side.
I have a repair panel for welding in 'some time in the future'............

[Dolly-Dimple]

Very interesting topic as will be removing mine when the car gets painted in the future, they are both starting to crinkle on my car.

[Edin Dundee]

If they survive the removal, be careful which glue you stick them on with. The normal evo-stik stuff can melt them!

[Dolly-Dimple]

If they survive the removal, be careful which glue you stick them on with. The normal evo-stik stuff can melt them!

Thanks for the heads up mate...must be strong stuff to melt them, last thing we want is melted vinyl

[Dollyby 2]

Hi all, pardon me for appearing to highjack this post, I need to replace or recover these vinyl panels and was wondering can they be bought or can the material be sourced to recover them, best regard's. Myles.

[davy67]

I too need to renew my vinyl roof and both D post covers and on the advice of a forum member I contacted Martrim for prices a few months ago but after being fobbed off and told to call back over several weeks I decided to look elsewhere.
I got in touch with LBH Products Ltd and the guy I spoke to was extremely helpful and interested in the Dolomite Sprint, having owned one years ago. My point is that he offers the D Post vinyl when you purchase the roof as part of the kit so perhaps he may supply the vinyl for the D posts separately?

I will certainly be ordering my new roof from there when the time comes.

David

[Edin Dundee]

Hi David,

The D post vinyl is actually plastic, it's not like the vinyl roof.
Does he supply the D-posts in original style plastic or the roof vinyl?

[Dolly-Dimple]

Didn't actually realise they were plastic Bill!!

[Edin Dundee]

Yes, afraid so. Sometimes the crinkling when pushed is just the plastic.

[Mahesh]

Plastic or vinyl, mine are most likely rusted, I will have to remove to be sure.

I was going to use polyurethane type evo stick, but after reading the post, could
do with some guidance.