Debadging

ScottyTsR5

ScottyTsR5

New member
I want to take off the SR5 emblem on the side of the Runner but don’t want to damage the paint. Have any of you guys done this yet and what method did you use? Thanks in advance!
 
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on my tacoma i just sat out one day and hit the badges with a hair dryer for a bit. then when i could move them around slightly i put a piece of fishing line underneath one and started pulling it off. you may have some glue residue after words but that rubs off.
 
Since are 4Runners are so new .The adhesive tape on the back side of the emblem has'nt had time to really bond to the paint like it does after years of sitting in the sun.

So ,they can come off real easy without much mess. The key is to pry them straight up,as in 90 degres to the surface,not up toward the sky.Do not scrape,pry.
Pry little by little working along the edges until it becomes unstuck.I use a phenolic scraper and a washcloth rolled up for a fulcrum to get leverage and protect the paint. A plastic windshield ice scraper will work the same way.You just have to take your time.
After it pops off, stick it to glass or toolbox,ect. and you can pop it off again someday if you want to use it again.I didn't need to heat mine up.I've debadged a bunch of vehicles and is the way body shops do it.Remember to pry it up and not try to scrape it off.

The dental floss/string method works but leaves the adhesive on the truck and is a mess to clean off.And it pretty much destroys the emblem.

Took a couple pics for ya....

<a href="http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/?action=view&current=Picture039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/Picture039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/?action=view&current=Picture037.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/Picture037.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/?action=view&current=Picture038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/Picture038.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
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harper7 said:
Since are 4Runners are so new .The adhesive tape on the back side of the emblem has'nt had time to really bond to the paint like it does after years of sitting in the sun.

So ,they can come off real easy without much mess. The key is to pry them straight up,as in 90 degres to the surface,not up toward the sky.Do not scrape,pry.
Pry little by little working along the edges until it becomes unstuck.I use a phenolic scraper and a washcloth rolled up for a fulcrum to get leverage and protect the paint. A plastic windshield ice scraper will work the same way.You just have to take your time.
After it pops off, stick it to glass or toolbox,ect. and you can pop it off again someday if you want to use it again.I didn't need to heat mine up.I've debadged a bunch of vehicles and is the way body shops do it.Remember to pry it up and not try to scrape it off.

The dental floss/string method works but leaves the adhesive on the truck and is a mess to clean off.And it pretty much destroys the emblem.

Took a couple pics for ya....

<a href="http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/?action=view&current=Picture039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/Picture039.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a><a href="http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/?action=view&current=Picture037.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/Picture037.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/?action=view&current=Picture038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/Picture038.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Click to expand...

Thanks! And this method won't scratch the paint?
 
ScottyTsR5 said:
Thanks! And this method won't scratch the paint?
Click to expand...
You shouldn't hardly even touch the paint if your careful. You will be prying up on the backside of the emblem. If you don't feel comfortable doing it,any body shop should do it for you for cheap.
 
My 2010 4runner Ltd. up here in Canada never came with the badging. I just called Toyota Canada yesterday to inquire about that and even the girl I spoke with didn't know why it wasn't there.....waiting to hear back from her soon.
 
F8watcher said:
My 2010 4runner Ltd. up here in Canada never came with the badging. I just called Toyota Canada yesterday to inquire about that and even the girl I spoke with didn't know why it wasn't there.....waiting to hear back from her soon.
Click to expand...

We don't have the badging in Canada. My limited doesn't have it either, I saw an SR5 driving the other day also and it had no SR5 badge either.
 
I just did mine in about 5 minutes a side, just the C-Pillar for now. All i used was a hair dryer, old gift card, and a touch of Goo gone. Not a scratch, Looks better in my opinion.

sorry no pics yet
 
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How would you go about "re-badging" the 4runner??

I was thinking about popping mine off and hitting them with some flat black spray paint and putting them back on. Any suggestions?
 
Question about debadging...does the "4runner" on the back hatch come off? If so, are there clips or holes underneath or is it smooth? Not sure I've seen anyone attempt removal yet, if it even can come off. My assumption is that it is part of one piece.
 
chimyz said:
Question about debadging...does the "4runner" on the back hatch come off? If so, are there clips or holes underneath or is it smooth? Not sure I've seen anyone attempt removal yet, if it even can come off. My assumption is that it is part of one piece.
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The 4 Runner number and letters come right off, just like the side badges. The "putty" that they use to put it on, is a bit harder to clean off the silver painted plate the letters were placed onto. However, after removing, a little lighter fluid or maybe goo gone, should clean it up. I used lighter fluid. After you take the number and letters off, there is a clean plate underneath, but it has 4 small "indentations", rectangle in shape. 3 of the indentations are in line, the fourth is a bit lower and near the key lock cylinder. They are a bit strange looking by themselves, but not to bad. I plan to put something over the plate in the future...a design or name plate etc. Good luck.
 
4ShoreRunner said:
How would you go about "re-badging" the 4runner??

I was thinking about popping mine off and hitting them with some flat black spray paint and putting them back on. Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

You'll need to make a template or mark the exact location of the emblems on the body before removing them. If you have access to FSM, it should also list measurements for the emblems. 3M makes a body and trim moulding tape. That would be your best bet in reattaching the emblems.
 
The hand method

I have been wanting to debadge my SR5 since I got it; mostly to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics, but I thought it might also look better. I gave it a tug (the SR5 emblem) when I first bought it, but it was warmer then and the badge was planted like a well stuck booger; stuck-stuck. I had a look on this forum on how to remove it, but all I had from the list of needed supplies was the fishing string (no blow dryer), so I let it go for a while.

I was walking to the car yesterday and my fingers were drawn to the badge like a ripe zit - it had to go. It was in the low 40s (the American kind, not EU degrees) and I gave it a little bit of a tug (again, the emblem). I held it for a few seconds and it started to lift up. In about a minute, I had it removed. Not only did I get it off, there was zero sticky residue left behind. No cleaning needed. Pleased with my self, I took a photo.

Thinking about the two attempts and the temperature difference, two things stand out. The sticky tape is much harder when its cold and doesn't tear (allowing you to use more force). Also, the glue didn't seem to adhere as tightly. So, no tools, no mess, and nothing rougher than your skin lightly touching your car.

Maybe it was just a bad glue day at Toyota when mine rolled off the line, but maybe thats not the case and the "hand method" has some merit.
 

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H2O_Doc said:
I have been wanting to debadge my SR5 since I got it; mostly to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics, but I thought it might also look better. I gave it a tug (the SR5 emblem) when I first bought it, but it was warmer then and the badge was planted like a well stuck booger; stuck-stuck. I had a look on this forum on how to remove it, but all I had from the list of needed supplies was the fishing string (no blow dryer), so I let it go for a while.

I was walking to the car yesterday and my fingers were drawn to the badge like a ripe zit - it had to go. It was in the low 40s (the American kind, not EU degrees) and I gave it a little bit of a tug (again, the emblem). I held it for a few seconds and it started to lift up. In about a minute, I had it removed. Not only did I get it off, there was zero sticky residue left behind. No cleaning needed. Pleased with my self, I took a photo.

Thinking about the two attempts and the temperature difference, two things stand out. The sticky tape is much harder when its cold and doesn't tear (allowing you to use more force). Also, the glue didn't seem to adhere as tightly. So, no tools, no mess, and nothing rougher than your skin lightly touching your car.

Maybe it was just a bad glue day at Toyota when mine rolled off the line, but maybe thats not the case and the "hand method" has some merit.
Click to expand...

I pulled mine off by hand as well today. Was about 50 degrees out. Just grabbed onto the top edge of the SR5 emblem and pulled. Slowly but surely it began to pull away. Absolutely no residue left behind. Looks much better!
 
It was a good day to debadge, I pulled of the SR5s and chrome beauty thing in the grill. Thinking painting the grill red?? We will see.
 
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