Need help. Chrome bumper insert removal

Stevo306nc

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I have an 04 cobra silver that I am trying to remove chrome bumper Inserts to replace with black ones.

Spent about 3 hours and only removed the A and R and did some damage to the paint in the process. Right along the edge where it dips in the paint kept wanting to come off with the vinyl letters.

Let me start off by saying these stickers are really worn cracked and not even chrome anymore they are so old. You can't even pull any pieces off the sticker they feel like they are cemented to the car. Never in my life have I had difficulty removing vinyl stickers but I have never dealt with chrome ones.

Is there something I am missing? I used a hair dryer on the highest heat and I have used a whole bottle of goo gone. I used a plastic card even and it still took 3 hours. At this point I don't even think the inserts are going to cover the damage done so I may have to look into getting this bumper re-sprayed. Also the car only has 40 k miles and has been garage kept its whole life. With is also not helping with the removal.

Any help would be great thanks.
 

COOL COBRA

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You’ve tried everything I would’ve already. That sucks to hear.
Since there’s already paint damage it sounds like it’s time to get rude with it & get the rest off expecting a re-painted bumper in the end.
Maybe document some pics for if you ever sell it & disclose the reason for the re-paint.
Swapping letters vs rear impact for the new owner?
Edit: I see your car is silver. If re-paint happens, make sure your guy does lots of test sprays. Silver isn’t fun to match.
 

Stevo306nc

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Try working some fishing line behind the letters.

I do alot of fishing I have line from 5lb braid to 600lb mono. You can't even begin to get any fishing line behind the vinyl. It's unlike anything I have ever seen. It's like the chrome is so flaky and brittle but stuck on like cement at the same time. You can't pull the vinyl it breaks. When you scrape it it comes off in millions of flakes. Yet it's hard as a rock I don't get it. It's been a nightmare tonight and a huge loss Over some 10$ stickers I'm trying to put on.
 

HudsonFalcon

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I do alot of fishing I have line from 5lb braid to 600lb mono. You can't even begin to get any fishing line behind the vinyl. It's unlike anything I have ever seen. It's like the chrome is so flaky and brittle but stuck on like cement at the same time. You can't pull the vinyl it breaks. When you scrape it it comes off in millions of flakes. Yet it's hard as a rock I don't get it. It's been a nightmare tonight and a huge loss Over some 10$ stickers I'm trying to put on.

That sucks brother. Maybe the PO used some kind of epoxy or something to hold the letters on. Might want to just take it to the body shop and have them remove them and paint the bumper. I've removed a few sets and it shouldn't be this involved. Sorry for your bad luck especially on a 40k mile car.
 

Stevo306nc

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That sucks brother. Maybe the PO used some kind of epoxy or something to hold the letters on. Might want to just take it to the body shop and have them remove them and paint the bumper. I've removed a few sets and it shouldn't be this involved. Sorry for your bad luck especially on a 40k mile car.

That's what I am thinking. There has to be some special glue that was used. The residue left behind is nothing I have ever seen from a vinyl decal before.
 

01yellercobra

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Are these the stainless letters or the vinyl that's supposed to look like chrome? Have you tried Goo Gone?
 

Stevo306nc

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Vinyl this suppoze to look like Chrome. Yes I used a whole bottle. The goo gone doesn't penatrate into the vinyl. And it doesn't peel like a normal vinyl sticker should
 

01yellercobra

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If it's the vinyl that's supposed to look like chrome the fishing line won't help. I had those on my 01 Cobra. You're pretty much stuck using a heat gun, goo gone, a rubber wheel, and lots of cussing.
 

DSG2003Mach1

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a heat gun will get hotter than the hair dryer but in my case is just made the paint soft and ended up messing it up anyway. I would try to get it warm then eat through it with a rubber eraser wheel.
 

fivelitrecobra

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Try some carb/brake cleaner on a rag or lacquer thinner on a rag. Hose the rag down pretty liberally, the letters/glue may absorb it and soften the material.
 

DSG2003Mach1

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if you can find one corner to come loose and start using adhesive remove it'll be a long process but works. Ive also found the 3m adhesive remove in an aerosol can works way better than goo gone.
 

DSG2003Mach1

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I've heard WD40 is good for removing decals as well. It might be safer on the paint.

I havent had much luck with it releasing stickers but when you have all the adhesive goo left behind it seems like it will stay unstuck a little longer making it easier to wipe that stuff off
 

Stevo306nc

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Got it all off the 2 letters that got damaged were the R and the A. The others had dammage Under where the vinyl will go so no big deal. The r and a has dammage on the sides where it indents so It will show a bit.

Hard to explain to everyone but they are 17 year old vinyl decals. They are all but dust the adhesive has turned into cement. There is no peeling a corner. When you go to scrape it off it comes off (best I can describe is) like glitter. Looks like a pile of silver chrome wet glitter. Take a normal vinyl decal out of your head when your thinking of it. If I knew how to put pics on here I would show you guys the dammage and what it looked like before and after.
 

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