i read in one thread about removing them that they're plastic, but they don't feel plastic, nor does plastic rust. anyway, how should i go about taking the rust off? thanks

 

i dont know where the rust is comming from on yours, because they are a plastic material. i redid mine this summer, becuase the paint was badly faded and flaking off on them. i sanded them all completely down and repainted them with some body matched Dupli-Color paint and some clear coat. they look perfect.

 

are definatly plastic, therefore would not rust...maybe the rust is above or beneath the actally molding or even behind....but the molding itself can't rust....not physically possible....Chemical composition...dear Chap...Chemical composition

 

okay well here's some pics of it.

http://maxima.cardomain.com/id/djslinkyz

 

they look like they are in bad shape. if you think its rust, its not comming from the side moldings. maybe its dripping over on it from something else. so, if i were you, i would remove all the side moldings, find out if it is all rusty underneith them or something(way too much work if it isnt really rust your seeing); if there is rust underneith fix that first. if you dont take them off, your going to have to tape them off really well, so that when you do your sanding you dont scratch up the paint all around them. sand the paint all off of them, then move to higher grit sanding paper until they are all smooth. then you have to primer them. then wet sand them(you can buy very fine wet sanding paper for this at any store like Home Depot). you gotta sand that all down so it is nice and smooth and has no flaws. after that i took all the masking off and redid it so its nice and clean. open up your hood; look on the plate on the firewall; get the paint code; go to the auto store and buy matching spray paint; buy the same brand clear coat. make sure your painting area is all dust free. apply a few light even coats of the paint. make sure it is fully dry, then put a coat of clear coat on. take your masking off. get some polishing compound ad polish it all up. look how nice it looks now...just like the day it was brought home from the dealer.

 

it's not rust. it's just the discoloration that's common with your color max. time to remove, sand, paint and reattach

 

i removed mine and i like the way that my car looks with out them. the only thing is, is that it was a huge pain in the you know what to get the glue off that held them on.

 

thanks thebull

i think i'm just going to remove them.