Adhesion Problem

I have decided to put the rubber covers on the fiberglass running boards. I ordered the covers when I was building the car. The painted running boards looked ok I just wanted to change the look and now I am having a problem getting the covers (ordered from Drake) to bond to the clear coat.I talked to my painter and he said clean the painted surface with denatured alcohol and also the covers. I used 80 grit on both surfaces and applied the silicone (his suggestion) to both surfaces and put pressure on the boards with weights overnight. The silicon would not adhere to either surface very well. I pulled the covers off cleaned everything and called Drake they suggested DAP contact cement.I coated both surfaces per DAP instructions on the can . The same thing again no good adhesion.I am looking at the Liquid Nails now,but I am wondering if any one on the forum has had this problem,or better yet what will work.

Possibly the residue from the silicone could be giving you fits now---takes a heck of a lot to get it all off of any surface.... Could try scuffing both surfaces again with some good prep sol (I use PPG DX-330) and a purple scotch brite to try to work the rest of the residue off.....

well when you sanded it a put silicon in the pours so hot one thing is going to stick :( you will have to kill the sillicon wash every thing down after your get all the silicon off with out sanding it as this will push it down in the pours then clean with spic-span with a scrub pad the use somePPG 330 or 440 but watch the 440on good paint .then when clean clean clean sand with a finner paper then 80 like 120 sand go over it again with the spic-span with a new scrub pad then 330or 440 dry clean sand some more past the 80 grit marks wash with 330 or 440 dry with all the way thru you can not reuse sand paper or scrubs on any thing you wash or wipe it dry as this may have sillicon in it. then use the contack cement ot glue then down you want it to get tacky first 3m contack cement should do the job . your going to have to get the rubber clean .i would not use ppg 440 on the rubber just soap dave beat me to it slow on tpying:(

Sounds like the silicon was a mistake. I'll need to go out and buy more supplies to correct my big BO BO. I don't look forward to all that clean up,should have used the forum's experts before starting. Oh well it will keep me off the streets.

I should have tried covering one (double clean up) to see the results. Starting to break at 71.

Thanks I'll keep you posted.

Denatured Alcohol will cut silicone also.