removing numberplate (sticky pads)

[rolling_thunder]

Hi guys, I am changing the plates on my 98 Chim and they are stuck on using the double sided pads... Anyone have experience of getting the plates off without destroying the paintwork?

Somehow i think a crowbar is not the preferred option.

Cheers

RT

[peteA]

[quote=rolling_thunder]Hi guys, I am changing the plates on my 98 Chim and they are stuck on using the double sided pads... Anyone have experience of getting the plates off without destroying the paintwork?

Gently heat the plate with a hair dryer so the glue on the pads softens a bit..?

Mine came off with a bit of force it has to be said but the paint was OK. Think the pads split leaving bits in the plate and on the car which can then be cleaned off with a solvent.

Have fun!

[tvrbob]

Done it loads of times, just ease them off slowly. As you pull the plate away from the car the fibres in the sticky pads starts to tear, just keep easing them away until they come off. Getting off what's left of the old sticky dads is the hard part of the job

[rolling_thunder]

Aha both options sound good. Many thanks people

[kevin63]

Get some strong cord or coton and loop it around the back of the number plate, then use a sawing action to cut through the pads, once off peal most of the pad off and clean the sticky off with white spirits.

[glow worm]

I get a cable tie and slide it under a corner at a time and ease it off slowly. Getting the sticky stuff left on the paintwork is a pain, I used my fingernails and Autoglym tar remover, but washed it down quickly afterwards and re-waxed. Then put on my usual VELCRO attached plates, which allow easy switch from legal to illegal plates. Also bought a cheap number plate carrier from Halfords and resprayed to match the body colour , used VELCRO to attach plate, much better than holes in the numberplate.