Maestro roof gutter strakes

[Simon]

Has anybody got any experience of fitting these to a freshly painted Maestro? The old ones just peeled off. I got 2 new ones from Ledbury ready to fit and they won't fit into the roof grooves "readily" - the strakes appear to be wider meaning that they have to be squeezed in somehow.

I don't want to resort to using a rubber mallet/spray grease for fear of denting/forcing something unless I have to....

Any suggestions gratefully accepted.

[E_T_V]

Rubber/nylon lubricant spray might help them slip in a bit better. I've also got a new set which I assumed would be easy to fit but I'm all ears if someone has a foolproof method

[SimonR]

I have found that it helps to squirt WD-40 onto the rubber strips and into the sides of the channels. Then start with the back end of the strip but feed it in at the front end of the channel therefore you get the very end in place and then the action of sliding it towards the back of the car ensures that the rest of it seats as it should. You might have to give it a bit or persuasion as it slides into the channel but it's not that difficult.

It just needs plenty of lube. Oo-er Missus.

[MaestroTurbo]

First of all you need to warm them up, ideally room temperature or hotter. Just leave them on a long radiator. Then start at one end, carefully press the trim into the gutter and use some WD40 as recommended. Mask the surrounding area and use a rubber mallet to persude the trim in. If you slip you hopefully wont dent the roof as you wont be hitting it too hard and the masking tape will stop the paint from getting scuffed.

[steTOX]

:hide: thought wd40 actacked rubber, i use washing up liquid works every time ;)

[G51 NAV]

Washing up liquid is full of salt and will promote seam-rot

[Simon]

Thanks for the tips, guys...I'll give it a go this evening!