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  • How to remove factory sideskirts...

    Removing the factory sideskirts from a PGT or PSE is a rather difficult task that far too often ends in swearing at a pile of cracked plastic but it doesn't have to end like that. With a little time, a good knowledge of the location of the clips, understanding why type of clips are holding the piece, and the right tools this task can be a breeze. I successfully removed four sideskirts (two damaged ones from V3rtigo's car and two from a parts car) in about a half an hour without breaking a single clip. Here is how you can too...

    Step one: Gather the proper tools

    1 - Bondo Spreader to protect paint when prying
    1 - 8mm nut driver or socket
    2 - Two flat blade screw drivers of various length
    1 - Phillips head screwdriver
    1 - Forked interior panel prying tool (optional but can help)
    1 - Flat blade scraper or putty knife (optional but can help)
    1 - Flashlight
    1 - Needle nose pliers

    For the fender cap:


    For the sideskirt:


    Step two: Make sure you have ample time

    If you are in a hurry, stop! This isn't the time for this project.

    Step three: Understanding the task at hand

    There are four different types of clips standing in your way. The first is a larger dark gray clip (clip A). This clip is found in three places at the top of the fender cap, the top rear corner of the sideskirt near the quarter, and the the top front corner of the sideskirt near the door. I found that these clips generally do not hold into the stock holes very well. They tend to jump through the hole if gentle pried on. The second clip (clip B) is pretty self explanatory but can be a bastard. It is found in four locations, two on the front of the fender cap and two on the rear of the sideskirt. If the plastic threads are striped your best bet is to reach behind the backside of the clip and apply pressure while gently turning. If its really striped on the front just pry it out with a screw driver. The third clip (clip C) isn't a clip at all. It's a combination hex shaped phillip's head screw. Six of these run the length of the rocket and hold the skirt in place. Ignore the fact that is can be unscrewed and go right for your nut driver or socket because they are usually too rusty to unscrew. The last clip (clip D) is found in two locations, in the middle of the top of the skirt near the quarter panel and hidden underneath the sideskirt even with the rear opening of the door. This clip has two tabs that are generally pretty easy to depress one at a time in order to release it from the factory hole.

    Clip Types:


    Clip B's on rear of sideskirt and front of fender cap:


    Fender cap clip type and locations:


    Sideskirt clip type and locations:




    Step four: Removing the fender cap

    The fender cap has four fasteners total, one clip A, two of clip B, and one clip D. After removing the factory splash shields (not explained, pretty self explanatory) you will already have removed both clip B's. Use the needle nose pliers to carefully grip the backside of each of the two remaining clips and the should jump free from the holes. Just remember... BE Gentle. Do not pry the fender cap immediately after the clips jump free because it is held into the sideskirt. Gently pull it away from the fender so the clips clear and slide it towards the front of the car and you'll have it.

    Fender cap (busted before I touched it):


    Step five: Removing the side skirt

    The first step to removing the side skirt is to take the two plastic screws out of the lip on the rear of the sideskirt. This should be the easiest part of the job. Next take the 8mm nut driver or socket and remove the six clip C's that run along the rocker. Once all six are removed, hopefully they weren't too rusty. gently wiggle on each mount and free it from the plastic retainer for the screws. This will help to allow it to slide towards the front of the car later. Now it is time to gather up the prying tools to remove the three upper clips. They consist of two clip A's and one clip D. I found it was best to start near the door and work towards the back with these three. Take the bondo spreader and slide it in between the skirt and the body. Once the clips are visible use of the two flat blade screw drivers (or interior panel tool) and gently pry out on the skirt. Be careful to avoid denting the quarter or scratching your paint! After a bit of wiggling it around the clip A should pop out. After it is out slide the bondo spreader down towards the center of the top. The next clip is of type D and it is best to take the blade of the screw driver and pop each tab one at a time. Repeat the previous step for the type A clip to remove the last clip on top. Once all three are out of the holes slide each one out of the mount on the backside of the skirt. This will also help in sliding it forward.

    Clip C location:
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...t/DSC06346.jpg
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...t/DSC06348.jpg

    Initial prying with bondo spreader:

    Popping the tabs with the screw driver after getting it pried out:
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...t/DSC06354.jpg
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...t/DSC06357.jpg
    Remove all the clips:
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...t/DSC06361.jpg
    "Street Rod" 1993 Ford Probe MTX
    "Grape Crush" 1995 Ford Probe GT MTX

  • #2
    Step six: Removing the sideskirt

    Now that all the clips are removed you are a few gentle taps away from removing the skirt. The skirt will slide off a fifth type of clip that is not easily removed from the body. Gently pull the skirt away from the body so that the curve in the plastic matches the curve in the body. Begin to gently tap the skirt forward toward the front of the car with soft hits from the palm of your hand. Keep the piece as straight at possible because pulling it away from the body too far causes the clips to bind. After a half a dozen or so hits it should slide off the plastic holders and you will have succeeded!

    Pull skirt out over with body to gently hit with palm forward:

    Freedom:
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...t/DSC06372.jpg
    What you are sliding the skirt off of:
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...t/DSC06373.jpg
    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...t/DSC06375.jpg
    Your unbroken sideskirts off the car!:

    http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90...t/DSC06384.jpg

    I hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!
    Last edited by pw_cc_runner; August 15, 2008, 01:24 PM.
    "Street Rod" 1993 Ford Probe MTX
    "Grape Crush" 1995 Ford Probe GT MTX

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    • #3
      Fantastic Post! Thank You

      Comment


      • #4
        THE ENEMIES!

        I had to laugh at that



        Note, the door needs to be propped open when removing the big lower one.

        This is an awesome thread of How-To: Too bad there isn't a

        Probe PIC and Video POST HOW TO ARCHIVE.......
        Last edited by TravisWilliams_GT; August 15, 2008, 02:21 PM.
        ¶¶¶ Spyder Mica Metallic1994 PGT ZE-T04E Intercooled @ 6 psi.. ----- Sold within NEPO and PT
        ¶¶¶ Arancio Atlas Metallic1995 PGT NOVI 1000 Intercooled @ 10psi. ----- STUPID FAST
        ¶¶¶ Verde Mica Metallic 1993 PGT Modified, Sanctified, Retired. ----- Damn I miss her.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by pw_cc_runner View Post
          Step one: Gather the proper tools

          1 - Forked interior panel prying tool (optional but can help)
          I actually made one of these out of an old fork from the kitchen. Worked very well. I never knew there was an actual tool till you posted that pic.

          Great How To post

          92 MX3 Turbo ($100 junkyard KLG4) 11.904 @ 124.3mph, 14psi, DOT approved Hoosier drags, pump gas.
          HIN/NOPI Supershow Class Winner - Miami 2010 - Street-Sport Compact-Mazda
          Links: Pretty Pic, GoFast Pic, Timeslip, Track Video, Dyno Video
          As of July 2011 the MX3 has been retired and sold.

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          • #6
            great write up Josh
            1994 Probe 16v
            1995 Probe 24v
            1994 Mustang GT 5.0
            1993 Probe 24v
            1996 Mustang SVT Cobra
            1993 Probe GT
            2003 SVT Cobra Terminator

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            • #7
              Very nice write up - soon to be stickied.
              Now living in REALLY Sunny Arizona and sweating a lot but still loving it...AZPOC Rules!!

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              • #8
                Nice work the pro way... I just use a sharp chisel and brake half my clips and then slide the panel to the left.

                Fast, namely for junkyards. I consequently grap any junkyard clip I find to replace the one's I destroy.
                93 mazda mx3
                08 Jetta wolfy

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                • #9
                  TW
                  there is an Appearance how-to FAQ and half or more of the items in it are just links to old pic post threads. I have one in there, I think you have at least 2.

                  CanadianDream
                  It shouldn't be stickied it should be added to appearance FAQ

                  Rest of Probetalk
                  READ THE FRIKKIN FAQ before posting already answered questions.


                  pw_cc
                  PM a mod (c-man for fastest results usually) and request this be added to the FAQ, the staff here is usually pretty accommodating.
                  Great post luckily I already knew how to do this.
                  2005 BMW r1200GS - fully dressed adv machine
                  2006 Suzuki SV650 - naked squid machine

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                  • #10
                    hahaha nice one man! I wish you would have written this sooner. I repainted my car a month ago and broke 14 out of like 60 "D Clips," while getting the sideskirts off. Nice write up!
                    '94 Sonic Blue w/ Black Top ~ Turbo - SOLD: 7/06/14
                    ...yeah, she's shaved, just how we like 'em. Click HERE
                    vrooom psshh...

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                    • #11
                      nice how-to man!!

                      <WTB comment removed ~ c-man>
                      Last edited by c-man; August 16, 2008, 12:55 PM.
                      *97-PGT-2.5-V6*20x9J XXR 526*Custom Kitted*Custom Paint*Custom Quad Angel Eye Lights*Custom Dual Exhaust*Custom Enginebay*Custom Interior*Custom ICE*AccuAir-FBSS AirRide*K-sport Air-Coilovers*K-Sport BBK*Carbon Fiber*Lambo-Doors*

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                      • #12
                        erm... whats wrong with my comment i wrote...?
                        *97-PGT-2.5-V6*20x9J XXR 526*Custom Kitted*Custom Paint*Custom Quad Angel Eye Lights*Custom Dual Exhaust*Custom Enginebay*Custom Interior*Custom ICE*AccuAir-FBSS AirRide*K-sport Air-Coilovers*K-Sport BBK*Carbon Fiber*Lambo-Doors*

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                        • #13
                          ... & now we know josh...

                          what a great time... "hey should we take the skirts off to gain easier access to patch the rockers?" "f it, it looks like hell to take them off"


                          great writeup
                          05 Lotus Elise
                          95 black pgt-ze... sold

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                          • #14
                            Very nicely done! It should be stickied in the appearance section!!
                            KLZE, Hotshot Headers, Hotshot CAI, Pacesetter exhaust, 626 swar bar, AWR adjustable endlinks, Centreforce clutch, MX-3 Flywheel, JJ resonated TP, Eibach Springs, Shogun Rims, Mach 1 Chin and Mazda6 BBK (the Orignal)

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                            • #15
                              if the pics ever stop working the how to is maintained here http://epmazdasport.com/sideskirtRemove.htm
                              1993 Probe GT Rio Red "Mach1" DE/ZE Hybrid SOLD
                              2006 WRX Limited SRR
                              2013 STi Limited PBP

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