Hi there!

Just working on deadening some creaks around the car and would like to remove the cover on the A-Pillar. I was able to pull it away from the top, but then a "latch" which is attached to a grommet keeps the cover from being removed all the way, I can reach the base of the grommet, but am not sure if a flathead is sufficient to remove it.

And nope, this is not the dreaded welding issue, just some plastic on plastic.

Thanks!

 

I just yanked as hard as I could til it came off. Of course I broke the black latch but it was not needed as I still had the other plastic plug to keep it in

 

ah, thanks for the info, my only concern is that the latch acts as a "hook" in the event the side curtain airbags deploy, so that the a-pillar trim doesn't fly off the pillar and hit something/someone... so I'm trying to find a less "destructive" method.

 

I haven't tried removing mine yet but did you try pulling straight up? Sometimes they really do make things simple. Other times not.

 

yep, no go. But I do believe that you can insert a screwdriver behind the grommet and pull it towards the center of the car, it will pop off, but only after a lot of force, then you'll probably have to pull out the tabs again that's on the grommet so that there's still some tension.

I couldn't work around it, I did have to cut the latch from the grommet, but then re-engineered it with some other tools/parts so that it still serves its purpose.

Oh, and the pillar is dead quiet now

I may actually eventually order the grommet, but truth be told, it'll work just fine with how I redid it (read: zip ties!)

 

i didnt know you could remove the a-pillars, because of the airbags.
So is this dangerous to do??

 

nope, not at all... just as long as you don't puncture the airbag AND place the cover back properly.

 

You can get the black peice off the A pillar. I took mine out last night to pull the headliner down. You can pry the black peices right out of the metal on the a pillar, then when you go to put the peice back on. You just alighn the black peice with the hole again and it will snap right back in there.