The Ultimate Guide to Installing a Car Emblem

How to Install a Car Emblem or Badge: A Step-by-Step Guide

Whether you’re replacing a worn-out emblem or adding a new badge to your vehicle, installing a car emblem or badge can be a straightforward process that adds a personal touch to your vehicle’s appearance. With the right tools and a little patience, you can achieve a professional-looking result. In this article, we’ll guide you through the step-by-step process to install a car emblem or badge.

Tools and Materials You’ll Need To Install A Car Emblem

• Adhesive Remover: Used to remove any old adhesive residue left behind by the previous emblem.
• Rubbing Alcohol or Soap and Water: To clean the surface where the new emblem will be installed.
• Microfiber Cloths: For cleaning and drying the area.
• Painters Tape: To mark the positioning of the emblem and hold it in place until the adhesive cures.
• Measuring Tape or Ruler: For accurate placement of the emblem.
• Heat Gun or Hair Dryer: To soften old adhesive or help apply the new emblem.
• Emblem Adhesive or Double-Sided Tape: If the new emblem doesn’t come with adhesive, you may need automotive-grade double-sided tape or a suitable liquid adhesive.

Clean the area before you install a car emblem or badge

If there’s any adhesive residue left from the old car emblem or badge, remove it using 3M 3618 adhesive remover. For more information on removing a car badge or emblem, see this post.

Choose a car emblem adhesive

Choose from a liquid adhesive, high-bond tape, or transfer adhesive. Here are the pros and cons of each.

Liquid car emblem adhesive: The Pros and Cons

Pros:

3M Plastic and Emblem Adhesive is available at most auto parts stores. To install a car emblem or molding, apply an adhesive bead in the middle and around the edges of the car emblem. Then, press it onto the car paint. Align it. Remove excess adhesive with a cloth and Q-tip. Then, tape it in place with painter’s tape.

• Easy to coat all areas of the car emblem, badge or molding
• No cutting required

The Cons of Liquid Car Emblem Adhesive

• It’s not an instant bond, so you can’t drive the vehicle until the adhesive sets up and dries.
• It’s somewhat messy to clean up around the edges of the emblem.

Avoid Washing the Vehicle: Avoid washing the car for at least 24-48 hours after you install a car emblem to avoid excessive moisture. This gives the adhesive time to set and ensures a strong bond.

Check for Secure Attachment: After the curing period, check the emblem to make sure it’s securely attached. Gently press around the edges to confirm that the adhesive has fully bonded.

High-bond car emblem adhesive tape

3M exterior car attachment tape is what carmakers use to attach car emblems and molding at the factory. It’s applied to the emblem, and then the emblem and tape are die-cut, and the excess adhesive is removed. There are several advantages to using this tape, but for the best and most permanent application, you should apply the emblem to the tape and cut around the edges using an Exacto knife.

Some people avoid the trimming step by applying cut strips of tape to the emblem and not running it all the way out to the edges. That’s a mistake. Water, dirt and road grit will accumulate on all the horizontal edges of the tape and that will eventually weaken the bond.

Lay out several pieces of 3M exterior car attachment tape. Remove one-liner from each strip. Then, press the emblem onto the sticky tape. Use an Exacto knife to trim around the edges.

Then remove the backside liner and stick it to the paint, being careful to get the proper alignment.

Advantages of 3M exterior car attachment tape— It bonds instantly

Disadvantages of 3M exterior car attachment tape— You must trim around the edges with a knife

3M Press-In-Place Emblem Adhesive Strips

This is a unique product for the DIY market. It allows you to get all the advantages of high-bond tape without the difficulty of trimming. But it’s expensive. It sells for around $40 for ten 2″ x 12″ strips. It’s basically a 10-mil transfer film. Cut the strip to the length of your car emblem. Then, lay that strip on a table. Remove the top liner. Then, press your emblem onto the tacky adhesive. Hold the emblem and pull the excess strip away from the emblem. The adhesive film will stick to the emblem, and the excess will stay on the remaining liner. If done properly, you won’t have to perform any trimming or adhesive removal.

To get the full effect, watch this video

©, 2021 Rick Muscoplat