I want to add some tasteful stickers/decals (PIAA, Calmini, Bilstein, etc.) to the back side glass window of my Xterra. But I don't want them to look like shit after a few months (faded, peeling, bubbled, etc.). I was thinking about buying clear coat spray (or some sort of lacquer) for the front of the stickers, and additional adhesive spray for the back (to ensure that the corners won't start to peel after a carwash, etc.).

Have any of you done something similar and what have been your results? Would you recommend another way of preserving the look and adhesive quality of these stickers? Any specific suggestions would be appreciated.

-dp

The stickers are vinyl and won't fade... don't worry about that... and as long as you don't pick at them they shouldn't peel, either...

Of course make sure you clean the area really well before sticking.

all stickers will fade and fall off over time. It all depends on what material they used to make them. If your looking to beef up a sticker thats pre made go to your local sign shop and ask them for some UV guard. most sign shops will have something either in a spray or a clear vinyl that you can apply to stickers to help protect them.

If your getting stickers/ graphics made up for you make sure you request some sort of abrasion coating and or UV guard.

Hope this helps if you need more info let me know.

-Adam

Yes, I agree, if you clean the area really well, you won't have any problems with the sticker coming off.

IceChickenX

If subjected to hours in the sun, they will most definitely fade. It all depends on the quality of the material being used, which gives it its fade resistant life.

And as long as you apply it to a clean surface I agree, you shouldn't have any problems with peeling.

if the decals are good vinyl then more than likely they won't fade. You have different types of vinyl rangind from 2 years all the way up to 9 years that they can be out in the sun. For keeping the edges from peeling up. If you go to a automtive paint store or even a sign supply type store they sell a pen that is called SEALIT. What it is is vinyl graphic edge sealer that you put on the egdes of the decal and it keeps it from gettine moisture behind. Being in the sign business I use this all the time when I do vehicle graphics because of car washes and etc.

I recently installed a decal kit on my R1 and I used the following process to 'prep' the surfaces for decal placement.

- Goo-Off (or similar cleaner)
- Windex (or similar surface cleaner)
- Soft rag dampened with filtered water (I used water from our Britta pitcher)

The panel surfaces were perfectly clean and chemical-free after that.