The association between low-charge-density polyelectrolytes adsorbed onto negatively charged surfaces (mica and silica) and an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), has been investigated using surface force measurements, ellipsometry, and XPS. All three techniques show that the polyelectrolyte desorbs when the SDS concentration is high enough. The XPS study indicates that desorption starts at a SDS concentration of ca. 0.1 unit of cmc (8 x 10(-4) M) and that the desorption proceeds progressively as the SDS concentration is increased. Surface force measurements show that for the polyelectrolyte studied here, having 1% of the segments charged, the desorption proceeds without any swelling of the adsorbed layer. This behavior differs from that observed when polyelectrolytes of greater charge density are used.