Buckeye-winshield-replacement

The following will give a brief explanatory outline of a typical auto glass replacement. Keep in mind, however, that many different vehicles require many different methods of installation. For example, a Honda Accord may reflect a typical and simplified installation, while a Mercedes SL would require many more man hours of labor and a deeper knowledge of the processes.

* Always check to ensure your auto glass installer has the proper NGA (National glass Association) Certifications.

Glass Definitions:

Lets first be clear on the different definitions and wording. The front glass is called the “windshield” here in the USA (the British call it the “windscreen”). Similarly, the rear glass is not called the “rear windshield”. It is commonly referred to as the “back glass.”

There is the also the “door glass” for windows that retract into the doors. Some motorized by a small machine in the door referred to as the “regulator,” and others roll manually. Lastly, there is the “quarter glass” and “vent glass” as found on 2-door coupes. Quarter glass and vent glass can either retract like door glass or open outwards at the rear by means of front hinges like some minivans have. They can also be stationary, as in a Volkswagen Beetle.

The Two Ways To Place Auto Glass:

Other than mounting quarter glass with screws (such as in the Honda Civics and Accords), there are two ways auto glass is usually placed.

Windshields, back glass and quarter glass are mounted to the body of the vehicle against a mating flange where the inner and outer body panels are sealed to each other.

The most common way auto glass and windshields are mounted is with rubber weather stripping. The main purpose of weather stripping is to hold the auto glass securely to the windshield .Weather stripping can sometimes come attached to strips of metal trim. The metal trim is inserted after the glass and weather stripping is installed. Occasionally these metal trim pieces actually wedge between the glass and weather stripping to help hold each into place.

An additional, and less common method to mount auto glass and windshields is where a water- resistant adhesive, called urethane, is used to glue the auto glass in place. This urethane serves the same purpose as, and takes the place of weather stripping. Usually strips of plastic or metal trim will overlap the body panel and the glass. Here, the glass significantly contributes to the overall structural integrity of the car.

Auto Glass Replacement Using Urethane Adhesive

Replacing auto glass secured with urethane adhesive is a straightforward process.

First, the installer will fit the glass to the opening to make sure the fit is snug and will not leak air or water. An air gun can be a useful tool to determine air leakage. If necessary, the windshield installer will continue to straighten the body panel before refinishing. Next, the installer will use a caulking gun and to apply the urethane adhesive.

Making sure that both the glass and the body panels have been thoroughly cleaned to remove all contaminants, old adhesive, and debris, the installer will apply the urethane adhesive to the mating flange on the body panel. A level bead all the way around the glass opening will ensure a perfect water-tight seal is attained.

The installer will then carefully place the glass onto the opening and press it down so the bead of adhesive spreads slightly, making sure to allow room for the trim pieces. Spacers designed for this purpose will prevent error. He will then apply the windshield tape, allowing the urethane to set for a period of 2 - 4 hours.

* As the customer, we suggest you allow the adhesive urethane to set for a period of 24 - 48 hours before removing the tape. Additionally, you must leave your windows slightly cracked during this period. Failure to do so will result in “popping” the windshield.

Windshield Knives:

Removing a windshield or other piece of car glass is no easy task. Just ask anyone who has done it! To remove car glass that is held by urethane, the installer uses a windshield knife, sometimes referred to as a glass or urethane razor. Pneumatic versions of these urethane razors cutters are available, along with a wide collection of blades.

To use the windshield knife, the installer will first remove outer moulding from the glass. Then the knife is worked into place under the glass and it is drawn towards the installer, steadily rocking back and forth while pulling on the knife using “pull handle”. The pull handle gives the installer leverage.

Without the assistance of a windshield knife, there is little chance of removing glass that is held to the car body without destroying the glass completely. However, in most cases, a piece of car glass is usually removed because the glass is already broken by a rock or in a collision.

Windshield Wire Kits:

An alternative to the windshield knife, or glass razor, is the use of windshield wire. The windshield “wire” is essentially a thin metal wire attached between two metal dowels. Safelife Auto Glass is a well known manufacturer of a wire holding device called the Safelite Windshield Removal Kit. Also handy is a windshield chisel and windshield scraper.

Removing Quarter Glass:

Removing and replacing auto glass and windshields held in place by weather stripping is a much more straightforward process. In this example we will exemplify removing a quarter glass. Quarter glass can easily be removed by one person without breaking.

Starting inside of the vehicle, and using thumbs and forefingers, the installer will gently work out the lip of the weather stripping from the quarter glass. Once started the removal becomes as easy as peeling the old stripping away while gently pushing the quarter glass outward..

Tip:
Often times the installer will obtain a spray can of silicon lubricant available from the local hardware store and thoroughly saturate the surrounding edges of the weather stripping, dislodging the stripping from its seal and making it easier to remove the glass.

The installer will then choose the most sturdy corner of the glass to use and the best “push” position. He will then use gentle force to corner out and dislodge the weather stripping from the vehicle body.

Provided the quarter glass doesn’t dislodge without flexing, the installer will again adjust the lip outward before continuing to push. Forcing the push can break the glass and cause injury.

Once the installer has worked a corner completely out, the job is nearly finished. By gradually pulling at the lip of the weather strip away from the mating flange, the glass will come completely out with the weather stripping attached to it.

Windshield Removal:

Windshields are the most broken piece of auto glass on a vehicle. Flying rocks, road debris and accidents can all contribute to windshield damage. The following will explain the removal process.

Removal of a windshield is more difficult than quarter or vent glass. The windshield is the second largest pice of car glass, and it is usually curved. Whats more, the windshield, may in some cases, require an assistant to help.

The installer will begin by removing any trim pieces on the weather stripping that may be wedged between the glass and the body of the vehicle. He will then remove any interior trim from around the auto glass.

In the case(s) where urethane adhesive has been used to adhere the glass to the body of the vehicle, the installer will use his windshield razor to cut through any old urethane.

The installer will then use either suction cups, hands, or feet to dislodge the windshield.

Caution:
It is easy to break the glass at this point, and in most cases the windshield will shatter. Please keep a safe distance from the windshield installation professional.

Tip:
Here the installer will use the silicon glass lubricant and thoroughly coat the edges of the weather stripping so they are easily removed. In the case the weather stripping is worn or dry rotted, the installer try not to tear it.

Windshield Replacement:

Reinstalling:
Techniques for reinstalling quarter glass, windshields, and back glass are very similar. Each part held in place by weather stripping follows the same procedures. First, the installer will obtain a piece of 5/16 to 3/8 inch dia. nylon cord, making sure it is long enough to wrap completely around the weather stripping and overlapping the corner of the glass (see diagram). Next the installer will attach the weather stripping to the auto glass making sure that the outside of the weather strip faces the outward.

The weatherstrip has two grooves, one for the glass and one for the mating flange on the body shell. By insert the nylon cord into the groove for the sheet metal flange the installer will be able to push it inside the groove and pull it tightly around the weather stripping to overlap it at one of the corners of the glass. (see diagram).

Press Glass Into Opening and Pull Cord:

Next the installer will spray silicone lubricant into this groove so the cord and the weather strip is thoroughly soaked on the inside as well as the side that faces towards the glass opening.

Press the glass into the opening from the outside of the car. Use even pressure to hold it up against all of the opening. The installer may need more hands to do this, and may use an assistant when needed. While pressure is being applied from the outside of the car holding the glass into its opening, the installer will start pulling one end of the nylon cord towards himself while inside the vehicle, being careful not to tear the lip of the weather stripping while doing this. Starting at a corner of the glass, he will gently pull the nylon cord, working it in a circular motion to gradually coax the lip of the weatherstrip into into its seat on the mating flange.
By working in one direction only, seating the weatherstrip as the installer pulls outward, pull out the nylon cord. He will pull the cord out all the way around until he hits the overlap area. The overlap is there in case the weatherstrip unseats as he goes around.

Windshield Installation Using Adhesive Urethane

In most cases, windshield installations using an adhesive urethane are performed exactly as above. The only difference is before laying the windshield and weather striping in place, the installer will lay an even bead on urethane against windshield body housing. The installer will then proceed as normal.

This completes the installation.