Friborage
Member
- Joined
- July 16, 2010
- Messages
- 40
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Hazleton, PA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2000 XLT 4.0L
Hello!
So over the past summer, as the Explorer has been out in rain storms, my front seats, headliner, and dash have been getting wet. I traced it to water coming down from the top of the windshield. Once I took the head liner down I could see traces of rust in about a 2-4 inch length up behind where the outside temp and compass unit is.
Initially, I was going to see if I could use some silicone windshield sealer on the inside, but I figured that while it would stop the water getting in if successful, the rust would continue to propagate and get worse. So now I figure the glass has to come out so I can sand and seal the area.
Safelite wants to charge me essentially double to come out on two separate days to remove the glass, and then install it... almost $300 so I figure I'll take a shot at removing it myself and only have them come out once. I called a few local places but they're all booked up for weeks ahead.
I guess my biggest concern now is getting the glass out. There's a rubber trim strip going around the perimeter that's become very hard with age and I have zero confidence of it surviving removal. Can I just cut it and toss it? Will Safelite have a replacement for it when they come with the new glass?
Any tricks for cutting the urethane and getting the glass out? I do most of my own mechanical work, and I do detailing work on the side, but I've never done a windshield and I've never done actual body work.
At this point Im mostly committed to buying a new windshield along with this, so Im not that scared of breaking the glass, but I dont want a huge mess either.
So over the past summer, as the Explorer has been out in rain storms, my front seats, headliner, and dash have been getting wet. I traced it to water coming down from the top of the windshield. Once I took the head liner down I could see traces of rust in about a 2-4 inch length up behind where the outside temp and compass unit is.
Initially, I was going to see if I could use some silicone windshield sealer on the inside, but I figured that while it would stop the water getting in if successful, the rust would continue to propagate and get worse. So now I figure the glass has to come out so I can sand and seal the area.
Safelite wants to charge me essentially double to come out on two separate days to remove the glass, and then install it... almost $300 so I figure I'll take a shot at removing it myself and only have them come out once. I called a few local places but they're all booked up for weeks ahead.
I guess my biggest concern now is getting the glass out. There's a rubber trim strip going around the perimeter that's become very hard with age and I have zero confidence of it surviving removal. Can I just cut it and toss it? Will Safelite have a replacement for it when they come with the new glass?
Any tricks for cutting the urethane and getting the glass out? I do most of my own mechanical work, and I do detailing work on the side, but I've never done a windshield and I've never done actual body work.
At this point Im mostly committed to buying a new windshield along with this, so Im not that scared of breaking the glass, but I dont want a huge mess either.