Replacing The Seal Of The Rear Windshield

[baclav]

Hi Guys,


I need to change my old rear and front windshield seal, I m thinking to do it my self, does any body know how to do it?

[no substitute]

Yes, extensively covered. Do a search to read of all the foibles and pitfalls (but doable) of glass install.

[BGCarrera32]

Yes, covered many times- search the forums...don't expect to change them for the first time on a Saturday morning and plan to go driving that afternoon. It is time consuming and tedious for a first timer...

[curiousone940]

Invite over at least two people to assist with the installation, and hope they're still your friends after the job is done. Good luck!!

[Zeke]

It's not a Targa, right?

[john walker's workshop]

have a glass shop do the rear. you'll be glad you did. all those bloody wires, and having to cut holes in the seal lips to run them thru, and then they don't stay put during the install. grrrrr!
the front isn't too hard.

[ed martin]

I've done a number of front windshield installs and removals. Not terribly difficult. You really need two people to do it. One to pull the string from the inside and another to slap open palmed on the outside following the movement of the string.I've observed some pros do the job and noticed they always use an open palm to slap, never a fist or you will break the glass. And of course don't even think about using a mallet. If you are thinking about doing the install of the rear targa, don't even think about it. I've seen pros take a whole day trying to complete the job, at times with as many as four or five people trying to press that thing in there. And if you want the metal trim on there to boot.....Ah ha ha ha. You need to find an intstaller who specializes in this and it's going to cost a bit more.

[baclav]

I have been searching in the forum and I have now a preatty good idea how to do it, I wanted to do it by my self because im living in Mexico and there's not to much peopole that knows about old Porsches, but I find a guy who told me that the prcedure is very similar almos identical as the VW beattle (old one of course), he offer to assist me but Im not shure about that.

by the way is a coupe not a targa

John what you mean about a bloody wires? does it have those inside of the seal?

[}{arlequin]

I think it would be a good idea to have the VW beattle guy help you. Probably has a lot of experience.

[baclav]

This guy told me that the system with the seal and the aluminum trim is very very similar with the beattle, im going to check an old beattle here (there are plenty of those) just to be shure!

[no substitute]

JW is referring to the wires that go to the heating element built into the rear window. They have to be tucked into the rubber channel along with the glass.

[john walker's workshop]

and the new rubber doesn't have the holes where the wires go through the inner seal lip to attach to the glass. you have to cut them yourself.

[lateapex911]

I did it myself unaware of how hard it seems to be, and I remember it being a bit painful, but not unreal. The wires were a pain. Keep the old seal as a template, and having extra hands is rarely a bad idea if he is capable.

[baclav]

I think is gone a be quite a job!!!! I didnt count on the wire stuff, Im gona talk with the beatle guy if he knows about the wiring!!!

[ed martin]

Hey you know you can always skip the wire stuff. I mean how big of a problem is frost in Mexico?

[baclav]

Not to much only in winnter 45F aprox, that could be an option with the wire thing, Ill thin about it!!!

[GIBSON]

I watched a guy to mine after my wife nearly divorced me when she gave up trying to push the glass down while I pulled the string. This guy had it done in 10 minutes with a huge suction cup from the inside. Geez, he made it look easy. 'Course he's probably done 500 of them but that suction cup was really the
way to go.

[aigel]

This job is doable. Start with the front windshield for practise. Be patient, that's key. Yes, you can bring it to a shop, but after doing it myself, I am unsure if I'd trust a glass place with it. You better test your heater after they are done!

George

[no substitute]

Suction cup inside, revelation! Great idea.

[baclav]

Thank you all guys, im going to try this weekend Ill let you now!!!