Removing rear window without destroying the seal?
 

Is it possible to remove the rear window without destroying the seal? My seal is bran new and in good shape, the window does not leak at all currently. How do you get the window out? Do you have to remove the trim on the outside first, or do you just push the window out? How hard do you push? I don't want to break the window.

You may be able to do it, but I had to cut mine to remove (Targa). I've always thought cutting was the way you have to go. Seals are pretty cheap-why mess with it? You'll proably run a bigger risk of breaking the window if you don't. Cheap insurance IMO

Get in the car, put your back against the window, and push. I removed countless rear windows that way without ever breaking one. The key is to maximize the surface of contact. Don't do that with the windshield, and don't do that in a Targa.

I've watched dismantlers kick them out from the inside 'til they popped out and crashed to the floor without busting them. Something to do with tempered glass.

Easy to do, if you don't want to try the pushing method, just take a tool that has a smooth, rounded edge (so you won't gouge the headliner and/or cut the seal etc.) and start around the edge pushing the lip of the seal so that it pops out of the edge of the body. Once you get about 3/4 of the way around the seal, the window will be coming out easily. The seal is not harmed and if you have a rear window defroster hooked up, you'll be able to easily disconnect the wires. The only difficult part is being cramped up in the back seat of your car. Sure is a lot faster than putting it back in.

What he said and having it nice and warm won't hurt anything (it will help a lot) except you inside the hot car!

What a royal pain in the a$$ that was! I got it out with no trouble using the advice here. Getting it back in was sure fun though. That aluminum trim has to be PERFECT to go back in correctly. No we'll see if it leaks. I am going to run a hose over it tomorrow to check for leaks. If it does, I'll just have to spring for a new gasket.

At least I now know how to remove and reinstall the glass in these cars. Hopefully I won't have to do it again anytime soon.

Thanks all for the help.

Edit: What are you supposed to do with the hot wire for the defrost? THere was no way to disconnect it on my car. I had to cut it and splice when I reinstalled.

Like Zeke suggests. Do it on a warm day. The seals and sealers soften to help nudge the window free. While the first person applies pressure from the inside, a second person can persuade the seal lip over the window opening. A third person holds the six-pack.

Sherwood

You'd better be able to make it work with that seal. If you think getting the window back in was work, wait until you'll have to put the electric wires in the new seal...
Seriously, even the factory used soome putty with the windows. It has a specific 3M name (do a search), which helped with waterproofing and having the seal sit correctly.