Gap between Rubber Windshield Seal & Body

[Jeff Alton]

Just though I would bump this great thread.

I just re installed the winsheild in my 84 using the method described by Randy Blaylock. Works great and is easy. I did it by myself with no trouble. It is amazing how much you can push the seal out by tapping on the wood piece with a rubber mallet.

Cheers

[petrolblue83911]

Randy, or whoever else has used his method recently,

-when using our created tools (I'm using a wooden shim) to push the gasket out at the corners,

do you apply the shim's edge against the metal trim (IE-directly on the inner side of the trim) or against the inner part of the rubber gasket? I think the answer is to apply it to the trim, but from the discussion it's not totally clear.

Thanks!!

-Adam

[Randy Blaylock]

Against the trim. You're shaping the trip, the trim gives the rubber it's shape.

[petrolblue83911]

Randy,

Thanks very much!

-Adam

[911 tweaks]

great thread guys!!
Can anyone please post a picture of the tools used ~ made to do this "shaping" of the corners with the alum pc in place...
Thanks in advance for all of your help!!
Bob

[RWebb]

don't have it any more but take a piece of soft wood and shape the end with a rasp to fit the corner

you're done

[William930t]

Tools needed are a rubber mallet and a shaped thin wedge of wood as shown



Fit under trim and lightly tap toward the outer edges and watch the seal move!

[911 tweaks]

you got to be sh^tting me.......... THATS IT?????????????? Thanks alot William930t for the posted pic to show the implement of cjoice...

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I am not as intimidated as before...

Q: does this technique also apply to using a 964 windshield and its rubber gasket or are they larger than the 78-89 cars?? and possibly better to use than oe 78-89 screens??

Thanks alot guys!!
Time to pull the windscreens to paint the tub the RIGHT way!
Bob

[Brorag]

he's been there, did that....................

[FL-Frank]

I had the windshield in my '72 911 Coupe replaced today by Safelite, and wouldn't you know it.....they left a nice gap between the seal and the chassis in both of the top corners, both dirvers side and passenger side.

I immediately started obsessing about water getting in behind there and rusting out the lower channel.

I did a search on here, and found this thread. It took me all of 5 minutes to shape a piece of scrap wood to the aluminum trim's radius, followed by tapping the aluminum trim outward pushing the seal into place.

No more gaps!

You guys are absolutely amazing!

Thanks Lots!

[WRGREENER]

WOULD ANYONE EXPOUND ON USING OTHER MATERIALS (IN LIEU OF STOCK TRIM) IN THE GROOVE e.g. AL, WINDOW SCREEN CORD, ??? AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE?

[RWebb]

no no no

[scarceller]

I wanted to add another update on howto fix the gap issue at the upper corners.
The wedge and mallet works great as Randy describes.

But after really thinking about the problem I've used a different approach: When mounting the seal onto the window DO NOT press the seal tight to the glass, meaning don't let the seal bottom out against the glass especially in the 4 corners. Simply leave the glass about 3mm or so loose. Then mount the trim and shape it to keep this clearance. The idea is that when you rope in the seal it will be extra tight and the seal will shrink in and start to take up the 3mm clearance as you rope it. However, the seal could never do the opposite as you rope it, meaning if you have the seal tightly contacting the glass edge it would never loosen this gap as you rope it.

The mallet approach works because what you are doing is essentially separating the seal from the glass edge as you hammer the trim out and away from the glass. So if this is the goal simply start by already having the trim away from the glass a few 'mm'.

Just a different solution to the same problem. Requires less hammering. Sometimes I do still tap/hammer but often the install just works with no hammer.

Hope this makes sense.

[roper0621]

Hey Guys I'm in the process of replacing my windsheild. Whats the best way to save the radio antenna wire?

[beamonk]

Here is another tip, use thin rope in the grove that the trim goes in then rope in the AL trim. Use windex to lube, take your time and push in the trim down concurrently behind the rope/string. Really works!

[911freek]

The guy that replaced the glass on my car (1975) is an older pro, about 65 - says he has seen it all.
He used a black gooey material in that area, told me its the same glue they use for the newer windows that have no frame or seal - they simply glue on.

[lateapex911]

When it comes to anything involving seals and water and such, I FAR prefer to not use goop, sealant, putty or whatever. Better DESIGN wins in my book. Of house roofs, make sure everything overlaps, and you'll be dry. In this case, let the rubber seals do the job they were designed for. Adding goop is a stopgap measure...IMO.

[roper0621]

Just spent a good five hours replacing the rubber gasket on my 911. What a job, its a 1985 and I assume the original windshields. After removing the windshields I found some black sealer, it was hell to remove, had some minor rust spots in both bottom corners. I treated the rust and clean up the mess as best as I could. The biggest problem was getting the trim pieces into the new gasket, what a job.. Installing the window went well, a friend had load me suction cup that glass installers use so it was easy to rope the glass in while applying pressure from the inside. Now for my question. The trim in the upper left corner came out of the small locking crove for about 3", I haven't been able to re-seat it. Is this a problem if so does anyone have a suggestions on how to re-seat it?

[beamonk]

You could get a small screwdriver, press it down and try to pry the trim over the lip. Guaranteed to dent/scratch the trim. One really has to run the trim around the glass prior to putting the rubber on the glass and work the corners well. The corners are always hell

[rallen911]

Is there another thread that describes this "cord" thing and how it is used? I can't seem to picture it in my head.