Does window trim support the glass at all?

[Pazuzu]

Title says it all. I want to remove my trim to convert it to bright trim (removing the black). Does the trim aid in supporting the glass in any way on any windows (maybe it puts pressure on the seal to hold the glass tighter)? If not, I assume I can drive the car and get it wet with the trim removed. I know that it "clips" into the seal, but I don't know if it needs to be there to hold everything together.

It's an SC. Obviously I'm limiting this to the front and rear windows, and the quarter windows. I'll have to do the doors differently.

[cgarr]

It does help support the glass thats why the glass comes out easier when you remove the trim, but I don't know if it would be a safety issue? You will have to remove the glass and seal to put the new trim back in, how are you going to get the trim out without bending it all out of shape? If you do get it out just jam some screen door spline in there.

[Pazuzu]

Thanks! I was under the impression that if you were REALLY careful, you could remove the trim without bending it past recovery, but I didn't realize that the seal and glass needed to be off to put it back. I guess I need to rethink my plans...hhhmmm...

[dtw]

You cannot remove the trim without bending it 'in situ'. Best way is to cut into the seal in a 'V' on either side of the trim, then the trim just lifts out. Then the glass and seal remnants lift out, too. If you've got your new trim (and a new seal) handy, and assuming there are no nasty surprises waiting under the seal, you can do the whole swap in an hour or two. Be very careful re-installing your old glass, with the pressure exerted during install, it is very likely to crack. Were it me, I'd just drop $130 on a new piece of Safelite glass (I just installed one and it fits great).

As you said, the trim does function to tension the glass/seal. Not sure how I'd feel about driving around w/out it...

[SP2]

There is someone in Colorado, possibly speedo, that never puts the trim in. It is like his trademark and he races.

[Pazuzu]

Dammit! You people are just buggering up my plans, I hope you're happy


Looks like I'll have to do some paint stripping with them on the car, and wait until I gt a garage to do the full blown transformation.

[rattlsnak]

It does NOT hold the glass in and is not needed. (its an appearance item only. And yes it goes in fine with the glass already installed. As stated above, removing it on the other hand is 90% failure without bending it, unless you take the glass out with it.

[the]

you'll never get the trim back in with the glass already installed on the car. never.

[sparkle84]

Well, theres 2 widely differing opinions. Anybody know the whole truth & nothing but? I'm also planning to do my windshield soon & would like to know.
I was under the impression you put the seal on the windshield & installed via the rope method & put the trim on last. If you can't put the trim in with the windshield & seal already installed, then how do you do it. Doesn't seem like you'd have much success putting the trim in the seal & then putting the seal on the windshield. But perhaps that's how it's done. Perhaps "the" or some one else could explain the correct procedure. Maybe Rattlsnak knows.

[Norm Faustino]

I would love to go trimless but it seems to me that in the case of the front windsield upper corners the trim is needed to push the lip of the seal up over the frame. I currently have mine out and there is a gap of air in those spots.
I have also heard that 1/4 inch vacuum line works well and looks great too. anyone tried this with any success?

[Pazuzu]

Me and my "simple" questions...always causing a rukus!


I'll play this safe, and assume that I cannot remove the trim, drive the car for a few days without it, and replace it later.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

The trim may not literally "hold the glass in," but the final curve of the trim at the four corners is what holds the seal tight against the body. You can to some degree reshape that curve with the windshield and trim in place, by using a shaped piece of wood and gentle tapping with a mallet, to seal some of the most common 911 windshield leaks, so the trim is by no means simply decorative.