Removing Windshield Adhesive

[JoeC]

Good Morning,

Just spend the evening removing the old shield and getting the new one ready.
Read allot of the posts and found some VERY helpful tips.

I'm now trying to clean up the window channel from the old adhesive. What have
you guys used to remove this stuff? Any home remedies or just the caustic sprays?
Also I've read about using adhesive or not to reinstall. Whats in there now looks
factory installed . Your views?

Thanks to all that have posted their installs you have made things allot easier.



Joe

[1990C4S]

Razor knife, lacquer thinner, then POR.

[tchanson]

If this is a 911, there should not be any adhesive involved at all, as the glass is held in by the seal only.

As far as removing what is there now, I would suggest 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover, which is generally safe for cured paint.










Tim

[86 911 Targa]

Here's another option.

[kodioneill]

If it's silicone, I used a product from RPM technologies for removing silicone, worked and won't hurt paint.

[911nut]

Originally Posted by tchanson

If this is a 911, there should not be any adhesive involved at all, as the glass is held in by the seal only.

From the 964 forward, adhesive between the body aperture and the gasket is used to hold the windshield in place. Makes it tough to remove the windshield without breaking it.

[Mitch Leland]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

Razor knife, lacquer thinner, then POR.

First off I wouldn't use Lacquer thinner, that's pretty strong stuff left unattended on most paints or interior surfaces. Regarding the use of a razor knife, I would try and stay away from scratching and tearing up the paint around the window channel to prevent rust in the future. Certainly using POR 15 to treat any bare spots is a good idea.

I used enamel reducer and a plastic putty knife and a lot of elbo grease. Cover up your dash and fenders and have at it... I had a combination of several sealants. I think it's important to clean up the window channel so the new gasket lays in and seals well. I found that I have less air noise now. Also the original factory gasket covers and installs much better than the after market gaskets. So this is one place "not" to cheap out...

[tchanson]

Originally Posted by 911nut

From the 964 forward, adhesive between the body aperture and the gasket is used to hold the windshield in place. Makes it tough to remove the windshield without breaking it.

Which is why I limited my comments to 911's, not 964's or 993's.

And for the record, post October '88 build date '89 3.2 Carreras that came from the factory with the 964 windshield and trimless seal did not use any adhesive either.




Tim

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by tchanson

Which is why I limited my comments to 911's, not 964's or 993's.

And for the record, post October '88 build date '89 3.2 Carreras that came from the factory with the 964 windshield and trimless seal did not use any adhesive either.




Tim

However, some installers are using sealant because of "insurance" purposes. I first faced this in 1994 when I last had a windshield replacement company do my '77 Targa.

Apparently they have seen how the front glass will pop out way too easily in a crash exposing the occupants to potential and additional injury.

[SP2]

The Porsche workmanual (the large 2 volumes) says to put a sealant between the body and the rubber gasket. There is even a photo of this. These were early cars.