install of Alu rear window trim

[andyt11]

On my 88 the rear window trim has been hacked up at some point in it's life. I have managed to track down new alu trim, but I know from messing about with the old stuff that if you bend it once, you will never get it flat and straight again.

Any tips on installing the new stuff? I searched about, but all I found is people running without it and removing it for painting etc...

I have the parts, I'd like to use them. Could use some pointers on the install though.

[Eric Hahl]

The first step is to remove the window, put the old seal in the trash, get a new "Genuine Porsche" window seal.
Step 2: Place new rubber seal around glass.
Step 3: Install aluminum trim into the seal.
Step 4: Install the whole assembly into the car.
You'll need some kind of cord, like grass trimmer cord to place in the groove to pull the seal over the body.
You'll need a second set of hands to place pressure on the outside of the seal and trim while you pull the cord on the inside of the car.

[Hnichols]

My rear window project

Hopefully this will help. Take your time -- and good luck!

[andyt11]

So the window has to come out in order to install this piece of trim!!?

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by andyt11

So the window has to come out in order to install this piece of trim!!?

Absolutely! no other way, but it's really not that difficult, just helps to have a friend to assist.

[KTL]

Originally Posted by uwanna

Absolutely! no other way, but it's really not that difficult, just helps to have a friend to assist.

Agreed with uwanna. That aluminum trim is soooooooo fragile that there's no way to install it cleanly w/out smashing the hell out of it. Do it right and take out the whole glass. That trim, while extremely fragile, is actually a locking mechanism to lock the glass into the seal. So its not just for looks. It has an actual important purpose.

You do not want to be foolish and try to reuse the seal/gasket. Once its been used for many years, it takes a set and forms itself to however it's been compressed/squeezed into the window channel. So the point is, reusing an old seal is just asking for leaks IMO when it doesn't fit into the channel exactly how it was previously installed.

To avoid breaking the window upon removal, it's often recommended to slice it with a utility knife (fresh blade installed) to relieve the grip of the seal.

[nene]

Question, is any glue involved here?

Serge

[Eric Hahl]

No glue required.

[nene]

I have heard that (specially for the front window) to use glue?

[wachuko]

This should help...

I have this bookmarked for when it is time to do mine:

Originally Posted by jury

And abit more of an in depth look...


This is only my method but it seems to have worked. As I said before, I was too busy swearing and trying to stop the bleeding to take any pictures during the process....not to put you off

I am not sure how to remove the existing glass and seal, from memory I cut out the seal with a Stanley knife when I first bought the car. Also you may need to buy new chrome trim, it is difficult to remove and reuse without bending it too much.

So the Process:

- A Patient Assistant with strong thumbs....and a solid box to stand on, so they can apply more pressure when needed.

- Have a bowl and spray Bottle of diluted Washing-up liquid ready

- Place glass topside up on an old car tyre

- Fit a GENUINE Porsche seal to the glass

- Insert Clothes Line into groove. Start on bottom edge at 6 inches to left of centre. Leave about 12 inches hanging out (don't start ) and run around whole seal, overlap when you get back to the bottom, leaving another 12 inches free and put tape on this end.

- Fit Chrome trim. Wet finger with Washing-up liquid and rub along groove first. Take time to make sure it is properly fitted into the Groove, you will hear it 'Click' in. It will Pop out again slightly during fitting, but it is worth the effort to fit it correctly at this stage

- It should now look like this:


- Place some Washing-up liquid on the Lip around window frame of the Car.

- Place Glass with everything fitted onto Car. Spend time to make sure it is central, and make sure the hanging ends of the Clothes Line sit onto the Parcel Shelf.

- The Seal will sit proud of the body and nowhere near the frame Lip. Push on top of the seal, especially by the roof to get it somewhere near the Lip. Careful not to Pop out Chrome Trim

- Now the FUN abit !

- With your assistant pushing here, and you inside the car:


- Start pulling out the length of Clothes Line with tape on. Pull at 90 degrees to the Rubber, pulling directly towards yourself. GO SLOWLY...The idea is that the assistant follows you along the seal, applying pressure as you pull. Go really slowly around the corner. Continue 6 inches up the side, and then repeat the process with the other Clothes line Hanging end.

- This is what you are trying to achieve:



- Now it gets tricky. Go back to the other side and continue up to the top corner. The seal will sit Concave on the glass, but it needs to sit Convex against the body. Spray some Washing-up liquid against the seal and body. We managed to continue fitting the screen and then run a Childs Ikea Plastic Knife under the seal to pop it into the Concave position. HOWEVER I think it would be possible to do this process with the Knife whilst pushing down on the seal, just depends how strong your assistants thumbs are:







- I also made a Hook which helped 'Tweak' the seal into place from inside:


- Copy on the other side, and you should be DONE !

[diy83sc]

Bookmarked this as well. The seal I ordered last night from PP is listed as OEM, so assume it's close as can be to GENUINE. Kudos to jury for this excellent visual and writeup. Can't wait for the seal to arrive and give this a shot.

Tony

[kodioneill]

The biggest PITA about this job are the rear defroster wires that run through the gasket.

[andyt11]

Nightmare. I thought I'd just knock the new trim in, seems like this requires a glass removal and a fresh install. My existing trim is OK, just not correct and short in places. I think I'll keep the new parts on the shelf until I have nothing more pressing to attend to!

[Hnichols]

Yeah, I agree: if it's just for cosmetic reasons it's probably not worth the trouble. The aluminum trim can have small gaps and still do it's job. The main concern would be the condition of the seal.

Maybe confirm that the window in fact doesn't leak. The rear seat upholstery can soak up alot of water before it would ever manifest itself (typically wet carpet in the rear foot wells after a rainstorm).

And as Uwanna indicated, don't even think about "just knocking the new trim in."