Rear Hatch Construction

[911buff]

This may be a rehash but I have been scouring this thread, other threads and the internet in general and cannot locate the info I am looking for;

We have an '86 944 that the trim around the top (front) of the hatch is separated from the glass... common issue. My question; is there a gasket/seal between the trim and the glass? I do not want to just fill with RTV if there is a proper fix. I do not see a gasket/seal listed in the PET, so I am leaning towards "there is none". So then my next question would be; what seals the joint between the glass and trim?

I cannot find any definitive pictures or tutorials. I understand the prop-rods push the glass away from the trim over time. So there will be a gap that will develop given enough time.

Is there a cross section view out there that will help me wrap my head around this so I can fix it properly?

Thanks for any help.

[v2rocket_aka944]

There is no seal, the glass is adhesively bonded with some super-duper-German-glue to the metal "trim" frame.
Duplicating the glue and the method of bonding the two together has been the challenge...

I think the most "proper and final" fix would be making a new, heavier-duty metal frame, but that's out of reach for most folks.

[944 Ecology]

Originally Posted by v2rocket_aka944

There is no seal, the glass is adhesively bonded with some super-duper-German-glue to the metal "trim" frame.

Not quite super duper, since it has not stood the test of time...

Notice, there is no other rear hatch with that type of flexible aluminum frame. I guess that they learned a lesson from the 944 cars...

[v2rocket_aka944]

Originally Posted by 944 Ecology

Not quite super duper, since it has not stood the test of time...

if they spec'd it to last 30+ years, it would have been super-duper-uber glue.

[911buff]

That was what I thought. Thank you!

[944 S2]

The window adhesive is called urethane. Applied after a suitable primer is applied. The urethane will breakdown when exposed to UV, which is why it's usally directly behind the blacked out ink on the glass. That is commonly called black ceramic in the automotive industry which is silk screen on and baked on the glass.

[BHP231]

There is a tech article from this website which gives a step by step approach. I need to do this myself at some point. Sounds like the main thing to do is go very slow and very carefully....
Pelican Technical Article: 944 Rear Hatch Glass Repair

[porschetub]

Originally Posted by BHP231

There is a tech article from this website which gives a step by step approach. I need to do this myself at some point. Sounds like the main thing to do is go very slow and very carefully....
Pelican Technical Article: 944 Rear Hatch Glass Repair

Yes saw that tech article,I agree any good urethane will do it ,the black Sika product would be perfect had really good results with this ,IMO cleaning out the space and priming is critical to a good bond.

[9FF]

Get yourself a sardine can, open it, now find a way to reattach the lid. When you have mastered this task you are ready for a 944 rear hatch glass reseal.

[djnolan]

Has anyone thought about welding a small triangular reinforcement plate to the corner where the hatch bends and stretches from the shocks to help the adhesive out?

[irish44j]

Originally Posted by djnolan

Has anyone thought about welding a small triangular reinforcement plate to the corner where the hatch bends and stretches from the shocks to help the adhesive out?

I was just thinking of that myself the other day, looking at the ever-increasing gap between my frame and glass on my 924S. Of course, I can only weld steel here not aluminum, so would have to be a custom job.

[djnolan]

Just throwing stuff a the wall. Welding with the glass still in place is not going to work.

However, if you make sure your hatch pins are adjusted so the hatch fits against the body tightly, maybe this will help reduce vibration and strain on the hatch?

Or will it make it worse?