Windscreen

From X1/9 Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Alternate method for front windshield removal August 9 2006 at 11:27 PM Greg Barron



Go to the hardware store and purchase a razor knife that is used for wallpapering. It has a plastic body with a long razor that you can snap off the tips in about 1/4" increments.

Go home and cut the outer chrome trim ring off. Remember that when you are cutting, only take shallow cuts with the knife (Don't try to cut all the way through the sealant, very important later). Once the trim is off, you'll see an area that is black sealant. Take the razor knife and begin to cut strips out of this along the edge of the glass. Find the edge of the glass and slowly cut down through the sealant all the way around the windshield. Take the knife and angle it about 30 to 45 degrees to end up cutting out the strips. Try to remove as much of the sealant between the windshield and frame as possible. This will take some considerable time. Once you have a gap that is the same depth as the windshield glass, go into the interior of the car. Slowly and shallowly cut the sealant that is holding the glass to the frame. Keep the blade as flat against the glass as possible. Don't try to cut deeper than 1/8" into the sealant with each pass of the knife. Do this until you are able to easily pass the blade under the glass and past the seal and it is visible in the gap that you cut out earlier. You can use gentle pressure to push the glass up but don't push to hard in any given spot. Just try to put enough pressure to slightly relieve the weight of the glass to help the knife pass a little easier. The deeper you get, the more you will notice the glass lifting. This will take some considerable time and remember to snap off a section of the knife blade to keep a sharp edge.

Don't try to use a utility knife that use the blades that are shaped like a parallogram. These handles are too thick and will put pressure against the glass as you are cutting and will guarantee a broken piece of glass.