Windscreen Replacement

[FEP]

I did this job on Saturday having read up on various posts here.

I was expecting it to be tricky but it really wasn't and I thought I would post my experience to help others.

Brian Moooore said use soap/water in a 50:50 mix. Wasn't sure what soap he had in mind. I put a handful of hand washing soap (Dreft) in a bucket with a couple of litres of water. This had the advantage of being a bit slimy and therefore keeping the rubber seal well lubricated. I also rinsed out an old washing up liquid bottle and used it to squirt the soapy water where I needed it.

It then took just one small screwdriver to ease the sealing strip into the channel sliding screwdriver followed by sealing strip quite quickly into place. The corners were slightly fiddly but no great problem.

I took BM's advice not to inadvertently stretch the sealing strip to heart and ended up with a gap at least twice as long as the trim clip! Oh well - maybe it will gradually lengthen and fill the gap.

[Brianmoooore]

The soap NOT to use is washing up liquid - it's about 50% salt, and you don't want to permanently trap salt between the body and the rubber seal. Hand washing soap should be fine.
It's entirely possible to refit the locking strip with a small screwdriver, but the consequences of letting it slip outwards just once is badly gouged paintwork!
Sounds like whoever fitted the sealing strip the last time might have stretched it, and cut the excess off. If there is a gap, a short piece of sealing strip from a scrapper can be used to fill the gap.

[FEP]

It was all the talk of slipping screwdrivers that gave me the idea that the job was going to be a pain. Screwdriver only slipped once and didn't hit anything. But yes, I worked the bodywork side of the sealing strip into place and then ran the screwdriver along the screen side.

As regards the gap, apart from the cosmetics (which if you saw my car you would realise is not really an issue!), I can't see the gap meaning the screen is going to come out.

[jimf]

Is the windscreen only held in by the seal?

[daimlerman]

Is the windscreen only held in by the seal?

Correct.

The locking strip is the tricky part of the instalation,once you have the 'screen central in the rubber.

Over time,the rubber 'glues' it's self to the glass,so removal from the outside is not as easy as placing one's hoofs on the inside and pushing....

[FEP]

And the screen is like an egg! Very strong when secured at the edges, not so when you are handling it.

[jimf]

Thats really good news, my windscreen will need replacing before long. I'll be having a go myself