13 replies to this topic

[JamesM]

As the downpour on the way home from Brighton last night managed to nuke my stereo with about 1/2 litre of water then continued through the light switch, not a happy bunny he got left full of stuff last night and sat on the street.

That will teach him.

So what is the best way to fit the windscreen? Autoglass

[Pippy]

Isn't just the rubber that needs changing? I think Phil said it was cracked..
Have you put your stereo in the airing cupboard? Thats what I did when Percy did his impression of a bath tub and filled up with water. Phils response was 'at least the floors solid, none of the waters draining out'. Took me chuffin ages to mop it all out!!!!

[Guess-Works.com]

If you have autoglass cover on you insurance, then go ahead... will only cost you the excess the insurance company put on.

If that's a little steep then should only take an hour or so to replace the rubber, 5 minutes to get it out, and the rest to put it back in !!..
also have some silicon sealant handy, before you put the trim strip back in ( with special tool or lots of swearing ), pack where the glass is inserted into the rubber with sealant, ( not too much ) but enough to remove amy possibility of water seaping through, so the same between rubber and body.. put the filler strip in and some of the sealant will be forced out, leave this to dry and then remove with a razor blade...

One waterproof windscreen...

[JamesM]

Guesswork as ever you never cease to amaze, thank you.

Yep Pippy it is just the rubber but you kind of have to take the window out to change it

The stereo is not back in yet but I have got a new light switch, well pinched the one out of Ches. Need to get it done soon though as the electric fan is driving me mad now, doesn't work when I wanted it to dam it, now it is on all the time.

[dklawson]

Out is easy, in takes a little bit of work.

Contrary to what you read in some books on installing auto glass, fit the rubber channel to the car first. Rest the glass in the bottom of the rubber channel then use downward/inward pressure on it while you use a plastic spatula to pry the rubber over the edge of the glass. It will get a little messy if you use the sealer that GuessWorks suggests but the sealer will also act as a lube. Once the glass is in the rubber, use one of the insert installation tools to fit the locking strip. Do a search back here a couple of months and you'll find a discussion about making your own tool vs. buying one. Regardless the installation tool makes putting the locking strip in a piece of cake.

[Bungle]

when we did the windscrean on my sisters mini we used a insulated wire in the rubber and pulled on this to open out the rubber while pushing the glass in

that made sence to me i hope it did to you

[dklawson]

Bungle, the string/wire method you describe makes perfect sense and I've used it before. However, the method I described where you fit the rubber to the car body first and lever the rubber over the edge of the glass worked MUCH easier for me than the string method. It changes the process into a one-person job AND you don't stand any chance of scraping the paint off the opening in the body. Having tried both methods... I'll never use the string method again on any glass where the rubber receives a locking strip. If there is no locking strip... the string method is still probably the best.

[Bungle]

I'm glad someone knew what i ment :saywhat:

[Guess-Works.com]

I agree with DK about the rubber on car first and then fit glass, the other way is nigh impossible to do with one person, and piece of string, never again !!!

The silicon does not go in untill the glass is in situe, otherwise, yes DK, will be VERY messy. There is enough playin the rubber to get the nozzle of a silicon gun in and just allows a fine fillet to be inserted, most of which is pushed out when the trim is inserted. but provides that sealed bond between rubber and glass...

[JamesM]

So no string, got it, so how does the wire technique work?

Oh if any one wants to know how to do a five minute rad flush in the middle of stretham high street give me a shout

[Guess-Works.com]

same technique as the string, just different

[JamesM]

Sorry but not sure how the string one works either... having a thick day!

[dklawson]

Succinctly, the string (wire) method is the traditional way windshields are installed. You fit the rubber channel to the glass then wrap a string all the way around the "outer" groove in the rubber (the groove that goes over the car body opening). You make the string go completely around with at least a 200mm or more of extra, overlapping string. You position the rubber/glass over the body opening and slip the edge where the strings overlap to the body opening. An assistant applies downward/inward pressure on the glass while you pull the strings (perpendicular to the glass) from inside the car. The string rolls the rubber up over the body opening as you extract it.

This is still the best method for rubber window channels that don't have a locking strip. However, the added flexibility of the Mini's rubber channel when the filler strip is not in place makes this method more difficult than fitting the rubber to the body first.

[JamesM]

Got it, so fit the rubber to the body then put the wire/string in the rubber .

Place the screen onto the bootom channel of the rubber and then push in as you pull the wire/string out?

After it is fitted use a sealant gun to add around the rubber then add teh filet strip. When it is dry cut the sealant back.

Think I have got it.