windscreen seal
I need to replace the windscreen seal,I have removed the screen and old seal,but I am having a problem fitting the chrome trim.When looking for information,there are different ideas on how to tackle this job.Some advice,is to fit the seal onto the glass and then fit the trim, other advice is to fit the trim to the seal before fitting onto the glass.I restore classic cars as a retirement hobby and have almost finished this huge restoration,but am rapidly losing interest.Is there a specialist in the Worcestershire area who fits windscreens.Len
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Hi len,
I've never done this job on a Stag (only had ours for 12 Months and the glass and trims are okay) but I did restore a Scimitar Coupe a couple of years ago. The Coupe was easier than the Stag looks as the chrome trim was thinner, but this is what I did (on advice from a glass fitter). 1. Put the rubber seal onto the glass. 2. Fit the windscreen to the car. (you need lubrication to make things easier. Don't use oil because it will damage the rubber in time...washing up liquid is perfect). Wrap string around the inside of the windscreen rubber where it locates in the body and then as the glass is resting in place, gently remove the string to pull the rubber seal inside the body. Then push on the glass to locate it in the car. You may need help from a second person to make things easier and reduce the risk of breaking the glass. 3. Fit the chrome strip...again using washing up liquid as a lubricant and a pair of blunt rounded screwdrivers to ease the rubber around the chrome. Then push it fully home with your fingers.
It sounds harder to do than it was in practice. I decided to do it myself because the local car glass firms wanted £40 per window to fit it and they wouldn't insure their work! If it broke...tuff!
The trim on a Stag might be harder, and someone who's done this job on a Stag might have a different solution to mine (in which case go with their experience) but I was very worried about doing the job on my Coupe and was certain I would break it...but it was actually strait forward.
Chris -
Hi Len
What you need to is the following...
1 fit the rubber to the glass.
2. Insert string into lip on the inside of the rubber making a loop at either end of the pillars.
3. Making sure all old sealant is removed from the window aperture.
4. Offer up screen to the aperture making sure that loops are on the inside of the car.
5. Gently pull string whilst applying pressure on the screen the rubber lip should start to ‘string’ over the aperture lip. Only ‘pull’ over a couple of inches at either pillar otherwise the screen will shift to far one way, making the other side impossible to get in.
6. Gentle ‘tap’ the screen in (but only where the rubber lip is over the aperture lip
7. Chrome trims are the really awkward bits to do... might need two pairs of hands...
8. Insert springs into rubber lip on one half of the rubber ‘align’ the chrome up to the rubber lip.
9. Press hard on the chrome whilst pulling the spring out ‘slowly’ towards the centre of the screen, keeping the pressure on the chrome where you are pulling the spring from.
don’t use any lubrication otherwise the new rubber will not create a seal with the body and/or the chrome and it will keep popping out...btw used to be a windscreen fitter 20 years ago in the 80’s.. Don’t miss it at all...you can always PM me if i haven’t made things clear...
Cheers
PhilComment
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screen seal
Thanks for the advice,when you say springs what do you mean by that,are there some other items I need to fit it LenComment
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sorry Len... 'springs' should read 'string'... i also noticed that its 30 years ago and not 20..fitting the screen is easy its the chrome trims that are a 5od..Comment
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the only thing that I would add is to lay the stainless trim on the fitted windscreen to check that it is roughly the correct shape/profile. I used about a gallon of car wash liquid when I did my trim (does washing up liquid still have salt in it?) maybe that was my downfall but I tried inserting it without lube
and found that the string was tearing the rubber.
One half of the screen trim took me 20 mins the other was nearer 3 hours. The worst bit was the bottom corners. Mine still do not sit flat but are definately in the rubber flap so to speak. I really do wish that the drivers side half was in better shape, it looks like somebody/DPO hammered it in and after all that effort it could look nicer!!Stags and Range Rover Classics - I must be a loonyComment
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Call the guy I mentioned in this thread:-
Good luck
BruceComment
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I was going to post the comment that Richard made about salt in washing up liquid. I believe that is why it is not reccommended for washing cars with.
I have no personal experience in fitting windscreens at all so the following comments are only what I have gleaned from the last three years on the forum:
Firstly it seems to be recommended - or at least common to fit the chrome strip to the rubber before the screen is fitted to the car. Apparently it is really tricky to do afterwards on a stag.
Secondly, shouldn't a bead of sealant be put inside the groove of the rubber before fitting the screen rather than lubricant. Leaking windscreens can cause havoc with corrosion in the A Pillars.
Also - as a passing shot, would Silicon lubricant be better to use on rubber? It doesn't attack plastic.
Rgds
Davehttp://www.stagwiki.com | http://parts.stagwiki.com (Under Development)Comment
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£40 fitting auto glass (saturday job) he fitted rubber to glass then fitted steel trim them string around and fitted into place all by himselfComment
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Stag's windscreens were never 'sealed' from new, (as the are in an 'S' shape rubber) so if you are fitting a new rubber they should not require any sealant, as the new rubber should be nice and tight and form a 'bond' against the bodywork/glass without the need for extra sealant, agree with Dave, no need for lubricant as this could 'line' the new rubber preventing a seal and let water in..
On the chromes different people have different methods of fitting, i have never had any issue with fitting the chrome afterwards..the main reason i recommended fitting after the screen was to avoid 'bending' them and putting them out of shape, its was the way i was taught as a spotty teenager, and how i remember, replaced my screen rubber took me about 30 mins from start to finish..Comment
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I found it easiest to fit the chrome trim after the glass was in the car. Maybe this was because my trims were a bit bent and it was easiest to 'straighten' them by laying them on the fitted seal to get approximately the correct curvature.
If I recall correctly to fit the trim I ran the string around the inside lip of the seal and pulled it outwards, but this was best done without any lubricant as the string pulled out of the inside corners if it was too slippery.
John.Comment
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You could become very popular among Stag owners in your area......Originally posted by cloned earl View Post
Please let me know if you intend holidaying in the South West.
Dave
1974 Mk2, ZF Auto, 3.45 Diff, Datsun Driveshafts. Stag owner/maintainer since 1989.Comment
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DJT.. will be in the New Forest in August...
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Something I used with great success when fitting a rear window to my hardtop was Swarfega.
It acted as a lubricant and cleaned things up as well !
I'd definitely recommend it.
Cheers
JulianComment
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