Any Windshield Installers?

[PToombs]

Hi guys. I just had a new front window put in my 92. I bought a factory gasket, and had an aftermarket window installed. I paid thru the nose for the gasket, but got a deal on the window and install thru a buddy. The 1st thing I noticed was the installer had smoothed a lot of sealer in 1 spot across the top about 6 inches wide. The gasket looks pushed in some there. I called about it, the installer said the gasket was too long across the top, and kept pushing in. Then, a couple days later after it rained, I had water on the floor. I just mostly finished a cab swap because of this. I tracked the water back to the lower corner of the window. It's migrating under the glass and running down the firewall. On both sides. When I called the glass company, the girl talked to the installer, and he said to seal it with silicone along the seam between the glass and gasket. This sounds like a cob to me. I just went to a lot of work on this truck, and would like it to look 1/2 way decent.



Can anyone give me some insite on this? Do I need another new gasket? If so, aftermarket gasket to match the window?

TIA,

 

[Hoefler]

Most of the time with a new gasket, I do not use any sealer at all. New gaskets, whether OE or aftermarket, need to set uncoiled in the sun or a very warm place, for a while to soften and relax. They never seem to fit exactly the first time in, they all need to be fitted. My guess, the installer stretched it a bit, probably not enough lubricant ( soapy water ). I would have it removed, clean all the sealer out, and let it set in the sun for awhile, and try it again. Silicone will not seal the glass to the rubber. There is a special windshield sealer that is made for this application, I have used 3M brand. I would use it as a last resort. I have never used any sealer on a new gasket.

 

[PToombs]

Hoefler, thanks for your input. I set the gasket out flat on the back of the truck the nite before they came to do it. It was inside, but it was about 87* that day. I have used urethane at work on windows, nasty stuff to get off. :-laf I wanted it sealed to the pinchweld, because that's where it leaked before the swap. They did it across the top and partway down the sides.

I wonder if they pulled the seal strip too tight? I did one in a machine last summer and the strip was too long when I got done. So I pulled it out again and as I put it in, I worked it back to the starting point. I had a lot less extra then.

I think I'm going to get a helper and do it myself this time. Just pull it, clean it, sunny it up, and soap the crap out of it, huh? Any other words of wisdom?

 

[Hoefler]

Just be careful not to stretch it, it is easy to do and not realize you are doing it. The soap will help tremendously, it will help let it slide back if you stretch it. One thing I just thought of, are you installing it on the glass first and working it into the cab or the cab then working the glass in. It should be cab first. Good luck.

 

[PToombs]

Cab 1st.

I was out playing with it today, I found the problem, and I'm not happy! ! I pulled the seal strip out, and just for the heck of it, I compared it to the old one, different size! The new one is about 1/4 inch thick, and the old one is 3/8. That's why the water was going around the glass. The spot above the window that the idiot spread sealer on, the inner lip on the outside of the gasket was pushed under the metal. The guy even put 2 pieces of the strip under there to build it up.

Then, the coup de gras', no sealer on the cab side of the gasket. None. I'm going to call the glass place tomorrow and tell them their guy is an idiot. I specifically requested it be sealed. I'm glad I didn't pay big bucks for this job.



So now I'll bring some urethane home from work, pull the window, seal the gasket to the cab, window back in, and install the old strip.



Hoefler, thanks for your input, I appreciate it.

pete

 

[Hoefler]

Any time, glad to be of help.