New windshield gasket, or reuse old?

[dpuckett]

It is way past time for a new windshield (as in, it shouldnt have passed inspection, but sand pitting is not in the criteria to pass inspection ). I have gotten prices for a new windshield and gasket, as it is likely 15years old, and it's not a bad idea. But, I had one shop say that if it aint leaking, dont bother it, as it may be hard to get the new gasket to seal (I was unaware of this, but the gasket stays glued to the body, and the W-S is lifted out of it). I have no leaks now, (in the windshield, anyway, the door trim is another story), but dont want to have to replace the gasket if it starts to leak down the road.



What do you body guys think? This is one time where money is (within reason) no object, and I will gladly pay the extra cost if it would be worth it. If I dont need to bother, I wont.



Daniel

 

[KOG]

New gasket. The old one will have hardened and will make it difficult to install the new glass. It's possible to crack a windshield trying to get it into an old gasket.

 

[PToombs]

The window on the '86 was glued in, just around the top. When I put in a new windshield, (mines pitted like yours), I will put in a new gasket. I have found the leak that destroyed my floor, drivers top corner of the W S. The water comes in over the gasket. I'm going to request they glue it too!

 

[hotram03]

Use a new gasket, I did when I had mine replaced, also like the man just said GLUE IT the factory ones were, do your new also.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I had my windshield replaced about 2 years ago and they used the old gasket. I've got no leaks or other problems with it and I live in the great Pacific North wet. It sure is nice to look through clear glass with no nicks, sand blasting, pitting or chips.



Bob

 

[Shadrach]

I will be putting in a new one with my new w/s. The old one is dry and has had sealant put around it several times to stop leaks. Where do you guys get them from, other than the glass shops? Shadrach

 

[KOG]

Glass shop is your best source. When they do the entire job they warrant it against leaks.

 

[MEby]

+1 New Gasket

 

[dpuckett]

Update

Well, this is just a nice topper to an already mediocre at best day. I got a call at 2:30 today, saying the guys had BROKEN the new windshield, and that a new one would be at the shop by 7 tomorrow morning. I was planning on taking it out of town tomorrow by noon. Supposedly, they had been working on it since 8am, and it was just a real PITA. I asked if they had installed a new gasket, and the service writer said "yes, but the weatherstrip is the probelm. It's hard as a rock. "

"Isnt that what I asked you to get new, and I even double checked yesterday to see that one had been ordered?"



"No, that was the gasket. He [the installer] doesnt like to get new weatherstrips, as they tend to be so expensive. "



"What's the difference between the weatherstrip and gasket?"



"The weatherstrip goes around the outside. "



"NO #@$%!?"



"It's a dealer-only item, and we dont normally have a problem with them, except on these old style Dodges. "



"Well, I drove up in it twice yesterday; you should have been able to see what body style it was. "



"I'm sorry for the inconvenience. The new winshield will be in in the morning... ... Blah, blah, blah"



"ok, do what you need to. Might want to get 2 windshields. "



chuckling.



I didnt feel like telling her I wasnt kidding. By then, I''m sure my blood pressure was in the neighborhood of 200/150. I was HOT, to say the least. Work was not going well (3 trainees, and I'm the only trainer today), then this. Can my day get any crappier?



Good grief, are they really that difficult to change a windshield, or did I just manage to find the most incompetent imbeciles in town? Another shop a mile away (could have driven there sans w/s if needed) said they didnt like to do them, for the same reason. Is there no end to the mediocirty in this town? So far, I have had a bad front end alignment, cant get a flywheel bored to take a pilot bearing, and now cant get a new windshield in less than 2-3 days. The Swamp is looking better all the time. Lazy, inbred, egotistical, and racist as they are, at least I can get automotive work done right the first time.



DP

 

[DieselBuzz]

I reused my gasket and cracked one winshield trying to get it in. It hasn't leaked in 2 years but it was a PIA. Please don't take this out of context but don't be affraid to use a lot of lube to get it in. That's all I have to say about that.

 

[WJones]

It took two days to get my windshield done recently, one day for them to come by 'oh you wanted a gasket too?' after i specified this with the lady that scheduled the appointment. the next day it took two of them to replace it; however it only took about an hour. the seal still needed to be adjusted after they left.

 

[GIT-R-DONE]

They re-used mine after breaking 2 of them trying to install. The chrome piece that "locks" the gasket in cost me $30. I do have a new gasket hanging in the garage though, if you were to need it. Total cost for my replacement windshield was approx. $250 installed.

 

[Moab4x4]

When I did my swap, I took my old WS out by cutting the gasket and lifting out the glass. I very carefully stashed the WS in the back of a parts car out of the way for a couple of weeks. We were able to reuse the gasket from the newer truck that had the broken windshield.

Unfortunately I had set the WS on end in the car and thermal stress from too much sunshine combined with that cracked my otherwise good glass.

Lesson learned. Always lay glass down as flat as possible during storage.

Glass men (my nephews) say they see this problem all the time here.



Anyway, they glued a new WS in with the old gasket and I have had no problems. I think it all depends how hard it has gotten. My 92 was an outdoor used hard truck with HARD rubber gasket. I think the 93 was a garage queen. The gasket wasn't bad at all.

Ken