Hello everyone, Just had my front window replaced by a install shop. Well the window now sits about a 1/2 inch below the molding. Looks like #$*@. I know they used a sealant to install the window, it gushed out inside the car at base of window. Any thoughts besides they did a crappy job? Why is the window sitting so low? Is there spacers missing?
When the car was new they used a tape that was 5/16 or 3/8 high then sealant on the tape. They can still get the tape they just shot it and the window sunk in and came out the side. MESSo No:
My guess is the widshield guides or stops are not in place? I just installed my own last spring and the sealant comes as a rope or tape caulking just like the factory, no liquid sealant.
Should have been two "L" shaped brackets screwed into the sheet metal at the lower glass edge. One edge dipped in vinyl. This acts as a ledge for the glass to sit on & keeps it positioned.
It looks like they just threw down a bunch of sealant and set the window in place. The are going to redo it on Sat with a ribbon. Tried to save a buck and go to the value window installer, well here we are. I'm sure I will still be upseat after the re-install also. Thanks everyone.
Take the time & find a pair of the little support brackets. First window shop made the same mess on mine back in '03. Couldn't get the lower stainless piece to fit & excessive glue on the inside. Be very careful when removing the old glue. I had to scrape mine down gradually & then repaint the dash. This was after I cut the antenna lead-in with the razor.
When I had the windshield done a while back, I was told that they are not allowed to use the butyl tape/rope seal nowadays because they changed the safety requirements in that your windshield has to stay in place if you are in a wreck. That is why they use the urethane type sealant. Only problem is, it sets the windshield to deep for your moldings to fit properly unless you use some type of spacers.
we still sell the butyl tape...a lot of it....the lack of use of butyl tape on todays cars is due to air bag deployment. Fifteen years ago windshields used to be sealed to your vehicle with a rubber gasket or butyl tape. With the advent of airbags... these types of installations have become obsolete. When an airbag deploys, it uses the windshield as a backboard, directing the airbag into the occupant. This explosion exerts a tremendous amount of force on the windshield. If the windshield is not adhered properly to the body of the vehicle the airbag will be rendered useless and further safety implications arise. Not only does the windshield enable proper airbag deployment, the windshield supports the roof in the case of a rollover. For increased fuel economy, todays lightweight automobiles have been designed with less metal, resulting in a heavy dependance upon the glass for structural integrity. If the windshield becomes detached in a crash, not only will the airbags be ineffective but the roof may collapse. Your windshield not only keeps bugs and small debris out of your vehicle but it is designed to keep large debris out as well. link for federal safety standards http://www.glasslinks.com/newsinfo/fmvss_specs.htm
if your vehicle was manufactured using butyl tape to mount/secure the front or rear glass, then u can continue to use it.
Thats correct. Those people are lazy and didnt want to do the correct install. Plain and simple. Not to mention that the windshield will probably break that close to the metal anyway. Id even bet that they cant fix it without busting the glass too. Incompitance is not an excuse you definitly need to take it back
I'm not saying that "YOU" can't use it, just that "THEY" may not be able to use it as professional installers. But that would mean that you have to do the deed instead.
Most of the codes read like "installing to OE spec's" which to me reads like it was from the factory. And since the windshield in a new car has no clips to hold it in yes the caulking tube is the way. But the Skylarks/GS has a molding and clips to hold it in so rolling out the butyl tape is correct. As a body shop owner thats how we have inturpreted it for years
i was told that the new replacement glass is not as thick as the originals..hence when the windshield is installed it may sit too low so the rope stuff needs to be made thicker for the windshield to sit out more..ie..flush so the windshield trim fits properly too?? Just what i heard speaking to a guy that just finished a extensive and expensive restoration on anouther brand of GM. When he told me this it kind of made sense because the front and rear glass i had installed in my car seems to sit too low as well and i only noted that because when i tried installing the trim it fit like crap?
New glass is absolutely thinner than original glass. I had the same prob w/ my 442 the rear glass sits too low, the moldings aren't as tight as they were before. There are/were rubber spacers to hold the windshield out to the right height, I have some NOS GM (NFS) and you can buy repros on ebay. You can make your own, if you test fit the windshield first. As another mentioned there are different thicknesses of tape, what worked in 70 is too thin now. Prob is you can't make accurate sized spacers w/o measuring before you pull the original glass. There were spacers and 2 screwed supports to hold the windshield up centered on most 60's 70's GM.
I was given the same story about not being able to use the butyl tape. But looks like they are going to do it. ****ty work once, i'm afraid what I will get this time. Noting like getting burned trying to save a buck. :blast::dollar:
