TheSamba.com :: View topic - Remove windows/rubber seals w/o ruining or cutting them?

Mon Aug 02, 2010 8:42 pm

As some of you know, I'm planning to refinish my van in a unique way. To do that, I need to remove the windows and the rubber seals that hold them in. I have the unfortunate plastic trim piece in mine which I've read when removed reduces the seal pressure and they leak. So I'm going to keep the plastic trim in. I also need to remove the windows to remove a crappy PO tint, and for the refinish. After finding new seals (type w/o the plastic trim) are nearly $300 with shipping w/o the front side windows in the kit, I'm wondering if anyone's been able to remove them without cutting and ruining the seals. In other words, I'd like to reuse them.

My plan is to refinish the plastic trim piece by sanding them lightly and refinishing them and reinserting them. So I'd like to save $300 and end up making the trim piece look nice again. Putting them in looks fairly simple with the soap/string trick.

Anyone? Also, extra points on tips to remove window tint...

DougM

Mon Aug 02, 2010 9:25 pm

I've had good luck removing window rubber by inserting a few drywall taping knives from the inside and using them to hold the rubber away from the body along one side and then pushing the glass out along that edge. Concentrate on the corners using a small spackle knife. I've done this many times, including windshield. BUT, I have never been able to pull the plastic trim out first without it breaking. Good luck.

Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:26 am

Thanks for the tips. Yes, I played a bit with a 90 degree tool on the inside and it seemed like it will be easier to push out the glass/rubber molding together by your strategy than the other method. The other method advocated was to push the glass out of the molding using foot pressure on the inside and lube. I looked at the depth of the groove that glass is in and concluded I would be in danger of breaking glass to shove the pane out alone.

What I find on the inside encourages me, too. Since I'm going to wrap the van in vinyl, with the windows out I can remove that tweed pattern vinyl used under the windows and on the roof pillars and rewrap these highly visible locations with the same outside paint color. That will both look retro and be a nice dramatic color added to the inside. I'm liking where this is going. Heck I'll be done wrapping those interior areas in the time it would take to merely prep them for painting.

Tue Aug 03, 2010 12:29 am

David,

Are you saying that once the glass is out of the rubber and the rubber's on the workbench you cannot successfully pull the plastic trim out? I was hoping that would be cake.

Or are you saying that just walking up to the van and trying to pull the plastic trim out of the rubber trim is not working out?

The later I hope as I want that trim out in one piece....

DougM

Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:57 am

If the trim is as old as the van....kiss it goodbye.

Black EuroStyle window rubbers look much better than the ones with the chrome, IMHO.

Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:02 am

the LOCKING trim needs or should come out before you remove the glass/rubber
it's not likely to come out and if it does not go back in in one piece.
but really it's not all that expensive to replace (compared to NEW glass rubber) and some even have good luck with a small black beading/tubing to fill the slit and secure the glass . allowing that Sleek look w/o the costs of rubber replacement.

Best of luck

Dan from Syracuse.

Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:04 am

Dan,
I'm going to try the black beading.
Maybe vacuum hose.
I have a hard plastic one that should work.
Good tip.

df

Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:28 am

To be clear, I was referring to taking the plastic trim out before removing the glass. Come to think of it, you should be able to remove the glass/rubber with the trim still in place. The taping knives should still work. If you have one, you could try this at the junk yard. Most old vans seem to go to the crusher with the windows in place.

Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:59 am

You'll never get the plastic trim out without breaking it. I'd bet my wad on it. It's old and brittle, don't even try. Either remove it and re-use the seals without it or spring for new ones.

Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:13 am

I don't think removing that plastic trim will make your windows leak.

I pulled mine out (with a needle nose pliers) years ago and have since lived in the frigid mountains of Colorado and the baked desert of Arizona (its a dry hell) and have power washed it hundreds of times and have never seen or had evidence of any leaks.

Just a thought...

Tue Aug 03, 2010 9:21 am

Dan,

Are you saying the trim "locks" the rubber seal on somehow? I think that the trim is merely decorative in nature as the part you see is tubular but the part that's actually IN the rubber is merely a fin - hardly adding any bulk and that's why I'm questioning the locking comment. If you know different, please let me know as my plan is to push the glass/rubber/plastic trim together out of the body opening by lubing and prying the interior lip up. Hopefully any glue on the outer lip will be dried and I'll be able to pull it loose or cut it loose with a razor beforehand.

DougM

Tue Aug 03, 2010 10:44 am

Mathew Zelezen wrote: I don't think removing that plastic trim will make your windows leak...

I agree... that has been my experience. I have always thought that trim piece sorta locked the rubber in place though doubtful that it mattered much. In addiition to being very brittle (compared to new which is flexible) it also takes a 'set' where it does the tight curves around the corners.

Tue Aug 03, 2010 11:22 am

I reused my seals. Yes the plastic trim broke (on some windows in several places) while getting it out, but I just pieced all the broken pieces back together when reinstalling. Getting the windows/seals out and back in took some work, but it went fine. One think I did do was let the seals sit in some silicone lube before reinstalling. Both to make installation of the window easier, as well as condition the old seals.

There was a big thread with the usual suspects arguing about whether the plastic locking trim was necessary or not. I personally reused it, and believe that it is, but there are people who say it isn't.

Tue Aug 03, 2010 11:32 am

$230 for a complete set of all six window seals at bus depot. Lose that weatherbeaten fake chrome molding and rip out the old ones with a razorblade or whatever you like, and get some tasty new rubber.

Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:38 pm

But if it's $230 I can use for say, new fuel lines and a rear brake kit I'd much rather reuse. Plus the cool visual effect the plastic trim will have when body colored which I cannot do with new seals.

Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:50 pm

Sounds like a great idea, post pictures when you are done.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:25 am

Before you spend the money.... You can get the windows out by just kicking them out with two feet. It seems crazy but it works. Make sure you have no rocks in your shoes. Have someone to catch the window or a soft spot, grass for example, for it to land. It's pretty easy you just have to get over the weirdness of kicking out your window.

Anyone else done it this way?

F

Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:28 am

fredn wrote: Before you spend the money.... You can get the windows out by just kicking them out with two feet...

I've seen it done (easier of course with the front windshield of a sedan as you can easily get a comfortable position). Very popular at the junk yard but it doesn't work every time (which is why I didn't mention it.

Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:20 pm

Fred,

Any idea what comes out? In other words, will the glass pane pop out of the rubber, or with the rubber/glass pop out of the body opening?

I'm asking because the inner lip inside the vehicle seems easily pliable enough to have the rubber/glass pushed out by careful lifting and probably some lube, but the outer lip that holds the glass in is impressively deep and more rigid. So just trying to get more info for this task. Thanks.

As a side note, I've never thought about a glass guy being able to easily break into a vehicle. Or a guy with a razor knife quickly slicing the outer lip off, then prying the glass pane out in a total of 30 seconds. Hmmmm.

DougM

Wed Aug 04, 2010 4:02 pm

I got the windows out from my van all by myself. This is the right time of the year to do it as the temperature is higher so the rubber is softer. For the windshield. just sit in the passenger seat ( no instrument panel there ), put both feet at the upper corner and apply constant pressure slowly. Do not kick if you want to save the windshield. As you increase the pressure, the corner will start to move and when the rubber that sit inside of the van started to move over the lip of the windshield opening, lower the pressure and try to move a little more of the rubber lip to the out side of the lip. You can stop and use your finger/puttyknife to move more of the lip to the outside and then apply pressure again. After a few inches of rubber is over to the outside. I stop using my feet and just use my finger to push the glass and the rubber over the lip. Push all the top rubber out and then the sides, and your can pull from the outside to get the windshield out.
For the side windows, there are nothing I can put my back against so I use a 4 ton hydraulic body ram that I bought N years ago that has never been used. Again, push some of the rubber over the metal lip and then use my finger/putty knife to move more outside.
I did try to use the putty knife outside to cut loose the sealant but I have cut into the rubber moldings so I stop doing that and it is just as easy with out using the putty knife first.