17.4.16

How To Properly Do Windshield Replacement For Your Car

By Donald Watson


Broken windows in your car may lead to dangerous driving conditions which may cause occurrence of road accidents. That is why you should promptly carry out windshield replacement as soon as it gets broken. Regardless of whether or not you have done a previous replacement, installing new glass panes to your car using the correct procedure is a way to get you back to the road in good time.

The glass pane that you intend to install can be bought from a dealer. It can also be got from a yard belonging to a wrecker in the city. If it is from a wrecker, ensure that you thoroughly scrutinize it for any cracks and chips before you finally offer money. You should cushion it so as to avoid any damages while the good is on transit.

You are then supposed to carefully remove the plastic surround side and the molding covering. You should cautiously go about this step so as not pry the clips that are holding them on. These clips are important because they are specific to the type of car. They help you save a lot of time but in case you cannot afford them, you will need to glue the moldings onto the car manually.

Cut out the urethane between the windscreen and pinch weld using cold knife. The process should take a minimum of fifteen minutes and a maximum of one hour depending on how accustomed you are with the process and the equipment that you are using. The urethane is flexible to help the windscreen withstand stress applied to it when driving.

Before placing the replacement windscreen, prepare a pinch weld first. It involves brushing away visible dirt and then using plain water to wash away any remaining dirt. After doing so, use razor blade to cut the old urethane in the frame of the windscreen on the car to about 3mm. The rusty areas that remain exposed should be primed.

Prepare the glass with a primer that is specifically matched to urethane adhesive. The role of the primer here is to open the molecules of the frit band, the black band surrounding the perimeter of the windshield. The pane is made to accept the particles of the urethane. After the glass is made ready, first attach the molding to it after which the urethane should be attached.

Application of the urethane should be done using a caulking gun. This is because the gun helps you to maintain a consistent bead as you apply it. A consistent bead will ensure that there will not be any spaces that will lead to leaks after replacement. The old urethane is the most suitable material to attach your new urethane. However, you should ensure that it is clean and free from oil.

As a winding up step, carefully place the windshield. Align the top, bottom and the sides by sight alone. In case you are not using a mounting block, ensure that you do not touch the frit band because the oil and dirt from your hands will contaminate the already activated glass which will in turn reduce the effectiveness of the activator. It is advisable to use latex gloves to avoid this.




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