removing windscreen - how?

[shirt]

can anyone tell me how you do this? [bonded in screen on a clio]. is there a guide anywhere so i can get it out without breaking it?

[redstu]

I'd take it to a pro, apparently it's not easy.

[shirt]

the one on the car doesn't matter if it breaks, it's cracked in two places.

car is at the mechanic awaiting me to deliver a new gearbox. i have to go to the scrappy tomorrow and remove the 'box myself and thought i'd have the screen whilst i'm there.

bangernomics rocks but at least the weather's on my side.

[vrooom]

Hammer. You know what to do with a hammer, dont you.

[Ed.]

When the guy from autoglass replace mine on my old Nissan he removed the trim and cut the bonding with Stanley knife.

[Proxy]

[shirt]

that's good to know, cheers.

can't wait to get the box and screen out succesfully then stand there wondering how to get them home......

[Alex@POD]

Ed. said:

When the guy from autoglass replace mine on my old Nissan he removed the trim and cut the bonding with Stanley knife.

That's what you need to do, cut around it with a sharp knife, as you will need to replace anything that isn't metal anyway. Be careful not to break the screen though, as you might end up with little fragments of glass everywhere in the car!

[anonymous-user]

you need to get a screen removal tool, they come in 2 flavours, 1 a sharp 90deg angled blade on a handle, or 2 a "cheesewire" style tool (make small hole in sealant, poke wire through, attach handle, pull wire around screen to release.


Quite, frankly, for the £70 odd quid a new screen costs, i'd save the hassle of trying to get one out unbroken, and then the 15hrs trying to get the remaining sealant off it, so that it stands some chance of sealing again..........

[McSam]

Ed. said:

When the guy from autoglass replace mine on my old Nissan he removed the trim and cut the bonding with Stanley knife.

This is how I've heard of it being done too. But, for God's sake make sure you leave the side windows up - because apparently, the roof can sag a tiny bit without the glass's support if you don't

[Chiswickboy]

Max_Torque said:

you need to get a screen removal tool, they come in 2 flavours, 1 a sharp 90deg angled blade on a handle, or 2 a "cheesewire" style tool (make small hole in sealant, poke wire through, attach handle, pull wire around screen to release.


Quite, frankly, for the £70 odd quid a new screen costs, i'd save the hassle of trying to get one out unbroken, and then the 15hrs trying to get the remaining sealant off it, so that it stands some chance of sealing again..........

+1

[busta]

Pretty much as Max Torque says. Tools HERE although you may have some success with a stanley knife.

But your next problem is fitting it into your car. You'll need to remove all the old sealant from the screen and your car without scratching through the paint, then prime both with thinned polyurethane, lay down a neat and consistent bead of polyurethane adhesive which isn't easy. It's do-able, but takes practice to do a neat job.

Best of luck

[LeeThr]

Ive always found a sledghammer to do the job quite well, as will some explosives.
Oh you want it to remain in one piece....

[mike9009]

If Edd China doesn't attempt a screen swap I wouldn't try myself.

Mike

[Huntsman]

Fill the car with lighter gas, sit inside, shut door, hold your breath for a moment, light a match.

Try that, report back.

[shirt]

i doubt the scrappy will be happy with that, can you get ph in prison?

tbh, I'm going to be there a while removing a gearbox, clutch and driveshaft, may as well attempt to remove the screen as well.

[Glassman]

shirt said:

may as well attempt to remove the screen as well.

You will need: either a Fein Cutter or BTB tool;

- or some wire (braided, piano or square profile)

A wire feeder;

Two wire handles;

Suitable dashboard/trim protector (to help guide the wire, if anything)

At least five years experience;

Patience;

Tenacity;

(to make the task easier for a first timer, you could also do with another pair of hands)

Once you've removed the glass, you will also need a bonding kit (activator, primer, polyurethane) and a suitable applicator. Suction lifters is also desirable and PPE is a must.

I've been in the trade for about 19 years and it took me the first six of them to get my confidence up, then a further two or three years for experience.

There are guys in the trade who, despite several years experience, cannot remove bonded windscreens. They just don't have the confidence/know-how.

Good luck.

[MrLou]

[Jonny_693]

To be fair I have seen three windscreen changes at work now including one of my own and the pro's broke all three on removal. I don't fancy your chances.

[Adam_W]

Every windscreen change I have seen has ended up with original in a number of pieces, it seems like something that is so hard to do its not worth trying it