A "How to" for Windshield Replacement
When considering installing a car windshield at home, follow these steps:
First of all, find a protected area to work on the vehicle; a garage or shed, or at the very minimum, a carport to protect it from rain and direct sunlight. Place heavy cloth on the hood and roof, above and below the windshield, to protect the car from damage as you handle tools and the glass. Remove any attached items in the area of the windshield like sun visors, antennas, windshield wipers, cowling, and mirrors.
Carefully take out the trim from around the windshield. Use a putty knife or wide bladed screwdriver or pry bar to gently remove it away from the glass. Once you get started, you can use the removed section to help gain leverage to the remaining strip.
Next, you will pick from your selection of specialized windshield removal tools including hot and cold knives, a pneumatic knife, an extractor, and an Olfa knife. Carefully slice away all of the urethane from around the edges and inside of the windshield. Attach the extraction device, and with slow and even force, start pulling the glass away from the car body. Once the windshield is removed, clean out any remaining urethane from the glass opening using a single-edge razor blade.
Install the extractor on the new windshield, and move it into position near the opening. Apply activator to the new windshield edges to help adhesion, and install primer around the metal window opening to seal out rust and prep the surface. Once the primer is dry, run a thin bead of hot urethane sealant around the entire window opening, and then carefully set the new glass in place. Push on all edges of the windshield to ensure complete seal and tight bond, and then clean up any urethane that has pushed outside the area. Replace trim and accessories taken off at the beginning.
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