how to install automotive glass

step by step install

1. you need to order the glass you are installing for the vehicle, windshields now consist of many things such as rain sensors, heating elements, electric mirror, solar controlled and ect.. so make sure you order the correct piece of glass for your vehicle. you also will want to ask if the glass you are ordering comes with a molding because if it does not you will have to save the old molding or purchhase a new one.
2. once you have recieved your glass you want to clean it with glass cleaner and a lint free towel and check it for any defects such as distortion or scratches. if the glass is in good condition you may proceed. after cleaning it and inspecting it you are than going to apply the correct activator for the urathane to the glass with a clean lint free towel in one motion along the edge of the glass where the urathane is going to be applied. it is very important to use good qualiity products. activating the windshield is making a bondable surface for the urathane to stick properly to the glass. if you fail to do this the urathane will not stick to the glass..
3. after activating the glass you can now remove the old glass. this can be challenging if you dont have the correct tools. every vehicle is different so removing the glass can be different than others. you will have to decide which method is best. first you will have to remove the cowel and wipers, than you will want to remove the molding around the glass if possible. than you will want to remove the rear view mirror if needed and any wires that may go to it. once again there is a lot of different windshields with a lot of devices on them so be vey carefull to check that everything is disconnected and out of the way. if you were able to remove the molding you can use a cold knife to cut the glass out from the outside of the vehicle. some are easy some are hard. you may have to use diffferent lenghs of blades depending on the size of the urathane. if you were not able to remove the molding you have to use a windshield extractor which is a special electric device with a flat blade that rest along the glass. it moves back and forth like a saw and cuts the urathane between the glass and the pinch weld. the extractors you can buy today range from 500 to 900 dollars so they may not be in your budget. you will have to make the correct decision on which method to use to remove the glass.
4. once you have remmoved the glass you will want to clean any debris around the pinch weld. after it is clean you can now remove the old urathane by using a knife that holds a single edge razor blade. you will want to try to leave 5mm of old urathane on the body of the car. if you have scratched any surfaces removing the windshield you will want to use proper primer to cover these spots. if there is any rust you will want to clean the rust. sand or grind the rust untill it is gone and prime over it and let it dry than apply another coat. after the old urathane is gone and everything is clean of any debris and you have primed all scratches and removed all rust you can move forward.
5. now you are ready to apply the urathane to the body. urathane comes with a plastic nozzle which you will want to cut into a V shape. this allows the urathane to be applied with no air bubbles. you want the V bead to match the height of your roof line so that there is the proper amount of urathane applied to meet all safety standards. once you have applied the V bead all the way around the body of the vehicle you are ready to set the glass. some vehicles have setting blocks so you can set it alone others do not so you may want to get some help. you will set the glass flat and even ontop of the urthane once it is in the proper position you will want to press the glass evenly to mash the urathane flat. make sure not to mash it to far because this can cause stress cracks. you than will have to check the temp and check with your urathane supplier to see how long it takes for the urathane to cure. do not drive the vehicle if you do not know this. your glass is a safety device that holds structure to the body of your car and it helps keep you in your car. if the urathane is not dry when you get into a collision you may fly out of the vehicle or the vehicle may not work like it is designed to when it gets into a wreck. very important to follow all safety guidlines not only for yourself but you will be liable for any glass you install incorrectly if somebody is injured in a collision.
6. once the glass is in place you want to apply tape to keep the windshiled in place if it does not have setting blocks. you can now reassemble everyhting and wait for the urthane to dry and you are done. you will want to document all materials used and dates. so if by chance you get sewed you have all your paper work in hand to cover your end.
7. once again it is very important to use good matching materials, use the same brand for the urathane, primer and activator. do not mis match. these are the very basic steps to installing glass. there is certifications and schooling to take when installing glass properly.