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JeffRens
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2012
Posts: 267
Location: Mishawaka, IN
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 Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 12:34 pm Post subject: Windshield Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| My OE glass was almost installed and decided to pry on it a little and cracked it. Drove all over Tim- Buck- Too (sp?) to find a glass to make a template out of for the local glass shop so they could cut a glass for me . After driving there when they said it was done, and wasn't, Installing the seal and trim... I've now got about 12 hours into the windshield. The problem I've got now is that there's no way the seal will fit in the opening. The glass is completely seated in the seal, the bottom and side edges installed and seated in the opening with the string and plenty of lube, but there is absolutely no way the top edge will push in far enough to seat. I've tried tapping it down with a 3/4 piece of plywood and I know the glass is all the way into the seal on the bottom. I rechecked the glass size and it matches the OE template fine. The only difference is the thickness. The OE glass is about .192 thick, the replacement glass is .263. Fairly noticeable difference. I looks as though the the seal would accommodate the extra thickness and still go all the way on. It's almost like the seal is too thick. Is that possible? ... is there a big difference in the aftermarket seal qualities. Any other thoughts to help? My fingers are ground beef from installing seals/trim. Thanks... Jeff |
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splitjunkie
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2006
Posts: 4094
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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Are you sure you have the correct seal? Where did you get it from?
_________________
Chris
You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld |
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JeffRens
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2012
Posts: 267
Location: Mishawaka, IN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 1:53 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| JBugs.... It was only $16 shipped. Wonder if its a POS? |
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JeffRens
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2012
Posts: 267
Location: Mishawaka, IN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| I guess my concern is whether the thicker replacement glass could be my problem Again, it seems like it bottoms out in the seal OK. Anybody else used cut glass? Thanks... |
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Bruce
Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17290
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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The original glass is 5mm thick. What you have is way too thick.
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| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
| ..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
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JeffRens
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2012
Posts: 267
Location: Mishawaka, IN
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| Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2016 4:33 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| I know it's thicker, but that's the standard laminated glass thickness these days. It bottoms in the seal. Not sure if it is my problem, or would cause a problem.. |
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JeffRens
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2012
Posts: 267
Location: Mishawaka, IN
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| Still trying to figure this out. Question.... how does the windshield glass fit in the body opening without the seal? Mine matches perfectly flush on the sealing edge on the bottom. My top edge extends about 3/16 past the edge... there is about a 3/16 inch gap between the glass and edge on both bottom corners. Is this a normal variance? Again ,there was no way the top edge would push into the opening,when I attempted to install it or still wondering if I had the wrong or a bad seal. Thanks.... Jeff |
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Bruce
Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17290
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 4:34 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| JeffRens wrote: |
| .......that's the standard laminated glass thickness these days. ..... |
No it isn't. That's your local glass shop's way of telling you they don't carry the right size so they substituted glass that's too thick. They want you to go away.
If the vertical height of your glass is greater than the height of the window opening, your glass is way too big. The glass has to be smaller than the window opening all the way around.
_________________
| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
| ..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
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JeffRens
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2012
Posts: 267
Location: Mishawaka, IN
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| Like how much smaller than the opening? If I could get them to grind the high edge, maybe I can pull it off? I've read other people installing the 7mm vs 5mm glass. It seats into the seal ok. Thanks. |
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splitjunkie
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2006
Posts: 4094
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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Pictures sure would make it easier to help you.
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Chris
You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld |
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JeffRens
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2012
Posts: 267
Location: Mishawaka, IN
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:15 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| Thanks.... as soon a I get an extra pair of hands I post some pics..... |
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Bruce
Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2003
Posts: 17290
Location: Left coast, Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 5:19 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| JeffRens wrote: |
| Like how much smaller than the opening? |
Push out one of your side rear quarter windows. Trace the window opening, then lay the glass onto the tracing, centering it. There's the exact amount the window needs to be smaller. The gap will be exactly the same all around.
_________________
| overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
| ..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
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slalombuggy
Samba Member
Joined: July 17, 2010
Posts: 9147
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2016 9:33 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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If you used the original windshield as a template you shouldn't have a problem. What are you using for a rope to install the glass?. The glass I got cut for my 57 was also thicker than original and we got it in no problem
brad |
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subhuman
Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008
Posts: 539
Location: north carolina
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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had the same problem w/ jbug windsheild rubber, ordered one from west coast metric and me and the wife had the winshield installed in under 2 minutes!
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JeffRens
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2012
Posts: 267
Location: Mishawaka, IN
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 2:50 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| I trashed the original windshield removing it trying to save the seal so I don't have it as a template. I'm using weed eater string for the rope. I made a template from a OE glass from what was supposed to be another 56. The cut glass appears real close to the one I used as a pattern,I don't know why it seems too big for the opening. Is there that much variances in OE glass. What's a 58 windshield look like compared to a 56? I wonder if it's actually a glass from an Oval.... |
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Joe Bence
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2004
Posts: 501
Location: San Diego, CA
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Snort
Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2005
Posts: 1957
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 4:41 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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If you look in the following discussion, there is a samba member that has offered to make and send a template from their original windshield for the cost of postage. This seems like a reasonable thing to do.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=644958 |
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motofly196
Samba Member
Joined: June 01, 2008
Posts: 1467
Location: Eastern WA
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: Windshied Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| JeffRens wrote: |
| I trashed the original windshield removing it trying to save the seal so I don't have it as a template. I'm using weed eater string for the rope. I made a template from a OE glass from what was supposed to be another 56. The cut glass appears real close to the one I used as a pattern,I don't know why it seems too big for the opening. Is there that much variances in OE glass. What's a 58 windshield look like compared to a 56? I wonder if it's actually a glass from an Oval.... |
Weed eater string comes in all different thicknesses. If the string is too thick, you are going to be fighting it in the corners. That's one area you don't want to fight ANYTHING! You will be putting stresses on the glass in the area that is already seated, AND on the area that you are trying to get to seat. INSTANT crack.
I have a bunch of different thicknesses of string, but they are all nylon style that are plenty strong , yet thin enough that they don't bulge out the seal. 3M makes a great windshield cleaner that I use as a lubricant...but soap and water works well too. Wolfsburg West has a good video they used to send out that describes glass installation. It's the same way I do it. One guy on the inside pulling string, the other on the outside using the palm of their hand to bump the glass while the inside guy is pulling the lip of the seal over the metal edge. You have to work together. If either guy gets ahead of each other something will bind. You guessed it...crack.
Most glass shops in my area have a very small selection of the proper thickness (can't remember what I bought for my last Bus windshields). But they had to order it in, and said that was the last 4' x 8' sheet their supplier had...and they weren't making any more. Great. Good luck!
(My 13 year old is my outside glass helper!) |
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splitjunkie
Samba Member
Joined: April 04, 2006
Posts: 4094
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| Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 8:46 am Post subject: Re: Windshield Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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So was your previous windshield installed with the Jbugs seal that you are trying to install now?
_________________
Chris
You know, a lot of these scratches will buff right out... Jerry Seinfeld |
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JeffRens
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2012
Posts: 267
Location: Mishawaka, IN
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| Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2016 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: Windshield Replacement Nightmare - Glass Thickness? |
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| The one I was using was from WW in a kit. It would've installed if I would have used better lube (like dish soap) instead of KY jelly like I read somebody had recommended and used a little more patience and not pried on it... |
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