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northeastwesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2010
Posts: 34
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 Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:13 pm Post subject: window seal/gasket...PLEASE HELP |
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my wolfsburg has the silly crome moldings on all the windows..and of coarse, its all shot and looks like hell and is really bumming me out. some people say to take the molding out. others say mask them off and paint them ...but it seems to me the best thing to do is simply replace all the seals with new ones (w/out moldings)
so before i go ahead and purchase all these seal my question IS...
is this something i can do myself or not?
do the windows have to come out to replace these seals?
or can the old ones pull out and be replaced easily?
im ready to pushase all these seals but i would rather clean mine up if its going to a can of worms..
thanks so much |
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HeftySmurf
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Joined: June 15, 2008
Posts: 879
Location: Washington, USA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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YES!!! The windows need to come out!!!!
LOL 
If you dont have any experience in auto glass odds are you are not going to be able to replace all the seals your self.
Its not super difficult, but isnt a walk in the park either.
It is usually a 2 man job.
I would buy new seals and have shop or friend with experience help you do it.
_________________
-Lorenzo
90 GL w/ Bostig |
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FloydRTurbo
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Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 33
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RadioRental
Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2009
Posts: 555
Location: stow, ma
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| Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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| HeftySmurf wrote: |
YES!!! The windows need to come out!!!!
LOL
If you dont have any experience in auto glass odds are you are not going to be able to replace all the seals your self.
Its not super difficult, but isnt a walk in the park either.
It is usually a 2 man job.
I would buy new seals and have shop or friend with experience help you do it. |
I'm going to have to disagree with this.
Yes the windows come out. You'll need to take a box cutter to the outside corner rubber of a window, cut away as much as you can and push the glass from the inside. The window will pop out, then pull the rubber off.
The install is easy but requires a little elbow grease. I have no auto glass experience and did the four cabin windows & rear by myself. It would be easier with another person for sure, but not essential.
I used 'strimmer' string. Don't know what they call strimmers here in the US, brushcutters?? anyway the heavy gauge nylon string.
Put the new rubber on the windows
Put the string in to the channel in the rubber that will pull over the body.* Overlap it by about 6"
I used a liquid dishwash / water mix as lubricant, sprayed the rubber and the body.
Push the window in to the frame as best you can. It takes a few goes to figure out the best angle of attack.
Start pulling on the string to pull the rubber over the body lip.
Pause every-so-often and push at the window from the outside to line it up.
Once you get the hang of it, it's about 20-30 minutes to R&R a single window. Probably less if you have another pair of hands.
Good luck!
* Note that there may be more than one possible channel in the new rubber that you could put the string in to. The correct channel is the one nearest the inside. That is; with the rubber on the window and the inside facing you, the channel that will fit over the body lip is the one nearest to you.
_________________
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'87 2.1. 125K 4spd Not rebuilt "Red Dwarf" |
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HeftySmurf
Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2008
Posts: 879
Location: Washington, USA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:16 pm Post subject: |
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| RadioRental wrote: |
| HeftySmurf wrote: |
YES!!! The windows need to come out!!!!
LOL
If you dont have any experience in auto glass odds are you are not going to be able to replace all the seals your self.
Its not super difficult, but isnt a walk in the park either.
It is usually a 2 man job.
I would buy new seals and have shop or friend with experience help you do it. |
I'm going to have to disagree with this.
Yes the windows come out. You'll need to take a box cutter to the outside corner rubber of a window, cut away as much as you can and push the glass from the inside. The window will pop out, then pull the rubber off.
The install is easy but requires a little elbow grease. I have no auto glass experience and did the four cabin windows & rear by myself. It would be easier with another person for sure, but not essential.
I used 'strimmer' string. Don't know what they call strimmers here in the US, brushcutters?? anyway the heavy gauge nylon string.
Put the new rubber on the windows
Put the string in to the channel in the rubber that will pull over the body.* Overlap it by about 6"
I used a liquid dishwash / water mix as lubricant, sprayed the rubber and the body.
Push the window in to the frame as best you can. It takes a few goes to figure out the best angle of attack.
Start pulling on the string to pull the rubber over the body lip.
Pause every-so-often and push at the window from the outside to line it up.
Once you get the hang of it, it's about 20-30 minutes to R&R a single window. Probably less if you have another pair of hands.
Good luck!
* Note that there may be more than one possible channel in the new rubber that you could put the string in to. The correct channel is the one nearest the inside. That is; with the rubber on the window and the inside facing you, the channel that will fit over the body lip is the one nearest to you. |
What dont you agree with?
If you like doing things the hard way have at it.......
The guy asked if the windows need to come out to replace the seals?
Odds of a window breaking sound high
Not saying he cant learn, I just recommend having some help on hand.
_________________
-Lorenzo
90 GL w/ Bostig
Last edited by HeftySmurf on Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:37 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Vango Conversions
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Joined: October 04, 2010
Posts: 1054
Location: Seattle, WA
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| Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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| If the windows don't leak there is no reason to change the rubber, the trim is just cosmetic and removing it won't cause a leak. The only bummer about having the trim removed is that water sits in the remaining grove and you might get a little moss or other green stuff growing in there. You could try filling it in with some sealant to prevent the water from getting in there. |
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RadioRental
Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2009
Posts: 555
Location: stow, ma
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:58 am Post subject: |
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| HeftySmurf wrote: |
What dont you agree with?
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"If you dont have any experience in auto glass odds are you are not going to be able to replace all the seals your self. "
The odds aint so, and, if you didn't like doing things the hard way you wouldn't own a vanagon (o;
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'87 2.1. 125K 4spd Not rebuilt "Red Dwarf" |
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RadioRental
Samba Member
Joined: June 30, 2009
Posts: 555
Location: stow, ma
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:00 am Post subject: |
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| Vango Conversions wrote: |
| If the windows don't leak there is no reason to change the rubber, the trim is just cosmetic and removing it won't cause a leak. The only bummer about having the trim removed is that water sits in the remaining grove and you might get a little moss or other green stuff growing in there. You could try filling it in with some sealant to prevent the water from getting in there. |
This ^^^^
I r&r'd my windows because I was doing a paint job and I also took the opportunity to tint the windows.
Pull the plastic bead and fill with black silicone window sealant, available at your local hardware store.
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'87 2.1. 125K 4spd Not rebuilt "Red Dwarf" |
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HeftySmurf
Samba Member
Joined: June 15, 2008
Posts: 879
Location: Washington, USA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:02 am Post subject: |
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| RadioRental wrote: |
| HeftySmurf wrote: |
What dont you agree with?
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"If you dont have any experience in auto glass odds are you are not going to be able to replace all the seals your self. "
The odds aint so, and, if you didn't like doing things the hard way you wouldn't own a vanagon (o; |
LOL good point, but some people shouldnt own a Vanagon
_________________
-Lorenzo
90 GL w/ Bostig |
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northeastwesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2010
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:37 am Post subject: |
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thanks guys...i think ill just pull the moldings out and fill the groove..
wait till she need a paint job to switch the seals..
thanks |
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northeastwesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2010
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:37 am Post subject: |
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thanks guys...i think ill just pull the moldings out and fill the groove..
wait till she need a paint job to switch the seals..
thanks |
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northeastwesty
Samba Member
Joined: November 14, 2010
Posts: 34
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| Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:37 am Post subject: |
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thanks guys...i think ill just pull the moldings out and fill the groove..
wait till she need a paint job to switch the seals..
thanks |
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