Jeff N.

I understand they may be difficult to pull in one piece as they are glued to the frame?

Goal is to pull a good used one from a wreck and re-install.

Any experience or hints with this most appreciated!

schwank

You have to be EXTREMELY patient. Use piano wire or other strong metallic wire. It will get hot and smoke.

But if you are very careful it can be done.

Jeremy Himsel

Typically I use a 4" putty knife and push it through the seal (between window and frame) from inside the car all the way aroung the window. Just don;t twist the knife. It helps if it slightly warmer out but it can be pulled, cleaned and reused without breaking it.

Jeff N.

OK. Sounds like something other than mission impossible. Car's outside so I'll get no heat help from Mother Nature.

How about a heat gun to warm things up? I wonder if I could come up with some sort of heated putty knife thingy to cut thru the sealant? Boy, or a hot wire cutter? Hmmm.

Darwantae951

When I had my windsheild replaced, the Safelite guy had this really cool tool that he worked into the car, then pulled around the windshield. Took him ~5 minutes to have the windshield loose.

-Darwin

Kyle Donley

NAPA auto parts sells windshield cut out wire, a roll costs about 10 bucks. Use a pair of needle nose pliers to push the wire through the urethane seal. Then clamp a pair of vice grips on each end and saw back and forth while pulling along the windshield. With a little time and effort it'll be out in no time.

mortymower

Its called an extractor, all it is, is a standard reciprocating saw with an attachment that looks like a sharp putty knife with a 1/2 inch pipe on once end to fit into the saw. It goes back and forth and the sharp edge slices through in no time.

Spidey944

Here is a link to a tool company, there is also something called a cold knife that they use.

http://http://www.sealantsandcoating...Type=datasheet

Cold knife link:

http://www.redboxtools.com/detail.cfm?productID=2037

S2cab

What about the outer molding? Is it separate or bonded to the windshield?

Jeff N.

So - how are you doing the install of the 'used' unit? Are you doing it yourself or having a pro do it? Will pros work with used glass?

Prolly should have thought of this sooner.

troppo

how much does a new windshield run?

Burma Shave

The cold knife will not cut through cured urethane adhesive. I give you a 10% chance of gettting out unbroken. Good luck though...

schwank

Windshield prices vary for early to late cars. Early cars it is cheap... 200-250. Late cars have integrated radio antenna and are slightly wider glass... they cost around 400.

Some people will tell you early fits in later. I tried 3 times. It doesn't fit correctly unless you consider over 1/4" of sealant on either side 'fits correctly'. I don't. Earlies had aluminum trim to cover the edges, while later cars the window is right against the a pillar with only a rubber trim piece.

Mighty Shilling

Or if you go for OEM Sekurit glass, shipped in from the mother land, it's a whopping $1,200 installed... thank god my insurance will pay for OEM glass without raising my rates on a comprehensive claim...

schwank

Holy crap Geoff. Mine didn't get shipped in... but my independent glass Guy found me Sekurit glass for $400 installed. He did have to find it through some indy network and it took a day or two from wherever it was in the states.