How to change auto glass

The content of the article:

• Replacing the side glass of the car
• Features of windshields and their replacement
• Important points

Replacing car windows is not such a difficult procedure as experts are trying to assure motorists. Having at hand a few tools, high-quality glass, some skills and a little patience, you can replace the auto glass yourself.

Replacing the side glass of the car

Unlike the windshield, the side windows are more fragile, therefore they break thoroughly - immediately and into small fragments. Scotch tape and film are a good way out, but you still have to put in a new glass. You can go to the workshop and pay not only for a new window, but also for the work of the wizard. Or try to do everything yourself.

This will require:

• new glass;
• screwdrivers - Phillips, flat, end;
• latches for fixing the sheathing (it is better not to use the old ones);
• brush for cleaning splinters and other debris.

Work order

1. Remove the door trim first. To do this, you should:
   
   • using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the fixing bolts securing the armrest and remove it;
   • unscrew and remove the window regulator handle (the plastic plug can be easily pushed off and removed with a small thin screwdriver);
   • remove the handle that opens the car door;
   • loosen the fixing elements that hold the upholstery itself and disconnect it from the metal frame of the door.
2. After the upholstery has been removed, set the power window lever in place and lock it in the "glass down" position.
3. Using a socket screwdriver, unscrew the fastening bolts on the "frame", remove the seal and clean the place from glass fragments.
4. Then move the power window to the "slightly up" mode so that the screws holding the pressure plate are in plain view.
5. The screws should be loosened, and one of them should be unscrewed completely, pulling the loosely fixed cable to the side.
6. Take a new glass and, tilting its upper side towards the interior of the passenger compartment, insert it into place. Then fix the glass with the clamping bolts.
7. Return the upholstery and the rest of the door elements by repeating all the manipulations in the reverse order.

Features of windshields and their replacement

Unlike the side ones, the windshields are made using special technologies and are reinforced. Their duties include not only the functions of windows, they protect the driver and passengers from external hazards (flying stones, impact in an accident, etc.), and also act as a supporting element for the car body, or rather its roof.

Windshields are manufactured using various technologies and are usually two reinforced glasses connected together and having a reinforcing layer. Therefore, such glasses almost never shatter; it takes more than a stone blow or a medium-sized impact.

The protective and fixing qualities of windshields largely depend on the quality of the installation. It is recommended to carry it out in the workshop, entrusting the matter to specialists. Incorrectly placed glass can have deviations in accordance with GOST and quickly fail, warp, fall out or noticeably lose its protective qualities.

But this does not mean that reinstallation cannot be done on your own. You just need to approach this matter with all responsibility.

Windshield replacement

Would need:

• a string or cutting knife to remove old sealant;
• new glass;
• primer mixture;
• surface degreasing agent;
• adhesive tape for fixing glass;
• glue (sealant) for glass installation;
• pneumatic gun for applying adhesive.

You can purchase everything you need either individually or in a special kit for replacing auto glass.

Work order

Step 1. Remove old glass or its remnants

To do this, you will have to use a special knife or string. They are placed inside and outside the glass and cut the sealant on which it is attached. The main thing in performing this procedure is not to damage the front panel of the passenger compartment.

Step 2. Remove the old glue

This can be done using an ordinary retractable knife sold in hardware stores. It is advisable to remove the old layer completely, but if it is difficult, then the remnants of the used glue will not cause much harm.

Step 3. Degrease the surface

For this purpose, a special composition is included in the kit, but if it is not available, ordinary acetone or another degreasing agent will do.

Step 4. Prime the installation site

There are several nuances to consider here:

1. Do not apply a primer on the remnants of the old adhesive, only on metal parts of the body.
2. The primer mixture is applied in one layer, along the line of extrusion of the sealing compound.
3. A primer is also applied to the glass in the area of ​​contact with the sealant to avoid UV exposure to the latter. Otherwise, the sealant will begin to deteriorate under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, which will affect the quality of the installation and the life of the glass.
4. After priming, areas with the remaining old adhesive are degreased.

Step 5. Apply sealant along the gluing line

Pay attention to a few nuances:

1. If the container for the adhesive sealant does not have a special tip, then the packaging must be cut off, maintaining a large angle so that the contents are squeezed out in the form of a cone tapering upward.
2. The sealant is applied using an air gun or compressor.
3. It is recommended to heat the mixture to about 40 degrees before applying.
4. It should be applied evenly to avoid the formation of voids or lumps of the mixture.

Step 6. Insert and fix the glass

The glass is rubberized along the contour and is applied to the applied sealant and gently pressed. After that, it should be secured with tape and left to dry.

Important points

No matter how the owners and workers of the workshops frightened motorists with the complexity of work on installing glass in the car, and the latter did not insist on the opposite, the truth is somewhere in between. Of course, a person without experience can make a mistake and do something wrong, but with a careful approach and minimal skills, it is quite possible to install glass in a car.

And to minimize the risk of error, you should follow some rules:

1. Select glass, taking into account the make and model of a particular car.
2. Follow all instructions on the adhesive packaging carefully.
3. Since the mixture is very dense, it is advisable to use a high-quality reliable pistol that will not break during work.
4. Before gluing the glass, you need to attach it to the installation site and check how well it fits by marking the contact points.
5. The first few days after installation, do not slam the doors (this creates pressure on the glass) or make other harsh manipulations with the machine. It is best to leave it alone until the glue has completely hardened.
6. It is advisable not to drive the car for at least 48 hours after the windows have been glued in. If this is not possible, you should wait at least a few hours before driving.
7. In no case should you remove the fixing tape during the first two days; the glass will lose support and may loosen. Therefore, if you plan to go on the road after installation, then the adhesive tape should be chosen transparent so as not to interfere with the view.
8. The car must not be washed for at least 48 hours, and in general should not be wet, for example, in the rain. This disrupts the curing process of the sealant.
9. Glue and glass for installation should be purchased only from reliable manufacturers.
10. The surface for applying the sealant must be absolutely dry.
11. Remove old glass with protective gloves so as not to harm yourself. It is also advisable to wear a mask that will protect your eyes. Cracked, unstable glass can cause unpleasant surprises and serious injury.

When choosing auto glass, you should focus primarily on your material capabilities. Of course, branded glasses designed for a specific car make and model are ideal. But the prices for such products are several times higher than the prices for licensed copies. And the latter are often in no way inferior to branded products. Even Russian-made autoglasses have good characteristics for their price segment, of course.