Re-fitting Windows in my Van

[volition82]

I have had to take out one of the windows on my van to repair the rust but i'm a bit unsure on how best to re-fit the window. It's not the normal type as in like a windscreen rubber. It has an outer rubber and then in the centre of that is a cut out for another harder piece of rubber which has a shape like a tear drop with wings. Do I fit the outer rubber to the glass with the inner seal fitted as well and then re-fit the window in the normal way with cord or do I put the main rubber around the window hole in the van, put the glass in to the rubber and then put the seal in?

 

[mike os]

not an expert on these & not done any for a whle.. but iirc you fit the seal to the car, then fit the glass in the seal, then insert the center bead using a shaped tool

 

[the artfull-codger]

It sounds to me by your description that it's ''clayton rite'' gasket & if so I assume it's the original glass going back in, then you put the rubber back around the outer frame then put the glass in by putting one side in then start pulling the rubber outover the glass [a screwdriver with the end slightly bent a few millimeters is ideal] & steadily work your way around till the glass is in, toughened glass is a bit more forgiving but laminated will break more easily, when the glass is in the seperate ''zipper'' strip is put in with a gasket tool but you can make do with a screwdriver & rub some fairy liquid around the groove to make it go in easier don't stretch the zipper 'cos if you do it'll shrink back over time & look sloppy.

slan go fol

 

[volition82]

Thanks, i'll have a go at fitting it tomorrow. Got a feeling that it's one of those jobs that sounds easier than it is!

 

[mike os]

Pita:d

 

[wyn]

Was the centre strip of rubber on the inside or outside of the van ?
If you put it back together so it's on the inside it'll make the van more secure.

 

[volition82]

Centre strip was on the outside, can't reverse it unless I do the other 6 windows. Luckily only the one (and the windscreen) had rust, the floor more than made up for it though

 

[stormin]

It won't be cheap but I'd consider getting a new rubber seal and filler strip. The old ones go hard with age and degrading in the sunlight, this makes an already awkward job a complete pig of a job. A new seal will be a breeze in comparison.

If you struggle with the old seal and brake the pane of glass you'll wish you'd bought the new seal.

 

[the snooper]

those windows arn't that bad to do shame your not closer i could have lent you the tool for putting the locking strip back in

the tool is very simple really you could make one which will save you loads of time and scratches to your paintwork.
not wanting put anyones advice down but i wouldnt use washing up liquid or any lubricant on the strip it will make the job harder then it needs to be
i have included a simple drawing below showing the tool which is simply a diamond shape which is on a slight angle from the shaft .
the locking strip is inserted through the diamond and then the diamond inserted into the window seal channel.
the diamond has to be wide enough so that it opens the channel up as you push it along and lays the locking strip ino the channel
so if you are right handed feed the strip through the tool left to right hold the strip in left hand and push tool to the left
hope this helps

 

[volition82]

The rubber is good condition so no worries there and i'm in the middle of preparing the van for paint so I don't have to worry about damaging it. Cheers for all the advice it will make the job a lot easier, i've only taken out and re-fitted one window before and that was a small standard type, it was a bit of a struggle but got there in the end. At least if i'm having difficulties this time i'll know i'm going about it in the right way!

 

[pedrobedro]

Put the rubber seal on the glass then get a piece of electrical wire and fit it in the slot in the rubber that goes to the bodywork all the way round with both spare ends sticking out on a corner. Push the assembled window and seal into the window aperture as much as you can then pull one end of the wire and it will peel the seal onto the metal. It's easier if someone presses the window seal from the other side at the same time You can push the locking strip in with your hand and knock it into the slot with a small rubber mallet to spread the seal tight. I've put a Fiesta van window in and a Transit pickup rear window in this year using this method.

 

[the snooper]

pedro are you refering to the type shown below

 

[the artfull-codger]

dear me snooper, the gasket when new has a lubricant on it to make the zipper tool slide along the channel easier, otherwise it's hard work,on re-glazes we allways used a lubricant as the gasket was dry, on an odd square I don't suppose time matters but when you've got loads to do it makes the job easier[especially on your arms!!

slan go fol

 

[pedrobedro]

pedro are you refering to the type shown below

That type of seal, yes. The Fiesta van was a new one from Autoglass as the original had been Stanley knifed by scrotes. I put an original Mini screen in last year using the same method on my own and it cured it of leaking which it had always done.

 

[Shedendman]

Make,year of van,pic perhaps?

 

[volition82]

Just re-fitted the window. Had a bit of trouble with it, I had to cut off a bit of the main rubber and the filler strip isn't quite long enough so i'll have to get a new length and fit that instead. I'm fairly sure it wasn't fitted that well in the first place, thats why I had the problems with rust. As I mention in an earlier post the van has another six windows (three in the body, three in the fibreglass roof) and they are all fine, no sign of rust at all. One of the larger windows was the sliding type and leaked so a windscreen guy cut a piece of glass to replace it and the cut out for the window didn't have any rust at all.

The van is a 1989 VW LT35, Lwb, High-top, 2.4 petrol converted to a camper. When I bought it I didn't realise how rusty it was as it was hidden and to get to it I had to strip the interia out. Long and expensive job but should be worth it and if I have to do it I thought i'd do the best job I could do with the funds and skills available. Sorry don't have any pics.

 

[the snooper]

the reason the locking strip doesnt fit is when they are put in with the correct tool they are stretched slightly during the process so if you stick it in with a screwdriver or something else thats why

 

[the snooper]

dear me snooper, the gasket when new has a lubricant on it to make the zipper tool slide along the channel easier, otherwise it's hard work,on re-glazes we allways used a lubricant as the gasket was dry, on an odd square I don't suppose time matters but when you've got loads to do it makes the job easier[especially on your arms!!

slan go fol

yes but lubrication without a proper tool it would be terrible ive seen people try thier hands get caked in it cant hold tools