How to Install Rear Quarter Glass?

[DMC-81]

Hi there,

My passenger side quarter glass has separated from the panel at the bottom. See pic. It is the earlier version without the rubber window trim. I removed the quarter panel, (which was "delorean easy" as my fascias are off, and I will replace the door seals anyway).

A couple questions:

1) What's the best chemical, if any, to use to remove the old urethane.

2) Can you remove it without taking off the epoxy that ensures good adhesion to the stainless?

3) What is the technique to re-install the glass? I already have the spacers (106612).
a) Do you apply the spacers and new urethane from the back and press the glass in until it hits the spacers?
b) or do you place the spacers and glass in first, tape it, and then apply the urethane from the front in the gap?

Regardless, I assume that you will have to wipe the gap in the front until you have a clean line of urethane just like it was originally.

Any other tips would be appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

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37849

[DMCMW Dave]

1) What's the best chemical, if any, to use to remove the old urethane.

2) Can you remove it without taking off the epoxy that ensures good adhesion to the stainless?

3) What is the technique to re-install the glass? I already have the spacers (106612).
a) Do you apply the spacers and new urethane from the back and press the glass in until it hits the spacers?
b) or do you place the spacers and glass in first, tape it, and then apply the urethane from the front in the gap?

Regardless, I assume that you will have to wipe the gap in the front until you have a clean line of urethane just like it was originally.


1 - There isn't one. Razor blades.
2 - If you completely clean the stainless (i.e. razorblade and sandpaper) be sure to use a urethane primer.
3 - a) my favorite is to have a glass installer do it. They typically put the glue on the glass and set it.
3 - b) You will end up with a combination of removing excess urethane and maybe filling in areas where it didn't come through.
4) - yes.

It's an insanely messy job considering what it is.

[DMC-81]

Thanks Dave! I remember talking about this with you at DMCFL's open house, but not in detail. I may clean it up first and cross my fingers and have a glass installer do it.

Here is my progress today:

Marked the orientation of the glass...

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Glass removed. It was basically only secure at the top. The PO stuck the bottom with some black putty like substance which came off with paint thinner...

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Glass before cleaning...

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Glass after cleaning with a razor blade and paint thinner....

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On to cleaning the quarter panel.... :wrenchin:

[dn010]

I would recommend the 3M primer for this even if you left a small thin layer of old urethane on the panel - I'd use it on the glass too. It is expensive but worth it in my opinion, the smallest bottle would be all you'd need and you can get it at O'Reilly or Napa, just MAKE SURE they are not expired (out of 3 stores only 1 had 1 can NOT expired). Also helps if you have an air caulk gun for the urethane, quick and easy to make a nice continuous bead. I did my windshield a bit of time ago, too bad the times didn't coincide as I had a more than half full bottle of primer left that I had to toss.

[DMCMW Dave]

, too bad the times didn't coincide as I had a more than half full bottle of primer left that I had to toss.

Yeah the primer is really annoying - a bottle will go bad in weeks once opened no matter how good you seal it. There are primers in glass capsules that you break open (single use) but they are extremely hard to buy outside of the trade. At least in rational quantities.

[DMC-81]

Cool! Thanks for the tips. :thumbup:

[DMC-81]

Well, today the owner from Pro Auto Glass came by to re-install the glass.

I cleaned the panel beforehand. I accidentally discovered that carburetor cleaner melts the old urethane off (and the primer).
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8 Spacers (106612) ready to be placed....
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Spacers placed. 3 on the top channel, 3 on the bottom, and 2 on the front side.....
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Taping the front side for protection...
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Applying the urethane....
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Pressing the glass in....
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Cleaning the excess off the front side....
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Then I will leave it flat for 24 hours to cure. Done and done!

[Andy_]

I used Dow Corning rtv732. It's an aircraft grade sealant that's recommended for fixing roof leaks in the bulletin.