Has anybody here removed the front and rear glass from their car by themselves? How hard is it? Safelite quoted me $100 per glass to remove, and doesn't guarantee it won't break. Auto body toolmart sells all the tools and urethane for less than $50! I do consider myself fairly mechanically inclined, and do have some auto body training, so it doesn't seem too hard. Any thoughts?
I watched Brian (buickspec197064) do it on my '67 when we were tearing it apart, we got the back window out fine but ended up shattering the front window (there was a small crack already) when the tool got caught on a clip. I'd say it'd be easier with a 2nd person to help lift the window out. Or in my case we had to use some piano wire to cut through the grout/sealer on the back window. Drilled a whole through it and fed the wire and pulled it back and forth.
Did it with help of a neighbor using guitar string wrapped around 2 wooden handles. Front one broke (one of us got in a hurry), back one did not break.
The rear is not too bad but I would say better than 50% chance the front will crack. They always crack on me.
Done it many times over the years and only broke one. 2 guys using the sawing motion with a wire works well. take your time and dont pull against the glass when sawing. Use stops when reinstalling.
X2 Rear is tempered glass and is very forgiving. Front is not and very prone to cracking if you stress it in any way. I usually use the butyl tape to install, and the seal round the edges with urethane
Same with me the back always pops out easy, the front always cracks just as easy but if you can get a wire through the sealant and take your time the front is doable.
I use piano wire with a closed end wrench on each end. I get my buddy to help and till now have never broken one yet. Before I used this method I tried with the cutting tool and never got a front out intact. Duane
