Yes I always cut the outer seal with an Xacto knife to get the windshield out. I've done several windshields but these moldings seem really stubborn so far. The Cyclone windshield was simple since the lower molding screws on the the side one go in with the seal. I over think things most of the time because I don't want to tear anything up.
Looked like it was just the paint that had them stuck. I got the top and sides off fine. Bottom one is being a little difficult. I'll work with it later.
I got mine from the local windshield install guys. He had 5 gallon cardboard buckets full of them of any style
When I took the chrome off my 1994 F-150 to paint the rust on the roof, I broke a few clips. I went down to my windshield install place and the guy just handed me a bunch and said "don't worry about it". It's a nice jesture, and a good way to build customer base! It worked, because I ended up taking two cars there for windshield replacements. If you roll in there with a Maverick, he'll probably give them all to you...??
Still fighting the bottom molding. I'm having no luck even finding the retainers with the tool. I'm being very patient and stopping before I get disgusted cuz I don't want to bend it.
I used a screw driver to lift up then forced it out with my fingers. I am repainting the whole car any ways.
Once you remove the two end caps , you can slide the other four pieces out away from the windsheild if they are not glued in.
I took my back glass out last night, and it was way harder than the front. It was FULL of buyl or whatever they put up in there! By the end of it, I was just prying and scratching at whatever I could hook with that tool. It wasn't pretty, but it came off.
Yep....I just stand along the side of the car, grab ahold of the ends and pull on them horizontally away from the car and and they come slide right off.
Curious if there is an actual tool for doing this. Front and rear will be coming out of my car for a repaint. I have tested my abilities at gettting the trim off at the local Pick N Pull in order to get a couple of spare rear trim pieces. What a pain. I dont want to screw up my nice original ones. If anyone has a link to a tool, I would apprecate it. Thanks,
Check your auto parts store, they should have a trim removal tool. There are a few different styles like this one and this one and this one.
Ok sliding them off didn't work until I released the outer retainers. I did manage to finish getting the windshield out tonight and for future reference, here's my "Windshield Removal for Dummies Like Me". 1. Remove the top molding using a nylon wedge tool to gently pry the molding up so you can get a molding removal tool in to release the molding retainers. Be very gentle so as not bent the molding. Here's a molding tool at work. 2. Work your wedge under the side moldings to make sure it's not stuck then pull it up along with the A-pillar to slide it off. This saves the time and effort of fooling with releasing the retainers. 3. Remove the end screws in the lower molding and use your wedge to pull up the side of the molding. Then take a flashlight and look under the molding. You will see a retainer a few inches inward along the lower edge of the molding, if not scrape around with a pick to remove any sealer hiding it. Take a long skinny screwdriver and insert horizontally from the end of the molding the insert it under the retainer to release it (I tried the tool for this and had no luck for some reason but the skinny screwdriver was the trick). Then grab the molding and pull it outward and off the car. Repeat on the other side. 4. Take a utility knife and carefully cut the outer lip of the windshield molding off all the way around and then remove it. Take a thin nylon scraper and gently work under between the inside of the glass and the weatherstrip to unstick it. Then using the palm of your hand, bump the glass loose and remove it. This worked for me after I figured it out. When I do it again, it should only take 10 minutes or so.
