How to remove windscreen?

[emily_mx5]

Hi all, my trusty enthusiasts manual has failed me, it says to pay a professional to remove the windscreen lol.

The windscreen I am removing is cracked, so I am not trying to salvage it.

So does anyone know how to do it?

P.S: Dear mr morlock, don't worry, I will be paying a professional to refit a new one with a new seal.

[manga_blue]

Windscreens are evil things. I'll pre-empt Morlock and for once I'll say what he would have said. Get a pro to take it out and put it in if you can.

Otherwise there's the foot method ... I take no responsibility

[emily_mx5]

The issue is, my "new replacement" is still on the wreck, so the fee they charge to remove and refit, is used up by removing it from the wreck and refitting it to my car. To also remove my cracked one is going to be another fee again.

[jorgan92]

Kick it out if it's screwed.

[bigmaxy]

Well, I cracked mine getting it out. I was using a proper windscreen removal tool but later research tells me that they break windscreens more often than not.
When I was getting the new one put in this week I asked O'Briens what they use. They said they had a huge wire type arrangement that cuts all the sealant at once.

Anyway. The other way I have heard is to get some thin piano wire. After removing the trim find somewhere to shove it through. Fit a handle on both ends and hopefully with the help of someone else use a sawing motion to cut all the way around. Be careful not to rub against paint work.

While you could kick it out and get glass everywhere it could be good practice for when you do want to get one out yourself for real.

[Steampunk]

Kick it out if it's screwed.

A lot of thought went into that one eh? How do you suppose she remove the good one from the other car?

I assume Emily's point is that she wants to remove the good one far in advance of the fitter coming, so she can clean the leftover sealant, prepped ready for installation.

Em, there are a fair few DIY vids on youtube.

[hks_kansei]

Buy a windscreen removal tool, and a good pair of suction cups with handles.

The windscreen tool has a special shaped blade to let you cut out the old seals and silastic.



The suction cups are to let you hold the glass and move it about without breaking it.


It's the way shops do it, but remember, it does need some skill, there's still a risk of breaking the screen (granted, less than using a knife or something dangerous/stupid like that)

[Kenstaki]

The issue is, my "new replacement" is still on the wreck, so the fee they charge to remove and refit, is used up by removing it from the wreck and refitting it to my car. To also remove my cracked one is going to be another fee again.

How much cheaper is the windscreen from the wreck compared to a new one?

I was listening to NPR's Cartalk recently and they were talking about pitting on the windscreen after years of use. Now I can't help but notice the thousands of little pits everyday.

PS. Have you checked your insurance policy to see if they will subsidize the cost of the new windscreen? I imagine it would be in their best interest to maintain your driving vision.

[emily_mx5]

Windscreen is free because I own the wreck, it's in my garage lol.
Sorry I wasn't very clear:

1) I need to remove a bad windscreen from a good car, so don't want to damage paint etc.
2) will pay for professional to remove windscreen from wreck
3) will pay professional to install windscreen from week into my now windscreen less car.

[Suspense]

Do you know who you're using for the removal and installation of the good glass? I've got some work I need done and I've been looking around for someone/somewhere reliable in the area to do it.

[emily_mx5]

Obriens quoted $356 to come to me in my suburb (chatswood) and remove 1 windscreen, and refit 1 windscreen, with a new seal. That does not include a new windscreen, as I am proving a good 2nd hand one.

Bloody expensive, hence why I want to try remove the broken one myself.

Also, no I only have 3rd party insurance, so will not cover a windscreen replacement haha.

[Suspense]

Try these guys in Artarmon for a quote. From recollection they quoted me something like $150-200 to refit the glass on a hardtop.
http://www.instantwin.com.au/contact-us.php

Alternatively I've heard good things about these guys, but haven't been able to get the guy that covers the Chatswood area to actually phone me back and give me a quote. I've left about 3 voice messages but that was a couple of months ago.
http://novusautoglass.com.au/home.html

[MrRevhead]

You can only expect an inflated price from O'Briens the majority of the time as most of their jobs are insurance related.

Definitely call around the independent guys. When I was getting quotes for respraying my hardtop, panel shops were consistently telling me that it would be $100 to remove/refit the glass as that is what the companies they contract out to charge. Sure, it may be based on volume, but using that as a guide, I would expect to pay around 150 for a similar job as a private customer.

A mate of mind got a windscreen supplied & fitted by Novus for $260 on a Civic, so as also recommended above, they are surely worth a call.

[manga_blue]

I just had a new one supplied and fitted to my NA for $300. Local body shop on South Coast.

[jorgan92]

Kick it out if it's screwed.

A lot of thought went into that one eh? How do you suppose she remove the good one from the other car?

I assume Emily's point is that she wants to remove the good one far in advance of the fitter coming, so she can clean the leftover sealant, prepped ready for installation.

Em, there are a fair few DIY vids on youtube.

Yer, first post stated that she was paying a professional to do that, so it did take a tiny bit of thought to put the two together ;)