Windshield and seal installation

When installing the glass and seal, have any of you used a sealent of some kind?

Also, I'm a bit confused on the seal itself. One side has two grooves and the other has one. The outside has to go around the flange on the frame, and one wide groove is obviously for the windshield, what's that other smaller groove for?

'76 CJ5

 

I did not use a sealant of any kind. That bugger is tight without it. I installed it on a sunny 90* day to help get some more flex out of the rubber seal.

If I understand what you are describing, the "other smaller groove" is for a rope seal that is used after you install the glass and large seal to the frame. The rope seal fits into that small groove to lock it in place.

 

You do not need to use sealant and like stated above the second groove is for the locking strip. Make sure you install the locking strip on the outside. Good luck. I decided to take mine to a shop. For what they charged it was well worth it. It took two guys better Than an hour to get mine installed with the winshield frame setting on the work bench.

 

I guess I'll add that it took me and both my sons to get it in place, and it took about an hour. You'll need extra hands most likely.

 

Thanks! I'm probably going to take it somewhere that installs auto glass. Should the seal have come with the locking strip?

 

Gasket would not come with locking strip....glass shop should have it by the roll, though. They should charge $60-$75 to install your windshield in a CJ...maybe less. 20-30 minute job.

 

When I bought my seal it came with the locking strip.

 

It should come with a locking strip. The gasket/seal is useless without it.

 

If for any reason you end up with a gap where the rubber meets it's self on the ends (maybe from temperature shrinkage) you can shoot a shot of black urathane rubber in the end gap to seal it, it's about $10 a caulking tube at Lowes or an auto glass shop, unless it happens to be one piece, mine had ends and I had to cut it to length. It seems like I put the rubber around the wiindshield glass first then I put heavy duty braided string in the outer grove all the way around and overlapped it 6"then set the windshield frame on top of that with pressure down on the frame pull the string slowly between frame and rubber it goes in just like a zipper, maybe put a little silicone spray or dish soap on inside rubber lip to make it a little easier. good luck !

 

I picked up some auto body putty knifes, a roll of weed wacker string and sone silicon spray all from HF. It took me about an hour and a half and a couple of "walk away before I smash this glass out of anger" brakes but I got it. There Is a good write up on the Internet that I found that helped me allot... I kinda figure if I was able to do it anyone can... I will look for the write up that I used and see if I can post a link tommorow....

 

These are what I used to price together a plan of attack...

http://street2mud.com/webfiles/How to replace the windshield on a Jeep CJ.pdf

http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/project-cj7/project-cj7-windshield.htm

 

Apparently the seal I have is only one piece and didn't need a locking strip. I just took it to an auto glass place. Cost $40