Windscreen removal and refitting

[Mew]

Could someone tell me what is involved in re-fitting a mk2 windscreen please.

I think i've got the idea of removal: cut the seal with one of those tools or a sharp knife. But what is involved in putting it back in? I'll need a new seal if i have just cut the original, any ideas where i can get these and how much? What else do i need to do?

Thanks for any help, Ben.

[rubjonny]

Its a piece of piss to refit, the way I do it is seat the seal onto the car along the bottom edge, then fit the screen.  Then fit the rubber onto the screen the rest of the way round, and push it into place while pulling the seal from the inside & pushing from the outside.  Some silicone lube helps here, whatever you do DONT use washing up liquid as it has salt in and will eat the frame!

[Veedubgt18v]

or you can put the rubber seal round the windscreen when its not on the car then feed a piece of rope or cord into the groove in the seal. offer the windscreen up to the car with the loose ends of rope inside the car and with someone pushing down on the outside pull the rope out gently and it will fold the seal into the inside of the car.

either way works shouldnt need silicone lube tho its a tight fit but not that tight. when its lined up properly it just pops in nice.

[stan_deezy]

Yup I agree: doesn't need lube: in fact it can make it more tricky because it's difficult to hold onto when slippery.
Just done front and rear screen (solo, without any help) and will pass on one tip for you: when people say "use a piece of string" the bigger the thickness of the string the better: I used some of that blue nylon type rope that you use for clothes lines: worked a treat and the job took minutes 

[rubjonny]

or you can put the rubber seal round the windscreen when its not on the car then feed a piece of rope or cord into the groove in the seal. offer the windscreen up to the car with the loose ends of rope inside the car and with someone pushing down on the outside pull the rope out gently and it will fold the seal into the inside of the car.

either way works shouldnt need silicone lube tho its a tight fit but not that tight. when its lined up properly it just pops in nice.

Yeah my method is the same as this, except if you seat the seal on the car first, you can locate it in the bottom easier and wont be as likly to miss the lip and hit the bodywork.  Lube is mostly used on the lip round the hole, so the rubber slides on easier.  Like you say its a double edged sword, on my MK2 it went in easy as pie, but on the mk1 cabby the lube made it difficult to get a good grip, so we ended up wiping most of it off!

[VeeDubGTI16v]

might be a good idea to use waxoil instead of lube  

when the bottom is in put some weight on the top of the screen so it locates right

[Simpson]

i use thick speaker wire, works everytime. 

[wellfan]

Just one further point, it is not necessary to damage the original seal when removing the damaged windscreen. I agree with all previous points, as it really is very easy to replace the glass with a piece of string/rope. I had a total respray a few years back and removed all windows beforehand and replaced them all myself, without any help, after the respray.

[rubjonny]

You can get the screen out without cutting the rubber, but its tricky. Safest option is to cut the rubber, the windscreen is particularly fragile.  The rest of the glass will pop out now worries tho.
I think of it this way, tis a lot cheaper to replace the rubber than the windscreen

[Veedubgt18v]

however if the windscreen is broken put a blanket on your bonnet and kick the sucker out.....

i remember using waxoil now tho ta mark