I have a '86 GL Hatch that needs a windshield

Ive been looking at quotes online for my area, mostly installed it is around $250-300

 

not installed about $150

is it easy to install yourself?

 

not lookin to spend more money than I bought the car for just for a dumb windshield to keep the cops at bay

Actually you are probably better off doing it yourself on the EA81's. You use kerosene and twine to pull the windsheild into the rubber gasket. Expect to spend about $150 on the windsheild and another $120 or so on a new gasket as the old one will be basically completely destroyed removing it. Best to do it yourself as no special tools are required beyond a friend to help you out, and you can prep the crimp joint around the window with any sanding/painting you may need in order to prevent future leaks and rust.

 

GD

Actually you are probably better off doing it yourself on the EA81's. You use kerosene and twine to pull the windsheild into the rubber gasket. Expect to spend about $150 on the windsheild and another $120 or so on a new gasket as the old one will be basically completely destroyed removing it. Best to do it yourself as no special tools are required beyond a friend to help you out, and you can prep the crimp joint around the window with any sanding/painting you may need in order to prevent future leaks and rust.

 

GD

 

thanks

I may end up just doing it myself

Kerosene? I know how to do it with twine. Enlighten me.

So I was talking to my dad about doing it ourselves...

he wants to have it done

 

he said he tried all those tricks and ended up breaking the windshield:-\

The FSM calls for kerosene (as a lubricant) and cording. The procedure is fairly simple and I know of several on this board have succesfully done it. All makes and models are not the same with respect to this type of thing and your fathers experience may not be applicable. The Subaru windsheilds are pretty stout and it takes some abuse to crack one. I wouldn't attempt a newer model glue-in style myself, but I also wouldn't trust a shop to do the older style pop-in correctly or completely. The knowledge on how to do them has largely not been passed down to the people in the glass industry and they are likely to do a horrible job and leave it leaky, or try to glue it in instead of using the proper gasket.

 

You have been warned. I've seen what those shops do. It's not pretty on the EA81's when they try to bypass the gasket and glue it in instead.

 

GD

The FSM calls for kerosene (as a lubricant) and cording. The procedure is fairly simple and I know of several on this board have succesfully done it. All makes and models are not the same with respect to this type of thing and your fathers experience may not be applicable. The Subaru windsheilds are pretty stout and it takes some abuse to crack one. I wouldn't attempt a newer model glue-in style myself, but I also wouldn't trust a shop to do the older style pop-in correctly or completely. The knowledge on how to do them has largely not been passed down to the people in the glass industry and they are likely to do a horrible job and leave it leaky, or try to glue it in instead of using the proper gasket.

 

You have been warned. I've seen what those shops do. It's not pretty on the EA81's when they try to bypass the gasket and glue it in instead.

 

GD

 

thanks

nasty shops

 

Ill see if I can buy a windshield and have my new favorite place the Subaru Stuff Shop install it:)

Do it yourself. its a rope in windsheild they take about 20 min to install. Two things.. DO NOT use kerosene for lube. Use aerosol glass cleaner for the lube. Kerosene will eat the rubber on it and the molding is already 20+ years old. For the pinchwelds, they make a sealer thats used that kills the rust and covers the surface. Also buy a roll of butyl tape for the top sill and corners of the window. These windows were known to leak after installation and the solution was the use butyl tape. its self sticking (pretty cool stuff I use it to reseal my door seals)

 

Start on the bottom of the window and work across bottom to both sides. make sure u get both bottom corners locked in before u move up the sides. You will finish the job at the top center of the window. Work your way around and slap the window every few inches with the palm of your hand. As long as your hand is flat, u wont crack the glass.

 

I've installed over 600 windows so far in the last 10 years so if you have any problems pm me. I highly suggest u do it yourself and save yourself some money. Anyone can rope in these old windows. As far as the glue in windows, you can do that urself the hardest part is getting the old window out and cleaned up. Installation is the easy part. High density Urethane (sika-flex 220+)

Do it yourself. its a rope in windsheild they take about 20 min to install. Two things.. DO NOT use kerosene for lube. Use aerosol glass cleaner for the lube. Kerosene will eat the rubber on it and the molding is already 20+ years old. For the pinchwelds, they make a sealer thats used that kills the rust and covers the surface. Also buy a roll of butyl tape for the top sill and corners of the window. These windows were known to leak after installation and the solution was the use butyl tape. its self sticking (pretty cool stuff I use it to reseal my door seals)

 

Start on the bottom of the window and work across bottom to both sides. make sure u get both bottom corners locked in before u move up the sides. You will finish the job at the top center of the window. Work your way around and slap the window every few inches with the palm of your hand. As long as your hand is flat, u wont crack the glass.

 

I've installed over 600 windows so far in the last 10 years so if you have any problems pm me. I highly suggest u do it yourself and save yourself some money. Anyone can rope in these old windows. As far as the glue in windows, you can do that urself the hardest part is getting the old window out and cleaned up. Installation is the easy part. High density Urethane (sika-flex 220+)

 

Thanks

Ill pm with any questions...