How to Do Your Own Auto Glass Replacement

If your car’s window glass is cracked or broken, you have a few options. One is to get the damaged piece replaced with a new one from an auto glass repair shop. The other is to do the job yourself if you know how. Many online guides for this type of project are incomplete or difficult to follow. Luckily, there is a way to make this process much easier and less stressful.

To start, you should remove the sash from the window frame to get it out of place. This will allow you to get to the broken glass and clean it out of the frame. You should also put on a pair of eye protection and protective gloves before handling any glass. This will prevent you from accidentally cutting yourself or knocking loose any shards that might still be inside the frame.

You will then need to prepare the window frame for a new pane. First, you should measure the width and length of the old pane and subtract 1/8 inch from each measurement. This will help ensure that you order a replacement window pane of the right size, and it will also give you enough room to accommodate seasonal expansion and contraction. You can then take these measurements to your local hardware store or home center and have a pane cut to this size.

Some older windows are held in place by a wood or vinyl bead molding that is nailed to the window frame. If this is the case, you should remove the bead molding to expose the rabbets, which are the channels that the glass will sit in. These should be cleaned thoroughly to remove any old glazing or putty that might have been there before. Then, the rabbets should be filled with exterior primer to prepare them for the glass.

Once the rabbets are prepared you will need to bed the glass into them. To do this, you will need to roll out glazing compound into long, very thin ropes, about 1/8 inch in diameter. You will then push these into the L-channels that are around the perimeter of the window frame where the glass will rest. Then, you will bed the glass into these channels by pressing firmly on the edge of the glass with the tip of your putty knife. If necessary, you can apply extra pressure with the handle of the putty knife.

After you have inserted the new glass, you should check to make sure that it is flush with the frame and that there are no visible gaps or misalignments between the window frame and the body of your car. In addition, you should listen for whistling from air leaks and inspect the frame and window for other signs of damage that might indicate problems with the installation.

Windshield Surgeons specializes in replacing car windshields, rear windows, side and vent windows, as well as the door glass for most makes and models. They are a mobile service and work directly with insurance companies, including USAA, AAA, Geico, Allstate and Travelers. They offer free quotes and a lifetime warranty.

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