Removing Windshield Molding, Help!

[PonyBoy90]

I just ordered the tool to remove the windshield-molding that goes around the windshield of my foxbody Mustang and an extra set of clips incase some of the clips get damaged during removal.

My question to the forum is for those who have removed their moldings once before.

How do I use that tool to remove the molding from the windshield?

Does the tool go between the glass and the molding or between the roof and the molding? Do I "lift-up" with the tool, or do I pry it on the molding and use the surface a leverage?????? I don't want to crack the glass or GOD FORBID, damage the molding itself as it's practically irreplaceable

Also, I noticed that the top molding is kind of joined/locked into to the moldings running down either sides of the windshield on the A-pillars. Do I basically work my way around the windshield starting at the base of the A-pillar, up the side of the A-pillar and then work up and over along the molding on the top of the windshield?

Or can I just remove the top molding strip on its' own??????????? I really need to only get after the top molding, passenger side of the windshield.

Please help as I'm looking to do this on the up coming weekend.

Thanks in advance.

 

[TRWXXA]

TTT

I'd like to know too. The tool I got came with no instructions on how to use it. How dumb is that?

 

[DeadLifter]

I'm not sure what the tool is, but I just popped both corners loose at the top and hooked a screwdriver under the edge on the end and slid the molding off everytime I got it slid to where the end was at a clip I would just pop it off by hand and slide a little more. Then when you're done slide it back on. Did it twice worked fine and never broke a clip.

 

[PonyBoy90]

When you say you "popped" the corners, did you pull UP towards the sky?

Where/how are the clips held in place under the molding??????

Are these clips glued to the metal frame of the windshield openning or to the glass itself???????????????

Can you be more detailed in your description please.

Thanks

 

[PonyBoy90]

One more thing, did you slide the top molding either left or right to get it off the clips and hence,off the windshield???????????

It sounds to me that taking the windshield molding off is similar to removing the black door sill molding that attaches to the door side-mirror on the top part of the door. That molding is held in place by little riveted donut shaped clips that slide into the molding and then lock in place.

 

[glowstang93]

This is probably not the reply your looking for, but..... Take it to a windshield place, pay a little and have them remove and replace the moldings. At least this way they shouldn't get broke and all will be good. There is nothing wrong with doing it yourself, but sometimes its worth a little to have the professional do it so as to not damage anything else. Good luck whatever you decide and with your project

 

[Roland69]

***edit nevermind I just read the full post

 

[Roland69]

This is probably not the reply your looking for, but..... Take it to a windshield place, pay a little and have them remove and replace the moldings. At least this way they shouldn't get broke and all will be good. There is nothing wrong with doing it yourself, but sometimes its worth a little to have the professional do it so as to not damage anything else. Good luck whatever you decide and with your project

especially with windshield's they suck when you are done and you find a leak. I know a guy who worked at a windshield shop and he does all my stuff for $30 a pop

 

[DeadLifter]

I pulled the corners straight out from the windshield they're just held on on the corners by the ones that run up the a pillars. Then I took a screwdriver hooked it in the end top point of screwdriver facin the sky just to have something for a handle to pull the trim and slid it from the passenger side. Everytime the corner still on the car nears a clip you need to just pop it off the clip install is reverse. Took bout 5 minutes. I did this twive to seal a leak in the windshield. First time was just to try to track down the leak. If I remember right the clips are kinda seated under the glass not positive though.

 

[TRWXXA]

I'm not sure what the tool is, but ...

Here is the window molding tool we're talking about.

LRS sells it without any instructions included. NAPA sells it too, but the instructions are pretty vague.

 

[Untamed5.0]

If you wanna take your windshield out the affordable way, find yourself a thin piece of guitar string, the last string on a guitar ( i dont play obviously ) but that that and slip it through your windshield and then pull it all along, it will cut through the material and it shood just pop out!

 

[WLDHRSE]

Hey PonyBoy, if your tool looks more liike a straight handle with an arrow at the end, that's fine too. The hooks on each side of the tool above, or the arrow looking tools, go in between the windshield and the molding. You want the outside edge (either side) going up to the point, going in almost parallel to the molding. Push it all the way in and then slide left or right, depending on which side your working from. What you want to do is catch the pointy end of the hook, into the retainer. Once you feel it catch, give it a little wiggle with slight upward pressure. The molding should pop up from the retainer. There are quite a few of them. hope that helps. I can do it a lot better than I can explain it.

Cliff

 

[PonyBoy90]

The tool I ordered is the exact same as the one posted above with the red handle.

I guess it's like WLDHRSE says, looking at the geometry of that tool, the flat 2-pronged end slips under the molding between it and the glass, and looking at the handle, as it's perpendicular to the glass when the prongs are slotted under the molding, you PULL UP on the tool towards the ski.

I ordered a spare set of the clips from 50resto along with the tool incase I damage some of them. I guess when I get a closer look at those spare clips I'll get a better idea of how the molding is snapped/locked onto the clips.

I think the reason some people brake the windshield is they use the windshield as leverage when trying to pry the molding off the clips, hence the design of the handle on the correct tool pictured above.

I'm only looking to remove the top molding as I have a very slight leak where when I power wash the car, I get a tiny bead of water running down the inside of the windshield about 2 inches in from the corner between the a-pillar and the roof. The glass is still pretty good and is not necessary to exchange. I have buytl and I need to get some sylicon. I figure a little of both will fix my problem until I decide to get new glass if ever.

If I break the glass, so be it. There's an autoglass shop about 2 miles from where I live. I've been quoted at $200 for glass and installation. I'm gonna try and keep the $200.

Judging by the UPS tracking number 50resto gave me, the tool and clips will be in my hands May 1st.

 

[Pod]

Can you take some photo's when you do this please?

 

[larrydiesbach]

Tips to remove clips

Start at the bottom of the molding, gently lift up on it from the front. Slide your molding tool gently under till you feel a clip. With care lightly pull back on the molding tool. Then do the next for the next clip and so on... Pretty easy just do not rush so that you do not dimple your windshield molding with the molding tool.

Larry Diesbach
15 Year NGA Certified Technician
FixMyWindshield.com Member

 

[dcurtis]

I second the pics of doing the job, I'm not replacing my window but I want to remove the trim to paint it with the car. Figure it will be alot easier to get the old paint off of it if it is off the car.

 

[skunk21]

Here is the window molding tool we're talking about.

LRS sells it without any instructions included. NAPA sells it too, but the instructions are pretty vague.

The tool is very easy to use..

1st stand at the side of the car so your chest is next to the A pillar then grap the tool so the top of the handle is by your thumb and the working end is at the bottom of your hand( the black part).

next you lay the tool flat on the glass on an angle and feed the hook end of the tool into the moulding about 5 " up from the bottom , you want the tool so the outer part of the hook end rides along the underside off the moulding kinda following the a pillar, now slide the tool up, when up feel a clip hook it and you rotate the tool outwards or even pull alittle bit outwards to release the clips.

once you release the first clip near the bottom use the other hook to release the bottom one then move back to the next upper one by the one you released. do the 2 A pillars then the piece across the roof.

It's hard to explain but that is the basics, you will get it once you get going. don't be suprised when you break/loose some clips try a local body shop windshield place to get some more or 50resto has them.