As I was driving along yesterday, I heard a weird noise which turned out to be the rubber molding along the top of the windshield flapping in the breeze - almost all of it had detached. I put it back over the ridge on the windshield as it is designed to fit, and sort of pounded it down. It has now held fine for about 50 miles. Question: Does the molding need to be glued in place on the windshield, and if so with what kind of adhesive. Amazingly, and interstingly enough, my dealer indicated that the molding is "part of the windshield, and the complete windshield might need to be replaced." Seems like ridiculous overkill. Again, it seems to be holding fine since putting back in place and pounding along the seams. Idea? Suggestions? I'd love to save a trip to the dealer. Thanks.

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Sandy (Spider) Scott
Skydive69@msn.com
Apopka, Florida
99 White Lightning #2091 DOB 6-8-99
Airaid air box & Superchip

 

Hey Sandy!
I have a friend with a MK VIII Lincoln that has the plastic moulding around the back window getting wavey, he went to see about getting it fixed and was told it was part of the window. In addition it was VERY expensive. (well over 1200) If you can get it replaced under warrany do it. Make sure they use a Ford part!
Tom

 

skydive69: that molding (called rehau [ray-haw]) has a "C" channel that fits over the top edge of the windshield, as you probably saw when it came off. While there is a bead of an adhesive substance (can't remember the name of it offhand-clear waxy stuff) on the inside of the "C" channel, it's only purpose is to hold the molding into place long enough to get installed into the truck. For those of you who are curious as to its shape, it pretty much looks like this:
h

What is _supposed_ to secure it for all eternity <ahem> is the same urethane bead that hardens and turns the windshield into a structural member of the vehicle. The bead is designed to straddle both the molding and the glass. If you look at the underside of the rehau you'll see grooves to hold urethane. The lion's share of the urethane goes into glass retention, and just a tad (not enough in your case however) is used for the rehau. (Technically I don't believe the urethane actually bonds to the rubber molding, I think it's more of a 'squish/trap' strategy instead...)

What most likely happened in your case is the robot that applied the urethane bead to the windshield was a sliver off-location and didn't get an even enough 'straddle' across both parts. Wind and water just forced it out.

Since the molding uses the "C" channel to wrap around the windshield and be glued in with the glass, that's the reason the dealer told you what he did. If he just stuck the mldg back in the groove with silicone or something else, that would most definately be a substandard repair and would _not_ hold long at all, so it's good your dealer told you this.

Modern windshields are very thin and it's a difficult job to cut one out without breaking it (especially on F-Series, that's a big windshield). You have to clean it off, reinstall the mldg, and then reapply fresh urethane without breaking it.

FYI: Windshields are robotically installed at all F-series plants and it's a neat process to watch. An operator prepares the glass for the urethane and then installs that molding across the top, and then uses a roller to fully seat it prior to the robot getting it. The robot picks up the windshield, spins around to a stationary nozzle where the nozzle starts pumping out urethane and the robot moving quickly to get the bead around the perimeter of the glass. The robot then takes the windshield to the opening and installs it to the truck. Not too shabby considering there's about 2mm of clearance on each of the four sides. It's a combination of the 2mm clearance, the longer "C" channel, and the urethane that's _supposed_ to keep it there foreever.

I've simplified this somewhat for brevity, but in a nutshell that's it.

Geez...Sorry for the length of this thing, I got carried away I guess. Anyways, hope it clarifies things.


[This message has been edited by roger (edited 03-31-2000).]

 

Sandy,

I am worried that at the speeds these trucks are capable of, you may wind up with a face full of windshield if it's not properly replaced. There is a lot of load on the glass when moving fast in these beasts....

Just a thought,

The Wyldman

 

Good points guys and thanks. I have an appointment with my dealer for Monday. I'm getting it fixed. That was a frigtening thought Wyldman! Once captaining a Boeing 727, and climbing out of Kennedy airport, my windshield suddenly shattered at about 25,000 feet. You should have seen me slowly sinking back into my seat, and quickly slowing that beast down. Fortunatley, there are about 3 layers, and only the outer layer shattered. BTW, I had Doctor Ruth on board as a passenger that day, and after making a descent back into Kennedy, I started back into the cabin to speak with the passengers. Suddenly, Dr. Ruth stuck her head out from her seat, and proclaimed, "I want to speak to you, but not about sex." For some reason, I immediately blushed. Guess you had to be there.

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Sandy (Spider) Scott
Skydive69@msn.com
Apopka, Florida
99 White Lightning #2091 DOB 6-8-99
Airaid air box & Superchip

 

Roger, thanks for the windshield tutorial - it was fascinating and enlightening.

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Sandy (Spider) Scott
Skydive69@msn.com
Apopka, Florida
99 White Lightning #2091 DOB 6-8-99
Airaid air box & Superchip