How to Remove a Windshield

If you need to replace your windshield but don't have the funds to get a professional to do the work for you, you can do it yourself. The first step in replacing your windshield is removing the original. It's not easy to replace a windshield, so you should do a cost/benefit analysis to make sure it's worth your effort.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Windshield wire kit or cold knife
• Pry tool
• Utility knife

1. Research the windshield fitting for your particular make, model and year of vehicle. How you remove your windshield will depend on what type of car you have. Newer model cars typically follow the same procedure.
2. Remove the windshield wipers by taking off the nuts that hold the assembly down.
3. Use a pry tool to remove the rubber fitting around the windshield. Once pried loose the fitting can be pulled easily away from the windshield.
4. Decide whether you want to discard the seal or salvage it. Getting rid of the seal and replacing it with the windshield is the easiest thing to do because then you don't have to be as careful when you remove the windshield.
5. Run a cold knife or a windshield wire underneath the entire perimeter of the windshield to break the urethane seal of the windshield.
6. Push the windshield out of its place from inside the vehicle.
7. Lift the windshield off the car and either salvage it or discard it.
8. Remove the old urethane bead from the windshield opening using a utility knife. It's okay if a small amount of the urethane remains when you install a new windshield, but you should try to get about 90 percent or more of the old urethane cleared away.

Tips & Warnings

• To know whether you have a windshield that needs to be replaced, measure the crack. A general rule of thumb is that if you have a long crack (longer than 6 inches) then you will probably not be able to have the windshield fixed, and it will need to be replaced.
• You can find the tools you need at an auto supply retailer or a hardware store.
• It's a good idea to have help lifting the windshield from the vehicle, particularly if you want to salvage the glass.
• The danger in attempting to remove a windshield yourself is damaging the trim or fittings of the windshield. Such damage can be expensive to have fixed and may eat up your do-it-yourself savings entirely. This is particularly true for classic cars.
• Wear gloves when trying to remove a windshield to protect your hands from cuts and scrapes.