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2G Advice on removal of rear glass plus trim

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EC17PSE

Freelancer
5,867
3,448
Nov 1, 2008
London, UK, Europe
So today i took out the rear window and while i managed to do it after some figuring out i feel as if there is a much easier / safer and better way to do this? So does anyone have pointers or tools that will help

I had all the normal window removal tools, like wire and handles, cutter, pull handle cutter and knife.

The trim is plastic and metal lined so it did not play well and seems kinda bonded into the sealant under the glass and i could not remove that strip without cutting it first on top and then next to the glass on a second pass.

When i did get the glass out the stuff peeled off or rsther scraped off nicely with a blade scraper? So why not so easy when on the car? I tried this from the inside where i could get to but no luck?

While my mock up chassis is not an issue for paint my red car is more vital to me so if there is any advice please let me know if you have done this before.

Thanks Bobby
 
Ive cut 100s of windows out. Music wire is the way to go on the Eclipse back window. A nice reciprocating action while being careful to maintain the proper angle. I have a few pneumatic tools I like for certain situations as well. As far as the exterior rubber trim that goes around the glass, I like to get under those with a pick to get it started out, once ive got it pulled out enough to get a good grip on it, I throw some gloves on and rip that trim out all the way around. It should NOT be held in by the urethane at all............. unless the window was previously cut out and reinstalled by someone sloppy. Be careful as you pull this trim out, as you found, it has metal inside which can slice your hands....the rubber also can turn into something blade like so watch out......gloves!! Once thats out of the way go to town with the music wire.

Now the rear rubber trim is discontinued from Mitsubishi. It will most likely be destroyed as you do this. It is nearly impossible to reuse, if its condition would even make you think it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with installing the glass with out the rubber trim. In fact, now that Ive installed a few without it, I prefer the look.

The 2g DSM rear glass is one of the easiest to deal with pieces of glass you will ever find. Its wide open all the way around with no nonsense to deal with.

Here is an example of what I use to cut out 1/4 glass. Not this exact unit, I prefer Chicago Pneumatic, but you get the idea: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...DnD_3QtHUuEE0hvHnVJb59QHVqlHrRRBoCdjsQAvD_BwE

You really dont need any more than what you said you have for the job your doing though.
 
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Ive cut 100s of windows out. Music wire is the way to go on the Eclipse back window. A nice reciprocating action while being careful to maintain the proper angle. I have a few pneumatic tools I like for certain situations as well. As far as the exterior rubber trim that goes around the glass, I like to get under those with a pick to get it started out, once ive got it pulled out enough to get a good grip on it, I throw some gloves on and rip that trim out all the way around. It should NOT be held in by the urethane at all............. unless the window was previously cut out and reinstalled by someone sloppy. Be careful as you pull this trim out, as you found, it has metal inside which can slice your hands....the rubber also can turn into something blade like so watch out......gloves!! Once thats out of the way go to town with the music wire.

Now the rear rubber trim is discontinued from Mitsubishi. It will most likely be destroyed as you do this. It is nearly impossible to reuse, if its condition would even make you think it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with installing the glass with out the rubber trim. In fact, now that Ive installed a few without it, I prefer the look.

The 2g DSM rear glass is one of the easiest to deal with pieces of glass you will ever find. Its wide open all the way around with no nonsense to deal with.

Here is an example of what I use to cut out 1/4 glass. Not this exact unit, I prefer Chicago Pneumatic, but you get the idea: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...DnD_3QtHUuEE0hvHnVJb59QHVqlHrRRBoCdjsQAvD_BwE

You really dont need any more than what you said you have for the job your doing though.
Thanks for the reply dude, i really like the tool you linked to and i may pick one up. I assume you used this on the i side of the trunk as getting that on the outside would be hard to do.

I did use an air saw for a few bits to get my holes started easier for the wire. Now i dont know if its music wire but its on a roll with the kit and its stainless but over heats and snaps and i guess its due to the metal or plastic so i went slow and it lasted longer,

Im not wanting to save the trim because im doing this for my polycarbanate window to go in its place and thats going to be a few mm bigger to cover up the gap anyway so if its ruined thats not a problem.

Thanks once again for your input. When i come to take it out of my red one i shall certainly try getting the trim out first and not cutting it as this will safe me alot of time and broken blades and wire even
 
@EVLGSX i been reading today and saw that oscillating hand tools work well and you can buy actual window tips for the job, so they are only about £100 so i may grab one and see what it does. The guys on youtube made it look super easy and took but a few minutes to do! Interesting so many ways once i look into it alot more
 
Bobby- music wire is the way to go on this for sure. the wire should never snap though. Whatever you are using is not the correct stuff if its doing that. Any autobody supply house can get you the wire you need for this. A small roll will likely last you a lifetime.

New tools are always fun to acquire though, so grab one up. Just to get an idea, Its similar in action to the electric "Multi Tool" that has become so popular over the last 10 years. Yes- this tool is to be used from the inside.

Another detail I will share with you about removing glass with pneumatic tools that have blades..........notice the parts of the glass that have the black coating on the inside? If you intend to re use the glass, do be very careful scratching that stuff off while cutting. If this coating is damaged, it will be unsightly from the outside. It can be touched up with black paint, sharpie marker, or whatever, but it never looks as nice. This will bother you if you are concerned with aesthetic details.
 
Bobby- music wire is the way to go on this for sure. the wire should never snap though. Whatever you are using is not the correct stuff if its doing that. Any autobody supply house can get you the wire you need for this. A small roll will likely last you a lifetime.

New tools are always fun to acquire though, so grab one up. Just to get an idea, Its similar in action to the electric "Multi Tool" that has become so popular over the last 10 years. Yes- this tool is to be used from the inside.

Another detail I will share with you about removing glass with pneumatic tools that have blades..........notice the parts of the glass that have the black coating on the inside? If you intend to re use the glass, do be very careful scratching that stuff off while cutting. If this coating is damaged, it will be unsightly from the outside. It can be touched up with black paint, sharpie marker, or whatever, but it never looks as nice. This will bother you if you are concerned with aesthetic details.
The wire used is the wire given for the window kit so it is correct for sure. Dont know differences but this is not wound or has any multi wire coils as its just 1 single strand about 0.8mm thick. I can grab some piano stuff anyway but im just using a kit thats for windows so i assumed it was correct but i guess not. Shall look into the other wire.

And ad for the black border im not worried about that as i said before its being replaced eith a poly window
 
That kits wire just makes it easier to get through. Just be careful of angle you pull on as it is easy to dig into the trim. perhaps tape it as a precaution so you do not damage anything.
 
That kits wire just makes it easier to get through. Just be careful of angle you pull on as it is easy to dig into the trim. perhaps tape it as a precaution so you do not damage anything.
Arh screw the trim LOL i cut it all up on this chassis anyway but i will try to remove the trim prior to removal on my proper chassis when i do that one.

Im going to remove all my trim pieces since not only are they discontinued anyway i much orefer the look of a trimless car myself.

I have been looking at so many ways to do it and its hard to stick with one option so i think buying a mukti tool some piano wire and 3 strand wound wire will do the trick! Lets hope so anyway that these 3 combined will do the job much easier this time around
 
Arh screw the trim LOL i cut it all up on this chassis anyway but i will try to remove the trim prior to removal on my proper chassis when i do that one.

Im going to remove all my trim pieces since not only are they discontinued anyway i much orefer the look of a trimless car myself.

I have been looking at so many ways to do it and its hard to stick with one option so i think buying a mukti tool some piano wire and 3 strand wound wire will do the trick! Lets hope so anyway that these 3 combined will do the job much easier this time around


Harbor Freight has the kit its like 15$
 
Harbor Freight has the kit its like 15$
That would be great if i was in the US but shipping something here wont be cheap. I will hopefuly find everything i need here and what i dont i will try make it or ebay it LOL
 
I should be ok (i hope) with the bits i got and i was gonna grab the piano wire and oscillating tool. So with all that i hope its easier this time around but if i do get stuck i will get back to you
 
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