Dart Sport windshield removal

OK,
I’m going to tell you how I do these windshields. Sort of unorthodox but works for me.

Number one: If you have never worked with windshields be very very careful about twisting them going in or out. They take abuse well but if your twist them much, all of a sudden you may see a great big crack.

He has told you about those dammed clips. I make tools out of putty knives. But unless you have seen how the clips hold the trim you won’t quite get it and I can’t draw a picture on the computer. Basically I notch them to points on either edge.

I also have a number of putty knives dulled and rounded smooth. Once I get the windshield lose from the rubber I “shoe horn it out”. Working around as I go. (You really need three or four hands but I manage with elbows.) This is that twisting I warned you about.

Chrysler put something like plumbers putty between the rubber and the body. It is junk.
It shrinks up over the years. I clean all that out and use black polyurethane sealant from Home Depot. This “glues” the gasket in and I can take the windshield back out later with out disturbing the gasket. It works.. Trust me.

And speaking of putting the glass back in, that old rubber gasket will be too small IF you leave it lying around for a few days.
But there is a fix and you won’t have to buy a new one.
The day before you are going to reinstall it, tie it between two post or trees with a come-a-long and some tension on it. Stretch it a little. Then when you put it in the car it will be big enough.

One more thing. The last one I did I took a high speed with a sanding disk and chamfered the glass edge. That way it was sort of “rounded”. It made it easier to shoehorn it back in the rubber grove. Also it made the edge more resistant to chipping as the metal putty knives were used.

I have done them like this and it makes the next time a lot easer. Plus guaranteed not to leak.