How To Properly Do Windshield Replacement For Your Car

Driving a car with a cracked windscreen is dangerous and may lead to road accidents. For this reason, car owners in Jacksonville FL are advised to carry out a windshield replacement as soon as it breaks. It does not matter whether you had done a replacement before, installing new windscreens is a way for you to get back to road.

The replacement glass for an automobile can be purchased new or be obtained from a yard owned by a wrecker in Jacksonville FL. If you decide to buy it from the latter, make sure that you check for cracks and chips with your own eyes before handing over any cash. To prevent any damages that may occur during its transportation, you should cushion the detached windshield using a duvet.

You are then supposed to carefully remove the plastic surround side and the molding covering. You should cautiously go about this step so as not pry the clips that are holding them on. These clips are important because they are specific to the type of car. They help you save a lot of time but in case you cannot afford them, you will need to glue the moldings onto the car manually.

Using cold knife, cut the urethane between the windscreen and pinch weld. The experience and tools used affects the time consumed during the replacement process. It should normally take between a quarter an hour to an hour. The urethane is the flexible but extremely strong film that prevents glass from breaking when it under stress while driving.

Before putting glass into place, make the pinch weld ready first. You should do this by brushing away the dirt and oil that may have smeared on it and then later wiping it using plain water. To effectively trim off the old urethane to the required height of three millimeters use a sharp razor blade. If there are still areas covered with dust, they should be primed.

Prepare the glass with a primer that is specifically matched to urethane adhesive. The role of the primer here is to open the molecules of the frit band, the black band surrounding the perimeter of the windshield. The pane is made to accept the particles of the urethane. After the glass is made ready, first attach the molding to it after which the urethane should be attached.

Using an electric caulking gun, apply the urethane to the glass. The electric gun ensure a consistent bead thereby avoiding leakages. It is good to know that the old urethane is the best thing that the new urethane will properly adhere to. This old urethane should be free from dirt, oil or other contaminants. You should ensure that the wind will not recontaminate the pinch weld before the adhesive urethane is applied.

You should then place the glass onto the car. If you are not using mounting block, avoid touching the frit band with your bare hands. It is due to the fact that oil and the filth from your hand will contaminate the glass that has been already been activated. Contamination reduces the efficiency of the urethane. To avoid this use latex hand covering.