• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Windows, windshield, and back glass restoration

rrTor-Red

FBBO Gold Member
FBBO Gold Member
Local time
11:05 AM
Joined
Sep 1, 2010
Messages
2,313
Reaction score
858
Location
USA
Hey guys, a couple of questions for any and or all.

I've decided to re-use ALL my glass just because I've heard that the replacement glass isn't as good as the factory and is in good shape but have a couple of questions.

1. What to use to remove the butyl "tar like" substance from the front and rear glass.

2. What did anyone do to polish and take out marks on side glass.

Looking to spruce them all up. Thanks!
 
The replacement glass is made differently to meet current Dot codes. It actually is better. If year old glass will never look like new. The laminate inside the glass is oxidized and will always look dingy.
 
3m.JPG
 
If the scratches are light and don't catch a fingernail cerinium oxide paste and a felt pad will polish them out
 
Hey guys, a couple of questions for any and or all.

I've decided to re-use ALL my glass just because I've heard that the replacement glass isn't as good as the factory and is in good shape but have a couple of questions.

1. What to use to remove the butyl "tar like" substance from the front and rear glass.

2. What did anyone do to polish and take out marks on side glass.

Looking to spruce them all up. Thanks!
I am with you, I kept all the original glass for my car, except the windshield, it was cracked. My driver and passenger side glass had some scratches, and believe it or not, I used some 1K to 2k grit wet sand paper followed by a heavy rubbing compound then a polish, and it certainly improved the overall look and took about 90% of the not so deep scratches out. Unfortunately I didn't take before an after.

Newer glass may be better, but its not made the same, as I have seen several restored cars with new glass, and the side glass is noticeably wavy. Same thing with new windshields, even for modern cars, they are wavy.

The 3M adhesive remover works ok, unless you have big globs of stuff, then just scrape with a razor blade, then use the remover. You can also use brake clean, that works also, but only if the glass is still out of the car as it can remove paint as well!
 
Thanks idrivemopar. The comments about "new" glass being wavy is what I've heard and was told by more than one glass companies and a vendor. Also, those companies said that their glass isn't as thick as the original. My side glass is just needing a good polish and there's no cracks on the front windshield nor the back glass. All of the glass is out of my car. My game plan was to use a razor blade to trim off the thick "tar like" butyl sealer off and go over it with some sort of substance that will make the rest come off easy, then use some kind of polish for the side glass like you stated.
 
I wet sanded with soap and started at 1k grit and moved up till I hit 3k. The polish with a buffer....keep the buffer moving. All the glass came out perfect, had to replace the windshield cause it was cracked trying to install it myself.
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top