How hard is it to swap out the glass on a K5? 87 if year matters.
CK5
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swapping out glass on K5 top
- Thread starter brans87
- Start date
Not really hard to do. Just a little time consuming if you've never done it.
When I did mine, I started by pushing from the inside out. Meaning, I was able to push the weatherstripping a little at a time from inside it top. Leaving the glass intact. I started at one of the top corners and slowly pushed the weatherstripping and working my way down the top edge until it felt like it was going to fall out on it's own. Once a large portion of the weatherstripping is out, you can remove the glass, then all that's left is the weatherstripping.
Putting it in is a bit different. Set the weatherstripping in first. Then take the glass and start at one of the bottom corners. Insert the glass into the weatherstripping all the way across the bottom. Use soapy water in the weatherstripping as you pull the lip out to surround the edge of the glass when going up the sides and across the top. It took me about 2 hours to do both sides. And I'm slow.
There are other techniques and I'm sure someone will chime in with theirs. If you have an extra set of hands it will go quicker and less chance of dropping the glass.
When I did mine, I started by pushing from the inside out. Meaning, I was able to push the weatherstripping a little at a time from inside it top. Leaving the glass intact. I started at one of the top corners and slowly pushed the weatherstripping and working my way down the top edge until it felt like it was going to fall out on it's own. Once a large portion of the weatherstripping is out, you can remove the glass, then all that's left is the weatherstripping.
Putting it in is a bit different. Set the weatherstripping in first. Then take the glass and start at one of the bottom corners. Insert the glass into the weatherstripping all the way across the bottom. Use soapy water in the weatherstripping as you pull the lip out to surround the edge of the glass when going up the sides and across the top. It took me about 2 hours to do both sides. And I'm slow.
There are other techniques and I'm sure someone will chime in with theirs. If you have an extra set of hands it will go quicker and less chance of dropping the glass.
rampage
3/4 ton status
I know for installing the windshield, if you put a cord or small rope around the inside of the rubber weatherstripping you can pull on the cord and it’ll pull the rubber lip out making installation much easier. Don’t know if you can do the same with the side windows but I don’t see why not.
Like this ...
Like this ...
Taking them out is easy. putting them back in is a little iffy. Use lots of soap and take your time.
The side windows and the windshield should have the gasket which have either a removable lock strip, or a section of the gasket which folds into and under the section next to the glass.
All if the ones that I have been around for years have been the lock strip style. You can tell this design by the metal cover piece which is usually at the bottom center. It goes where the ends of the lock strip meet. Pull the lock strip out carefully so that you don't tear it. Then I run around the edges to make sure that the glass isn't stuck to the outer flange of the gasket. Then start pushing the glass out , starting in one of the upper corners. Work the top out carefully and it will fold out of the gasket.
On these trucks, you always leave the gasket in the truck during removal, and put it in place before the glass. The older trucks, '72 and back, were the rope in style.
I was taught to clean the gaskets with penetrating oil to help soften the rubber. Same for the lock strip.
The side windows should be slide into the front and bottom of the gasket at the beginning of installation, work the front upper corner in some, you won't be able to get it all the way in, just be careful. Then work the back in and across the top.
I use foaming glass cleaner for lubrication. I also have one of the nylon tools to pull the rubber out over the glass, or the slider frame.
Reapply glass cleaner as needed, it will help, and the clean-up is easy.
All if the ones that I have been around for years have been the lock strip style. You can tell this design by the metal cover piece which is usually at the bottom center. It goes where the ends of the lock strip meet. Pull the lock strip out carefully so that you don't tear it. Then I run around the edges to make sure that the glass isn't stuck to the outer flange of the gasket. Then start pushing the glass out , starting in one of the upper corners. Work the top out carefully and it will fold out of the gasket.
On these trucks, you always leave the gasket in the truck during removal, and put it in place before the glass. The older trucks, '72 and back, were the rope in style.
I was taught to clean the gaskets with penetrating oil to help soften the rubber. Same for the lock strip.
The side windows should be slide into the front and bottom of the gasket at the beginning of installation, work the front upper corner in some, you won't be able to get it all the way in, just be careful. Then work the back in and across the top.
I use foaming glass cleaner for lubrication. I also have one of the nylon tools to pull the rubber out over the glass, or the slider frame.
Reapply glass cleaner as needed, it will help, and the clean-up is easy.
I forgot to say that the tool for reinstalling the lock strip saves a lot of time.
