Windscreen Seal

[TJ 450]

I tried to fit a Febi front windscreen seal to the 6.9 today. However, the seal appears to be way oversize. I just don't know how anyone can get such a seal to fit.

Needless to say, it was a waste of time and I will arrange to have a professional windscreen fitter install a good seal next week.

Now I'll just have to go and clean up the mess and cover over the hole with a tarp... yet another typical TJ adventure a la steering box adjustment on the 450, and so forth.

It's all fun and games (until someone gets hurt),

PS. I'll upload some pics shortly.

Tim

[Squiggle Dog]

I guess this disproves my theory that Febi makes the OEM seals. Maybe it's Lemforder? Whatever brand that is that uses the diamond with the wings on it.

[TJ 450]

I think that symbol is Phoenix Rubber, but they would probably supply Lemforder etc.

Anyhow, it may be that the Febi seals fit, but it just seems way too big to me (too long). I can't imagine that any slack is necessary, as it will just cause it to bulge somewhere.

Pics:






I subsequently made a huge mess with the silicone caulk... it will take me a while to clean that up!

Tim

[Big_Richard]

congratulations on another fine effort, very convenient thing to be doing just after a natural disaster, the start of the wet season and there being a queue to see windscreen installers - who are currently inflating prices to take advantage of the situation. Yeah, they're certainly going to be interested in coming around to fit a seal

My front and rear windscreen seals came from autohouse, prior to them becoming a laughing stock in the automotive community by way of international postage. Cant remember what brand they were, but they were fitted by a professional and there are no bulges.

But as your aware, its not uncommon to have to pack the inner lip with windscreen silicone to stop water leaking around the edges of the glass, this is what i had to do too.

[s class]

I've not yet replaced W116 windscreen seals, but there are so many stories out there of misery caused by aftermarket seals, that I'm sure I'll use MB when the time comes. 

But yeah, goof that you had a go. 

Years ago I removed and refitted the screens in my '83 Ford when I painted it, and even as a first-timer, I had no problems getting everything back together.  Why is it that W116 screens have such a rap for being difficult to do?

[flutes]

S Class I used an after-market rear screen seal one from Autohaus with no problems with the fit - it did take two guys from a professional shop to install it though.  And they only slightly butchered the brightwork around the windscreen - was a better job than I expected.

[TJ 450]

I would describe the job as absolutely nightmarish, but I'm sure there is a technique that the pros have, which no doubt comes with experience.

I just ordered a genuine seal from the dealer, as I'm not going to take any chances with aftermarket, even though they are probably OK.

I'll be specifying that mastic be used all round when it's installed.. that's how the original one was fitted.

Tim

[s class]

Its my understanding that the mastic is used where the rubber meets the steel, but that there is no mastic between the glass and the seal.  Is this correct?

[TJ 450]

On the one that came off the car, the mastic was used in the glass channel as well. That makes sense to me, as it is going to allow some water past otherwise.

Tim

[s class]

Hmmm  sounds like its quite some feat to get everything into place before the mastic starts to stiffen up.  And hopefully one keeps the mastic where it belongs, not smeared all over everything else. 

[TJ 450]

All over everything else is what I've managed to achieve. I've removed about a third of it so far, so I'm making progress.

When it comes to fitment I'll quizz whoever does it on what is normally done.

Tim

[s class]

I hope you're cleaning up that rust behind where the rubber normally sits. 

[koan]

When the guy put mine in recently he put the seal on screen, the trim on the seal and then the assembly in the car. Black sealant was used on both joints but not huge amounts.

Looked an easy job...

koan

[TJ 450]

I hope you're cleaning up that rust behind where the rubber normally sits. 

Yep, that's been scraped back and treated. I just used black paint over primer to seal it off after converting the rust.

Koan, your probably right about it being an easy job... if you know what you're doing.

Tim

[WGB]

From what I have heard it is a notoriously difficult job on a 116 and not made easier by the fact that the non-factory seal is missing some of the depth necessary to hold the trim securely.

There was a thread in the M100 site and my memory of that was that they preferred to use an original seal as the only way out.

I will be interested to see how you go.

Bill