I've been putting off gluing the window metal back down onto my fastback driver door glass for too long. It's finally annoying me enough to ask if there's either a special glue for it or perhaps one that works better than others. It's metal, but there's some kind of black strip between the glass and metal, too.

Also, is there some kind of proper procedure other than 1) Get glue. 2) Gloop up the pieces. 3) Stick them together. 4) Roll the window all the way up to hold everything in place.?

 

The stuff you want is called everseal. I'd bet you could get some from the local auto glass business. It comes in different thicknesses (did i just make up a word?) so you might get a couple different strips while your at it. Clean the rust out of the track, tape the everseal to the bottom of the glass in 3 spots. Apply good ol engine oil to the everseal (this causes it to expand locking the track to the glass; may sounds nuts but its how to do it). Turn the glass on its top (i would put some cardboard or carpet under the glass) and use a rubber mallet to tap the track to the glass. It should fit tightly enough that u can't easily pull the track back off with your hands, but it wont really get tight untill the oil has soaked in. Put in back on the track and leave it rolled up for a day or two.

If any doubt about where exactly the track fits onto the glass (must be just right or will bind rolling up and down) do a dry test fit inside the door and use a black marker to mark where both ends of the track meet the glass.

You could use urethane to glue it in the track, but if you ever need to get it off again, you will have a heck of a time.

Hope this helps.

 

What about using plain old clear silicone?

 

Wow! Awesome info, Smothers. While that totally helps a friend of mine, I'm actually having trouble with that shiny metal trim piece on top, not where the glass mounts to the track slider. No one I know seems to know what to do about it because they've never seen it come loose before. The piece screws into the metal track slider, but then I'm assuming it's supposed to be glued up and over the top of the glass. Or if it's not supposed to be glued, do I pull the whole thing off and re-bend the arc (fastback glass is round unlike coupe and convertible square) at the back and hope it pushes itself down?

I kinda figured this'd be a strange thread, hence my procrastination on fixing it in the first place.

 

But would that hold it even though the metal is trying to pull upward?

 

It should,We use it in Florida to seal and attach frameless glass in houses.(kinda looks like half an octogon of glasswith no metal tracks)It is hurricane rated at like 140mph winds. I know once it is cured you won't be able to get it loose easily, we have to use a chemical release agent to get it apart. As far as the pulling up ,you would want to duct tape it in place till it is cured.

 

Is that the same stuff you get at the auto parts store next to the RTV Blue, etc.?

I've just never used any kind of silicone for anything other than gasket sealing, so please forgive my ignorance/inexperience.

 

Nope,this is alot stronger than that,you will have to get it at a window store or Lowes, Home Depot,ect. It is a very un-traditional thing to car ppl,but I really think it could work. One thing you have to make 100% sure of is that both surfaces are clean. Use acetone or thinner to clean and put a tooth on both surfaces. If not,it will def not hold.

 

Hmmm... Thanks. I'll have to give it a try, then.

I never cease to be amazed how a seemingly small problem can require such a difficult solution. In order to get the metal all the way off, I'll have to tilt the glass on the track because the last screw is below the opening on the door and I can't get a good enough bite with my 90degree screw driver. Or better yet, I guess I can just uninstall the whole window. I'm of half a mind to just leave it as is for another couple years! Only my fastback has troubles like this... The vert is always an easy fix in 30 minutes or less, but the fastback...more like 30 days sometimes!

 

Well,when you do decide to do,good luck! BTW,you have one nice collection of cars!