Looking to reseal the windshield on 96 F250. Is the stainless trim difficult to remove and install without damaging it? Does anyone have pictures of where the retainers are located so I dont dent or distort any? Thank you guys.

 

Not shure bout the location of clips, but go out and by yourself a trim tool. Just take your time, and use small gentle prying motions to keep the trim from bending, you should be ok.

 

I always thought it was aluminum, but you have me second guessing myself. Going outside to check right now.

On edit: Yeah, it's definitely aluminum. So it's going to bend pretty easily no matter how careful you are... might look pretty bad afterwards.

 

ive already had mine off once to reseal the windshield, came off ok with no bending, its gonna come off again this weekend cause its leaking after a year again.

 

Not hard to remove at all. You can make do with a flat head screwdriver but a 1" scraper will work better and decrease the chance of chipping the paint. Start at the bottom corner and work up the side prying from between the trim and the a-pillar. You dont need to go in too far with your prying tool, 1/8-3/16" keeping pressure on the inside of the trim with your free hand so it doesnt twist too much. Take your time and once you get the first piece off you will understand how it works.

Scott

 

As stated above, you can get by using screwdriver/stiff putty knife, but it is easier to use one of the trim removal tools as linked below; they hook onto the trim retaining clip and release the spring tab which releases the trim. The trick is figuring out 1) where the clips are (slide the tool sideways until it stops) and then 2) getting the tang of the tool underneath the center part of the clip to slightly open it up.

This picture (linked below) shows the two most commonly-available types of the removal tools. I have the arrowhead-shaped one on the right and it works OK; I have never tried the other one:

Redirect Notice

I also like to slide a piece of heavy paper on top of the glass to keep the tool from scratching the glass.

 

Just took mind off, along with the cowling that covers the windshield wiper mechanism.

I used a flat head screwdriver with duct tape covering the part that contacted the body metal. Took about 15 minutes and I was in no hurry. Just go slow and pry lightly from the body side of the trim. Use your fingers on the windshield side to keep constant light pressure and prevent bending. Pillars first then the top and bottom.

After removal I cleaned the area with an acid brush, then my air compressor @ 90 PSI, remover the hardware and used carb cleaner on a rag to get any residual oils off the area.

I found the area I believe is leaking. I'm not exactly sure what I'll use to seal it but I'll ask a buddy that does windshields and see what he recommends. If all else fails it will be 50 year clear silicone adhesive sealer.

I'll post the pics below so the next person has an ides of what their looking at. If nothing else might give you an ides of where to pry.


Pillar clip location, same both sides.


Top passenger side


Top drivers side


Bottom. same procedure to remove but different clips. Lightly pried from body side straight up until I could get my finger tip under the trim then lifted by hand.


Only tool I used for the trim except my fingers.


My leak area, I believe. I will seal entire windshield though.

 

Be VERY careful poking around with a screwdriver............ That's a good way to scratch the glass or bent the aluminum trim!!!

The tool you need looks like this..

KD Tools KDT2038

 

i bought a truck with out the trim - now i have the trim but don't know how to install the clips to put it on - any pictures of how to install the clips would help

 

If you look at the pics that SNAFU_Bill posted, you will see the clips. the trim just pushes on to the clips. pretty straight forward

 

Refer to the last picture above which shows the RH lower corner of the windshield. See the tiny 'T'-post that is welded to the inside of the channel (top-center in the picture)? That's what the trim retaining clip snaps onto. Easy-peasy.

 

OK - you got my confidence up - now i just have to order the clips - Ford doesn't sell them any more - so i guess LMC is the place to get them unless someone has a better place
Thanks - doesn't look to hard

 

You can get them at most body shop supply stores too, but the kicker is there are several very similar-looking types so it's best if you have an old one for reference (could probably find one on a parts truck or at a junkyard).

 

went to a couple body shops - no one had any idea where to get them except LMC - but one person sugested "clipsand fasteners" so i searched their site and camp up with one that looks exactly like the one i have so i ordered a box. got 50 for 15.91 including shipping. LMC wanted 1.95 each plus shipping. the W-E site needed the OEM part number to see if they had a match. Two Ford dealer couldn't come up witht he OEM number. I'll let you know what i get.
if anyone has the OEM number for those clips please post it. it would probably have to come from and old parts manual which the ford dealers say they no longer have.