Like many of us (and many trucks in general) my driver's door glass had clouding and vertical streaks/lines, presumably from being rolled down in muddy, gritty or dirty conditions. I'm guessing there are ways to polish the glass but I didn't feel like that is in my wheelhouse (admittedly, I didn't really try to research it).

I did search for videos or info on the '04-08 LF door glass R&R, but wasn't able to find anything. Doesn't mean it's not out there, just means I might suck at the internet. I'm posting this here as it might help someone else.

I figured replacing the glass couldn't be too difficult (I've replaced door glass on other vehicles) and given the cost of aftermarket at around $60 it seemed worth a shot. I ordered from seller autoglass99 on ebay (no affiliation) and the glass was packaged extremely well. I will say, I found the aftermarket (MIC) glass to be 5/32" thick (they were likely shooting for 4mm since 4mm and 5/32" are pretty much exactly the same) while OEM was 3/16".

I barely got the old glass out, fighting the curvature and wondering if I was gonna break it. I then did a dry run trying to put the old glass back in before I screwed up the new piece, and was not having any success. I finally figured out you gotta remove all the regulator bolts and then you can kinda tip the tracks toward the front of the door. This then allows plenty of room to drop the new glass into place. It's not a terrible idea to have a helper because you need to feed the glass in from "outside" but you need to be looking and feeling "inside" to get the glass outboard of the latch and lock cables and linkages. I did it alone with minimal problems, though.

My '07 XL is manual windows so I also had to remove the bolts at the window crank and shove the splines back into the door skin so the regulator tracks could tip forward. For power windows I imagine you'd have to remove the bolts that anchor the pw motor (guessing).

Now, the window is "pinched" in rubber by a metal clamp kinda thing. I did have to remove one of my clamps and bend it in a bench vise a bit more to get a bite on the new glass. I'm not sure if this was because the replacement glass is thinner, or if the clamp had been tweaked during another operation leading up to the install of the new glass (I'm kinda guessing the latter since the second clamp needed no attention to work properly).

Finally, once you get the new glass installed, roll it all the way up. Then look at the door skin and you'll find two slots that correspond with the 2 glass clamp bolts. Slit the plastic sheathing and use a torx bit (a socket won't fit even though the bolts are both hex externally and torx internally) to loosen and then re-tighten the glass in the regulator cradle. This aligns the glass (or it did for me) and it'll now travel up and down much more smoothly.

I didn't really take any pics during the whole thing, but if you tear into your door and read this at the same time it'll become clear enough. Something like this would have really helped me. I spent way too much time on this project but it's one of those learning curve things where the first time takes multiple hours and the second time would take an hour, including door panel R&R.

It's really a trip to be driving the truck and suddenly have crystal clear vision out the driver's window!

 

One more tip: some of the listings for this glass will throw you because they'll say '04-14. That is only for SuperCabs in '04-08.

If you have a regular cab or crew cab you need a listing for only '04-08 as the doors are shorter.

This bit me and I am now sitting on a new piece of glass that'll work for '04-08 SuperCabs or '09-14 anything/everything. Was only $40 on Amazon, though.....

 

Glad you got it in without breaking but you don't have to remove the regulator to remove/install the glass. I don't know of any vehicle that requires regulator removal to install the glass.
Its either one of two ways and I just cant remember which for this particular model. Getting it into the door is the only tricky part.
You either: from the exterior, install the front lower corner into the door first, making sure the glass in inside the side run channel, continue down into the door holding the glass at an angle(nose down). Once in the door deep enough make sure the rear corner is in the run channel as well,drop it a few inches more and you can rotate it into the correct position.
Or, remove the window run channel, then while standing outside the truck, the glass slides straight down inside the door.
once the glass is inside the door lower the glass as far as it will go, reinstall the run channel(if removed), roll window all the way up, then tighten two clamp bolts using the access holes in the body and you are done.
Again, sorry I do not remember exactly which method this truck uses.
Sorry this is after the fact but maybe it can help someone else or even you if there is a next time.

 

The regulator was never removed from the door, just anchor bolts removed and tracks tipped forward.

I tried every other configuration I was able to think of, nose in, tail in, angled, interior and exterior. This is where a video would be helpful and why I posted at all - seemingly the '04-08 has a vacuum of info here. Several YT videos on the bubble bodies.

I'm not a body guy so I'll take your word for it. If I have to do it again (hopefully not) I'll PM you and you can come to Colo and help??