Windshield gasket

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Mar 22, 2021 | 03:23 PM

longpark

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Windshield gasket

I have a 79 bronco that was leaking water around the windshield. I have had a shop replace the gasket three times and all three don't fit right. Corners not square or won't lay flat to the body, rubber not wide enough to cover the pinch weld on the body etc. Have used gaskets from Steele, Dennis Carpenter and a generic. Has anyone run into this or know of a gasket that will fit like the OEM?

Mar 22, 2021 | 04:02 PM

440 sixpack

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The only one I've found that fits at all is the Precision brand. the others we threw away.

Mar 22, 2021 | 06:01 PM

dwirth

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Precision for me as well. Others were too loose around glass

Mar 22, 2021 | 07:15 PM

VitaminC

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From: USA

I had a pro install the $35 one from Bronco Graveyard (don't know who makes it.)
https://shop.broncograveyard.com/197...uctinfo/26016/

The installer actually complained that it was a bit too tight for his taste...still sealed up nicely though, and he got the metal trim back into place. FWIW

Mar 23, 2021 | 01:25 AM

black & blue 78/9

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Joined: Mar 2016

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From: Cheyenne, Wy

I get my gaskets at the jy. Look for a truck that has a cracked windscreen. Look at the condition of the seal, obviously no cracks in the rubber, but is older. Look at a number of different ones and you will start to see good usable gaskets compared to bad ones. I have had descent luck with this.

Mar 23, 2021 | 01:51 PM

nutter3

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Joined: Jan 2014

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From: Kenai

The guy at the local glass shop here claims that there is NO WAY to ever have these old vehicles with rubber gaskets seal up completely. He says they all leak, and I told him BS. After he replaced my last windshield, I went out and saw water pouring in after a rain storm. Definitely not happy.
I got some flowable silicone window sealer (permatex # 81730), squirted it in around the leaking side and it seems to have fixed it.

I'll have to find another glass shop next time.

Mar 23, 2021 | 02:07 PM

meangreen92

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Quote:

Originally Posted by VitaminC

Must've been an older guy, if he's knowledgeable about these 'grommet-style' seals.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nutter3

X2 on the sealant!!

But one I used was more like roofing tar than silicone. It was a 3M product recommended for these rubber seals, and O'Reillys had to get it sent/transferred from 100 miles away.

I'm guessing that the OEM seals were a perfect enough fit in 1976 or whenever, that the assembly plants probably didn't use any sealant. But I'll bet that it was a staple on the replacement glass man's work bench, up until sometime in the last 15 - 20 years.

I reused my grommet seal when I swapped cabs, and ended up needing sealant. I'm also guessing that these seals were supposed to be a one-time-use deal.