This deals with a window with the stainless trim around it. Just took the window out and the old gasket fell into dozens of pieces as I expected. Now I have read that the trim is installed into the gasket before the gasket goes on to the window? The trim is in four pieces and I tend to think it isn't fully put on the seal before it goes on the window. Once those four pieces are locked in it would seem the seal would have very little stretch to make it over the window. Yes? No?

Will say one thing the PO must have injected some window sealer behind the gasket as it was a gooey mess to clean up. Once cleaned the lip and paint were spotless. Pic below with two from the doors after welding, striping and priming.

 

Step 1. place the cleaned windshield outside up on a couple of padded saw horses or similar support. Step 2. put the windshield rubber on the windshield. Step 3. install the trim into the windshield rubber bottom then sides then top. Step 4. push your windshield install cord into the mounting slot of the windshield rubber so the ends cross at the bottom center. Step 5. use some masking tape in 4-6 spots around the sides and top of windshield. Step 6. (a helper is nice here) place the windshield in its frame with the bottom seated and the top outside of the lip. Step 7. remove the tape. Step 8. pull each end of the install cord a little at a time so the rubber is pulled over the lip and seats as you pull the cord. You will need your helper to apply pressure from the outside. Work your way evenly around to the top.

 

Ok, that makes sense. Now here is another question where I have seen answers all over the place. Sealant. Some say none at all, some say between in the body channel and others say in the channel for the glass and the body.

I've discounted the one's about sealant in the window groove of the rubber since the whole thing sits outside the cab itself. However, the question of a bead of sealant in the body channel is open. I saw very little sealant other than a few spots of very sticky sealant above the drivers side. If Ford did use some then it must have been a very thin bead at best. I know wind and rain will never be an issue since the only car driven in bad weather is the Focus.

 

I use a little liquid dish soap just for lube, no sealants. Every one I've found leaking I found rust hloes or cracked hard rubber to be the cause.

 

the only reason to use urethane on either the windshield trough or where the seal mounts in the cab would be if you have a leak of some sort. If you do you can open the seal lightly and put some urethane in to stop the leak. if you use it make sure to use tape against the paint and peel it off after the urethane is installed as it is a sticky mess to remove. a properly installed windshield and good seal will not need it though!

 

Just don't uase silicone to hold it on the window. That is all I want to say about that.