I'm going to be painting my Jeep as soon as weather is permitting. I will be removing all of the glass and trim to paint it the right way, but I can't afford all new seals right now. How can I remove the rear quarter glass, the black trim around my windows, and my wing windows without ruining the seals? Every car I've painted in the past I've just cut the seals out and replaced them, but money is tight right now and most of my window seals are still in good shape.

 

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Thanks for that really useful post. Answered all of my questions.

 

The rear hatch and rear quarter glass simply pushes out.

 

Without cutting the seals? After they've been on there for 15 years? I really don't think they will come out that easy. First try unsticking the seals all around with a screw driver... I just seriously doubt you'll get em out without cutting. Yes they may push out but they have to be secured tight enough not to fall out with bumps or if something is pushed against them.

 

I knew the hatch did, but wasn't sure about the quarter glass. Some seals are two part seals... I'd rather not screw one of them up. Would you happen to know about the trim around the door windows? I've been playing around with that for the six years I've owned my Xj and can't figure out what's holding it in there. I can lift one corner about a quarter inch, then it stops and feels like it will break it I force it.

 

Brake the glass..and use plexiglass as a replacement..there's a write up here some where....but why not just mask over it? It'd be so much easier..

 

Just did my hatch and quater panel glass, rear hatch glass is easy, push out on top and pry lightliy on inside of top gasket with screwdriver and be ready to catch, don't forget to undo defrost grid connections. For the quater panel glass, get as many flattip screwdrivers as you can, like 12. Bottom rear corner put the screwdrivers under the gasket about 1 inch apart on both sides of the corner and pry out, extra hands help. Should be able to get it started out and work your screwdrivers around. Don't pry hard on any small spot.

 

Why go to all that trouble?

Tape the sucker off.

 

Just popped quarter glass out of a 85 and 92. I use a brake spoon (has a little wider blade and angled handle) Just push on glass and roll seal lip back, get it started and take your time. Comes right out. If you feel the need you could use a little dish soap to make things slippery. Took about 30 min. to pull all 3.
I always start at the top and let the seal and pinch seam support the bottom as I work my way around

 

pretty simple

 

Thanks for the replies guys. The reason I want to pull the glass is because I've done and seen enough paint jobs to know that it never looks 100% when you just tape over things. I'm doing a pretty drastic color change, so I really don't want any of this green shining through. I've looked into plexiglassing the quarter windows, but I have factory privacy glass that would be impossible to match (it's that mirrored crap) and it would look really dumb having the quarters clear and the rest tinted.

I'm very **** when it comes to building vehicles. If you've ever seen that mechanic who owns a garage and has an absolutely beautiful muscle car way in the back corner that has EVERY detail worked out, that's gonna be me in another 20 years.

 

Plexiglas scratches and eventually turns hazy or cloudy.

I'm sure you are aware of the risks of putting a big scratch in or knocking a big chip out of that shiny new paint when re-installing your glass.

 

X2 plexiglass isn't my 1st choice for a street driven ride.

 

When you do things right you won't mess the paint up reinstalling the glass, but thanks for your concern.