Here is a link to removing the trims. I had a small leak above the passenger side and was able to remove the trims per the video with no problem. I did order the new plastic clips to reinstall the trims, very simple process. All windshields are glued in the same only the outer trims are different between pre-97. The rubber gasket trim on post 96 style can be used on the older xj's with no problems.

 

Checking my notes we're both right.
AMC set up production in China and Venezuela when it owned Jeep
ChyCo set it up in Argentina, Egypt and Indonesia
When they did.

 

Thinking back, as I recall, the windscreen guy I hired said the moldings are "generic" which makes sense with urethane on lip seals

( I already had my ebay NOS set on hand)

over here in Oz, most windscreen fitters are "mobile"

I pay a guy $100 cash to do a screen in my driveway, he is a 30yr veteran, and a mate of mine who owns a body shop gets him to do all his screens, which says it all

Make sure they are really experienced, a good one solves all problems, they would have done Jeep XJs and know about moldings etc

 

Thank you - will watch that video again. And again. And if I can find the parts and a competent glass shop, will ask them to watch it...
OR, I wonder what it would cost to get Mr awg's glassman to come do it?!?

 

To be clear the video shows the removal of the metal trims, it is straight forward and as easy as the video shows (I was very leery myself and watched it many times, not wanting to ruin my trim). The metal molding itself is only available through a donor vehicle (no after market support I could find), the clips are available through Amazon =
The moldings come off very easily per video and can be cleaned or painted to your liking, or as I said before you could just use the post 96 rubber molding when the windshield is installed (it needs to be installed with the glass, it can't be added after as the metal trim can) I choose to keep my metal trim as I wanted to stay stock to the vehicle and the trim was in pristine shape. I will advise that when I removed my factory trim I found 4 metal retainer clips one on each corner of the horizontal upper and lower trim, I did reuse them as the kit comes 4 short of enough clips to fill each stud that they connect to. As far as finding good glass best of luck, but remember that the glass is the same from 1987-2001 the only difference being that in 1997 it changed to rubber gasket (that will work 1987-1996).

 

I'm sure my '96 just has a robber seal, so that's something else to look at at the weekend. So, either that one, at least, isn't original - or my memory's playing tricks. If it's the latter, will give some thought to removing the trims & putting them on the '98 - 'cos I'm tired of keep having to stretch the rubber seal over the top left corner & pressing it back into place along the top.

 

Unless you live in ****ville USA, I cant imagine they dont have mobile windscreen fitters, although they have depots, they do most work in the field, cant bring a train into the workshop

Ring them up and pump them for info, if they now all about Cherokees, good, if not move on

Its actually a very technical process with modern structural bonded glass, the best guys are real experts, my guy, known as "Bulldog" is such a dude, I had him do a lip on screen job with a non-original seal on my old Jag, and I could never have got it done on my own, he was straining his massive biceps, sweating, cursing, even bleeding to get the thing in. They use about $30 in materials, so 100 is a bargain

someone on the Jag forum flew another member (an expert mechanic) Interstate, put him up in a motel for the weekend, and he did a lower timing chain, was well pleased with the outcome

However return airfare from OZ would be a couple of grand

 

Hmmm... my mouldings arent really metal; theyre more plastic. Thats what worries me...

 

Well, I pretty much do live in that place, but lack of shops or mobile fitters isnt the issue - the issue is finding someone that will take the time and care needed and that knows what this Jeep is... much less how much it means to me. The glass part isnt a problem save for finding a good piece; even the installation can be managed as I am not afraid to be a pain and stand there and point out that the channel needs to be dressed/cleaned up etc. Just worried about the mouldings. The easi[er] thing to do is use the 97-up rubber seal, but from what Ive read, its a bit of a crapshoot whether you will get a good one. Flying your guy in is looking better and better after spending a goodly portion of the day today looking for help...

 

The guy who fitted my screen'd possibly never seen another XJ, never mind worked on one - but that's not his area of expertise, which is replacing broken glass in motor vehicles (trains & plains are for someone else, I'd imagine). Can't blame him for the not-so-good rubber seal (in reality, just a surround), he could only fit what was supplied.

Must admit, it'd never occurred to me there was anything special about an XJ screen, or the seal, but you may well know more than I, so I was just pleased to find a company that, I believe, had one in stock, or certainly were able to get one in 24 hrs.

 

Well, I don't reckon there's really that much "special" about the glass, other than in my case, I don't want chicom crap and do want it to have the 'correct' "blackout" around it. The mouldings are the other thing...
I know, I'm probably overthinking this, but I really do have an inordinate affection for this vehicle and am really, really picky about it... Tho you wouldn't know it now; dirty and absolutely COVERED in dog hair inside. [with dog slobber trailing down the sides...] I just want it right, and Im gonna hold my breath and stomp my feet until I get what I want! And yes, I would like a little cheese with that w[h]ine...

Appreciate all the good comments; keep your eyes open for those mouldings! The search goes on from this end...

 

Turns out all my XJ.s have glass with a Pentastar & Safeguard, but no country of origin, where I'd expect to find the manufacturer's name so seems I was wrong & it is a Chrysler product, although I still think it would've been made for them..Odd that the '96 appears to have the original screen, given the later rubber seal, but there are several explanations for that & it's pointless speculating.

Now to the more interesting matter of my recent replacement screen, it's made by Pilkington's although, again, no place of manufacture, so no fears it's anything other than a quality product..

 

I am pretty sure Pilkingtons is the go to supplier world wide including USA, so the OP should contact them direct in my opinion

I am on another forum for much rarer and older cars than XJs and USA owners fit Pilkington screens

Having done a few screens myself, and watched pros, I am almost sure I could cut out the old screen with guitar strings, after relieving the seals with a razor knife, prepare a bead of sealant, insert the new glass and reglue the seals with rubber glue or iscocyanite.

It will be necessary to use tape to stop the glass sliding down, in lieu of correct equipment

I have done screens on my own, but it really wants 2, unless you have done them before

 

We're talking windscreens/windshields here, right? Not prescription eyewear.

I'm thinking getting on the phone and making some calls would be beneficial to resolving this issue.

 

Went back to the beginning & it seems OP's calls started, & finished, with a main dealer. Must admit that wouldn't be my staring point for anything but especially not for glass because I don't think main dealers fit their own, I imagine they call one of the major screen companies - same as the rest of us.

Here, of course it's a bit different because you have to go to your insurance company's favourite - or pay a lot more, possibly the whole cost.