Safari Facts

REMOVAL OF REAR CURVED GLASS

 

By Dennis Vaughan

Reprinted from the December 1978 Safari News

 

Removal of the curved quarter glass can begin by removing all the interior chrome and painted garnish moldings surrounding the sliding and rear curved glass areas.  All retaining clips for both pieces of glass will then be exposed.  It is necessary to remove the sliding glass prior to the removal of the curved glass.  If your Safari has the original felt channel, it will be held in place by built-in clips in the channel.  With a wide flat bladed tool, such as a stiff scraper, carefully pry downward on the upper felt channel to pop the clips loose.  There should be enough play up and down in the sliding glass opening to allow this to be done.  Then tilt the top of the sliding glass toward the interior of the car (with the felt channel still on it) until it is free enough to lift out of the bottom channel.  Store the glass in a safe place, then proceed to pop off the lower curved felt channel in the same manner as the upper.

Unless it has rusted away, you should find a support for the sliding glass towards the rear. It is approximately 9 inches long with a rubber support in the middle.  Take out the two screws and remove the support.  All clips and screws holding the curved glass should now be removed.  They will be located at the top and the bottom of the glass. After these clips and screws are removed, all that remains holding the glass in place is the caulking and age.

Now take your thumb and with care begin working the glass loose by pushing inward on the outer edges next to the rubber molding.  I put my thumb half on the glass and half on the rubber molding starting at the front bottom until I see slight movement of the glass.  Work your way back using your thumb and palm, being careful not to put too much pressure in any one are.  Soon the caulking should begin to give way.

Never at any time should you use any metal instrument such as a screwdriver or knife to pry with, as I broke the first (and only) curved quarter glass I tried this on.  Use your bare hands only.  You can wiggle the glass more safely and lightly by hand than you can pry with a metal tool.

After the glass is loose, it must be carefully worked in and forward at the same time until it can be removed towards the car interior.  Keep in mind that the rubber molding is being removed together with the glass as a unit.  To reinstall, the process is basically the reverse with the exception of applying new caulking in all areas of contact between the rubber molding and the body before hand. There may be minor differences on your Safari that preclude using the above procedure.  So if anyone runs into a snag don't hesitate to call or write me; I will assist you in any way I can.