Rust Windshield Fix Rivet Delete Tacoma Molding (1 Viewer)

[James Bentley]

Couple things I learned about the 100 series before I bought one - doesn't pass too many gas stations, heater t's, cup holders are garbage and the riveted molding on the windshield is shameful. I bought my 2000 and there appeared to be a bit of surface rust on the edge of the windshield frame, other than that it was an Orange County garage kept beauty.
I cracked the windshield, because Utah is a gravel truck nightmare, so I took it to the Mailman's Dealership in Draper where I bought my wife's Sienna because I heard they had a good body shop. The shop manager and the other manager (general?) both had 100 series and had some issues with their windshield frames. They showed me their trucks with the riveted molding delete and then used a Tacoma molding on the roof. It looked sweet and appeared to be the fix I wanted. When they removed the windshield it was a junk show.
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They said it looked way worse than it actually was and that they could build it up and treat the inside to help prevent further issues.
Well, I gotta say, I was happy with the results.
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My invoice doesn't have the part number for the Tacoma molding, but you can see from the photo's with out the glass, that it looks freaking factory! IMHO.... The glass sits up tight on the repainted frame. The dealer had a guy that replaces windshields on these and knows what he is doing. The glass was not cheap, but at this point I was Just Emptying Every Pocket (former owner) and figured "go for it!" The very next rock chip I got, I had fixed the same day. I figure Ill be hyper vigilant about these, try to make this glass last as long as possible. The windshield guy said most glass shops don't give a $#!^ and damage the frame during removal which leads to this. Plus Toyota put freaking holes in the dang thing!!!
Hope this helps, this forum has been helpful to me, so ask me questions if I forgot some juicy details.

I'm sure many of us would like to know about this "JEEP" experience and COST...what did it run you? For all that work?...please and thank you.

 

[wasatch back]

The previous windshield installer I used didn't use factory rivets/holes but instead drilled new wholes. To fix this, should I go to a windshield installation specialist or body shop?

Not sure I’m qualified to advise you. I used both. Crazy thing is you don’t know what’s going on under there until you take off the windshield, and then you’ve committed. I like filling holes. It was a bit of a risk but my windshield was hammered so I jumped. Water was deep!! Every rust damaged frame is going to be unique. Good luck!

 

[ClassyJalopy]

Take it to the body shop. They will have their own glass guys that they work with. If there is any sign of rust anywhere, it would be almost necessary to pull the glass and it will be much easier if the body shop coordinates it.
Typically it costs the same whether you have your own glass guy or use the one the body shop recommends.

 

[wasatch back]

I'm sure many of us would like to know about this "JEEP" experience and COST...what did it run you? For all that work?...please and thank you.

The shop manager was very up front about it - no way to know what's lurking under there until we rip off the glass, and then we're committed. Could be a $500 job, could go over $2K. And that's BEFORE the glass. So I had just sold my beloved YJ, which I had brought back from the dead, but had made some money selling it, so I was willing to dump a bunch of it to make this headache go away. This LC was now my top off road vehicle. I was committed b/c the problem was only going to get worse with time. The invoice was for 1551 and change before the glass, and admittedly, that was a good deal. Did you see the before pics? Like I told NewbieLX470 - every windshield frame is going to rot differently and pose its own unique challenges to fix it. Take my story for what its worth. I think I got lucky. I hope you do too!