rear screen for Renault Clio - can it be done by a competent diyer?

Question

Apparantly the screen is bonded, can it be done without specialist equip?

Answer 1

Hii Windy,

Beleive it or not , some bonded glass is easy to fit, but due to trims etc on some its best to have it fitted by a windscreen company. You could cut down the costs by doing most of the prep work, which is to hoover all broken glass up, clearing any bonding material and or glass from trims, and if you feel safe enough, cut the bonding material with either a stanley knife or grind a flat knife so is square, flat and sharp, the stanley knife way is to stick the blade into the bonding material low enough and the point of the blade in far enough as to cut the material but not damage the paintwork. The knife way is to seperate a part of the material and run the knife along in the direction of the material, be careful not to scratch the bodywork. If you don't fancy this part leave it to the fitter, it will only take him about a minute.
I was a windscren fitter myself but have been out of it now since 1989 hence I am not sure of the trim on the Clio, it will either be plastic or metal trim.

If you were fitting it yourself you would need a sealant gun, u only want a cheap skeleton gun, you need a tube of urothaine with a plastic nozzle, primers and activators, roll of masking tape to hold down any trim that pops up untill the bonding material sets.

You have to leave a window open slightly incase u forget and close the door quick the screen will pop slightly causing it to leak. Being honest, instead of me going through the rest, it would be best for u to do all prep work, leave the material on the tailgate and the fitter will do that. In this weather bonded glass has to be fitted in a heated place otherwise if you have it fitted outside or in cold damp place after the fitter tells you its best to take it to their place or a local garage otherwise he will void the guarantee as it will possibly leak or worse come loose or worse still, you'r driving one hot day u open a window for cool air, the car speeds up and the guy on the moped behind you gets a free clio rear screen. So after all the hassle it could cause you, after me writing all this.

Get it done professionally!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

not a chance you need the right tools and glue! ive seen diy'ists tryin it and most of them blow out when the windows open cause of the preassure on it. a windscreen place will fit it cheaply if you have a spare