Rear Qtr Window

[br3ndan]

Hi Guys,

I have taken both of my rear qtr windows out due to a bit of rust on one side. However I have run into a little bit of a problem. The side with the rust I just used a dremel to take out all the sticky black sealant they use to stick on the window because I will repaint this side anyway so if I accidently take off any paint it wont matter... But on the otherside there is no rust at all and the paint is 100% perfect so I dont wish to use the dremel to take out the black sealant as it will stratch the paint. I would prefer to take off the black sealant and leave the paint intact so the window can just go straight back in.

Is there any solution that you guys know of which will take off the black sealant without damaging the paint? Wax and Grease remover doesnt work and thinners (which I experimented on the window with the rust) will take off the paint. The only option I can see personally is using a blade but that leaves some risk of slipping and stratching the body work which is not good if I wish to get a good seal again on the window.

And before you guys ask, yes I am using a professional spray gun and have my own personal spray booth no 2 dollar spray cans here. =P

Any help would be of great help guys!

Cheers.

[nuclear_skyline]

Hmmmm... Having been here before a couple of times I can put in a few thoughts...

Firstly - heat is your friend. You'd be suprised how much a hot air gun (or your Miss's hair dryer) will loosen up mastic or other window/body sealant.

Secondly - and be careful with this - get your wax and grease remover and use it when the mastic/sealant is hot and runny... wipe to your hearts content.

[75coupe]

I found WD40 will take off black sticky sikaflex...it seems to dissolve it somehow...

I dont know if that will help at on window sealant though...

[Tave-33]

I hav just gone through this process taken all my windows out, since i was respraying i just got a grinder with a wire wheel on it and it just tore off really easy...

If your careful enough u should b able use a grinder and keep any marks behind where the window sits, and if ur worried bout it rusting again u could just mask up all the good paint around the window and paint the part underneath it so u shouldnt c a thing. I know it would b a pain to paint just a little bit like that but i couldnt work out any other way to easily remove that stuff, it just sticks soooo well

I did hav a go at cutting off the sealant but as u said u would b very likely to scratch some of ur paint...

[br3ndan]

Thanks for the reply guys!

I will give the gun a go first... if that fails to work I will just grind it off and repaint i guess...

I will let you know how I go.

[PhilKenSebben]

I know it's probably a little late, but what model are we talking here? Most of these guys are talking about removing mastic or butyl sealer, when in fact you are likely dealing with urethane. I know my r33 is urethane.

If you can't just peel it off by hand, it's urethane. And you will have to cut it off, of wire wheel it off. But all models of skyline have encapsulated quarter windows, so just mask it off, dry fit the windows to make sure you won't be putting paint anywhere that won't be covered by the window seal, and spray anywhere the paint is damaged. No blending required, as you won't see the edge anyway. Done. Oh but use a fresh stanley blade if you cut it so you don't slip and put a scratch where it will be visible, and you'll be fine.

Do not try to heat gun it. The paint will bubble long before the urethane will melt, trust me.