Replacing window channels 1989 V3500

[01chevduramax]

All the window channels, felts, liners, guides, whatever you call them... they are all rotted out on my truck. I bought a full set of spare doors with all good parts. Is there a magic trick to replacing these without removing the glass? I got 1 set removed but I don't see a way to get the replacements back in. If I have to remove all the glass I will. Just hoping for an easier way.

[blindbug]

The window channel that goes all the way around the window (basically an upside down U if you will) can be installed without removing the window. I did it on my 1986 recently. The trickiest part of the whole thing is just getting the old dry rotted guide completely removed from the metal track. From there, roll the window down completely and install the top part of the guide into the door track, and roughly 75% of the remaining track down each side.

At this point, it's all down to getting the bottom part of the guide into the metal track. I did this by using LOTS of lubricant (windex) on the metal track and sliding as much of the guide between the window and track as possible. One side will be easier because the window will move just enough to give you clearance to slide the opposing side down a lot. Once I got to the point where the guide would not slide well anymore, I rolled the window up 2-3" and then while pushing the guide down into the track, rolled the window back down. The added friction of rolling the window down would push the guide down the track a few inches at a time. While you might roll the window up 2-3" you might gain an inch in total that the guide goes down into the track.

Once I had both sides of my guide down into the track, I rolled the window completely up and then reached into the door frame and made any final adjustments to assure that my guide was properly seated.

With an 89' you might have power windows, which might both help and hurt you with this process.

All that being said, removing the window itself isn't THAT hard. I removed a window and the vent window in about 5-10 minutes the first time I did that process. The vent window is a little more of a chore, but once the window can come all the way up, you slide the window forward in the metal track to disengage the 'teeth' that hold the window in place.

Good luck!

[obijuan]

Precision made a how to video you can find. Window glass removal is not required.

[01chevduramax]

Thanks guys. I'll look for the precision video. Hopefully the strategy of slowly working it down pans out. I guess worst case scenario is pull all the glass. I did it a few years ago. It was quite the pain in the ass for me. But as I'm finding out with this truck, everything fights me!

[RWJJR]

Originally Posted by 01chevduramax

Thanks guys. I'll look for the precision video. Hopefully the strategy of slowly working it down pans out. I guess worst case scenario is pull all the glass. I did it a few years ago. It was quite the pain in the ass for me. But as I'm finding out with this truck, everything fights me!

Ive done several and never pulled the glass, just use a lot of wd 40

[cochino12]

Yep, wd40 worked great. Just did my crew cab, the rear windows were less fun than the front but not bad at all.

[blindbug]

I might recommend getting the Silicon lubricant instead of the straight WD-40. Silicon spray is, in my opinion at least, a better lubricant for use on rubber. But WD-40 works as well (as does Windex or some other glass cleaner, in my experience).

[TKCR]

Soapy water in a spray bottle works great too

[obijuan]

Precision reccomends glass cleaner and not wd40. Non petroleum based products. They are not good for rubber.