Removing power window regulators

[tylervalo]

Anyone have a walk though? I'm trying to convert my power doors to manual, i have the manual regulators but can't find any instructions on removing the old power regulators.

[bigd65]

Just unbolt them and pull them out. I did the same thing on my 87, I guess I'm not sure what your having a problem with

[natedogg]

Did this on my 85 about an hour ago and had never done it before. It was easy. First unplug the wires from the motor down in the bottom of the door, then unbolt the four bolts holding the regulator, next slide the wheels out the top and bottom track. Hold the regulator in the same position that it is bolted to the door. Slide it over and out the hole. Its that easy. Hope this helps.

[Gregs71]

I roll the window down about 3-4 inches. I place tape on one side of the glass, over the top of the door frame and down the other side of the glass. This will keep it from falling into the door when you remove the regulator. Remove the nuts / bolts that hold the regulator in place. Sometimes I have to unplug the regulator before I attempt to remove regulator / motor. Other times I can get it 80 % out before I have to unplug it. You'll just have to mess with it to see what is easier for you. After the nuts are removed, maneuver the regulator so the wheels come out of the tracks. One side will come out the back of the tracks and the other side will come out of a notch about half way across the track. After getting it out of the track you just have to maneuver it out of the 8" hole +/-. It will come out you just have to twist and work it out.

After its out, I place it in a vice and lock it down. Because, once you remove the motor the regulator will move. By locking it in a bench vise it will retain its exact position from the old motor, to when you put on the new motor. Then its just a matter of squeezing it back in the hole, placing the wheels in the track and lining the bolts back up with the holes.

While the regulator is out, I clean the wheels and re-lubricate them with teflon spray. I also soke down the tracks. I use the teflon spray because I hope it wont attract the dirt as much as grease or an oil??

[tylervalo]

I was asking because my haynes manual seems to indicate if you don't drill a hole though some part of the regulator and insert a self tapping screw something will cut your finger off.

[Gregs71]

Not sure at what point the manual tells you to tap it but I could see it being before you remove the old motor. The motor acts like a lock holding it in place. When you remove the motor, I could see the regulator collapsing. That is why I put it in the vice, so it won't move when I take off the old motor.

[Gregs71]

This is what I followed the first time I did it.

http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/interior/winmotor.htm

[tucsonjwt]

Instead of a self tapping screw, use a short 1/4" bolt and nut - more secure. The spring is under a lot of tension, so it will snap back when you remove the motor if you do not have the regulator secured.

[LONGHAIR]

The original post indicates that you are just removing the power regulators to re-install the manual type. In that case none of this talk about removing the motor from the regulator itself matters....you don't need to do that.
Just remove them and set them aside.

Although no one has asked, why would you want to do this? Seems opposite of what I would think? (Swapping to power, not away from it)

[Malo83]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

The original post indicates that you are just removing the power regulators to re-install the manual type. In that case none of this talk about removing the motor from the regulator itself matters....you don't need to do that.
Just remove them and set them aside.

Although no one has asked, why would you want to do this? Seems opposite of what I would think? (Swapping to power, not away from it)

The motor and regulator have to come out as a unit, there is no way you can remove the regulator off the motor while it is still mounted on the door, and if you did ,good luck trying to get the new regulator mounted on the motor in the door, the following pics show my new motor and regulator mounted in the door, very very tight view is looking forward in the drivers door.

[tylervalo]

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

The original post indicates that you are just removing the power regulators to re-install the manual type. In that case none of this talk about removing the motor from the regulator itself matters....you don't need to do that.
Just remove them and set them aside.

Although no one has asked, why would you want to do this? Seems opposite of what I would think? (Swapping to power, not away from it)

Just for simplicity sake. No wiring to run between the cab and door, no expensive motor to wear out or break, etc. Since I won't DD my truck I don't think it's that big a deal to have to reach over to roll the PS window up.

Am I correct in assuming there won't be any issues using the lock as manual, even with the power stuff still attached?

[Malo83]

No issues

[motornut]

I went manual in my 88,undid the 4 nuts pushed the bolts into the door,
dropped the glass abit replaced with manual,pulled out the motor/wires.
I'd undo the rubber lock couplier,don't want the electrics seizeing up on you
swapped the 89 glass to the 78 ...same way,but left the motors/wires in the door