Rear glass removal and swap, need help

[Badbob]

Hey guys

I just bought a mint 99 rear hatch to replace my mangled 98 hatch. I need to strip it and paint it. I'm having a hard time removing the glass on the 99 (which will be forsale). it is in the up postion. The FSM doesn't help much. it says take off the weather stripping and remove the 6 bolts that hold it in place. I can't get the weather stripping molding off because the window is up.

Is there a way to manually lower the window?

Can I just remove the 6 bolts to slightly lower the window and then take the stripping off so the window will come out?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thx BB

 

[wc11]

I replaced the whole motor/x-arm assembly because it seized from rust and don't think you can remove the glass without removing all the whole assembly first.
License plate holder and all.

There's on utrack on each side of the glass but to unbolt them you need to lower the window down.
You can see it on the new right side arm.

 

[Badbob]

Thanks WC

Did your new assemble freely move up and down?

Does the glass come out through the main opening in the gate? Did both sides of the weather stripping have to come off to take out window?

The FSM gives me the impression that that the window must be lowered, perhaps half way, then all the weather stripping must come off, and then all 6 window mounting bolts come out, and finally the glass can be slid back up and out the main opening in the gate.

Anybody else have experience replacing the glass?

Can the glass be manually moved down? If so, how?

Thx BB

 

[Badbob]

Ok, since I really didn't get the help I was looking for I just tore into it myself.

I tried the 12v motor jump which moved the glass down a bit, but not enough. Apparently the glass was hitting the wiper motor.

so I too all 4 bolt of the gear swing assembly and then the 8 bolts holding the left and right track. That enables you to slide the glass down far enough to get the 6 bolts holding the glass to the track assembly.

Then remove the window seal. the glass has to be crooked at an angle to slide it up and out. Get a second set of hands to help.

Cheers.

Badbob