Cosmetic rubber interior windshield trim, How to install? Options

[drmitch]

Good morning,

I've purchased a replacement interior cosmetic rubber seal that goes along the bottom of the windshield. I'm told that it's a simple installation, not requiring the removal of the windshield or dash, and perhaps a thirty-minute project. THAT SAID...I'd love to get a step by step account of how to do it, rather than figure it out by trial and error. Tips on getting the old, cracked seal out? Tips on getting the new seal seated and centered?

SMC's site says "It is installed by cutting the ends so the seal is slightly longer and over-centering it." I have no idea what that means.

Any shared experience would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mitch

[drmitch]

OK, that wasn't so bad. Project is finished. It's not perfect, but I was looking for "better", not concourse, and it is definitely better.

The old rubber came out in hard chunks and crumbs. I used the pictured tool to pry it out. Once you all clarified that the metal backbone also came out, that was easy, once I got it started. Of course, more crumbs of hard rubber came out with that.

I covered the defroster vents with painters tape to keep pieces from dropping in there.

The new seal went in pretty smoothly. Will it stay, without the metal clip? We shall see.

The attached photos are meant to go from before to during to after. If you have any questions, let me know.