How does one fix the pinch weld if it is the problem? Mine only leaked one time, when it was raining. I left it out in the rain after that time and washed it also and no leaks.

Also when driving the windshield seems to make noise when driving at higher speeds 45+ Does this mean the windshield needs replacing to be installed right?

 

The pinch weld area holds water and rusts where the windshield is "glued" (actually attached with urethane). Windshield had to come out. Some of these older vehicles are so bad, that the windshield almost falls out. Harbor Freight sells a windshield removal tool. A long-handled utility knife can help cut the bottom and corners.

Once out, a wire wheel attached to a drill will quickly remove most of the rust. Take all the rust off...down to bare metal. Use a good primer to reseal the metal. At the glass shop, we had small cans (an ounce or two) of primer made specifically for this. A local shop should sell you a can of that and you can apply it with a small brush or swab.

Re-install a new windshield and you're done. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, let a glass shop do it. If you feel froggy, most glass shops will sell you a windshield fairly cheap. On our trucks, suppliers charge around $75 wholesale (last time I checked). I would think the project would cost around $125 or less, if you do all the work yourself. Add $75 or so if you want a glass shop to put the new one in.

If the rust is really bad, it will need some new metal welded in. I've only seen a few that were that far gone, though.

Edit: Forgot to add that the wiper arms, windshield trim, and cowl have to be removed to remove and replace windshield.

 

Sweet, Thanks!! I cannot imagine the seam is rusty, the rest of the truck does not have a spec of rust. I am just tired of the noise coming from the windshield.

 

Dude that removed/installed my windshield didn't remove the cowl.

 

Some vehicles, you don't have to. Never really looked at the truck and it's been a few years since I've done one. That makes it a little easier, anyway!

Our trucks are prone to rust in the windshield area...as are many older vehicles. If the windshield has been replaced at some point (very rare for a windshield to go 10 yrs or so without getting damaged), then rust is more likely to occur. Cutting out a windshield almost always scratches the paint off, and if not re-primed/painted, it will rust that much faster.

I've literally pushed windshields out by hand because whoever replaced it didn't prep it properly.

 

So do you think that the noise coming from my windshield can be solved with a new windshield? I know right before I bought it, the guy put a new windshield in. The noise only is heard when driving fast (wind hitting the windshield).

 

Just loud air noise? If so, it's usually a result of something loose. If everything looks tight (trim, cowl, etc) there's a possibility the urethane was set in a little to far...normally on the sides or bottom. You can put masking tape along the suspected area and drive it to see if it goes away. If it does, you can buy a tube of urethane from a glass shop and fill-in the gap around the edge of the glass. You will need to be remove some trim, but the windshield can stay in.

If it appears that the windshield slid down during installation, creating a gap at the top, you very well may need to remove it to fix. Same situation if the installer set the glass too far to one side. I think Ford used plastic clips or rubber blocks to hold the glass up during assembly. Sometimes, these clips are broken or blocks lost during removal of the glass. Not a big deal, but they do help hold the glass up tight to the top pinch weld while the urethane sets up. Regardless if blocks/clips are used, windshield replacement involves using tape on the roof area to hold the glass up while the urethane dries. It's not a foolproof method, though...and I've seen windshields slip down...causing a gap at the top.

Hope this helps!

Oh, and it won't hurt anything if you put some extra urethane around the edge of the glass. No need to go crazy with it (very hard to clean off if you get it all over the paint) but as long as the trim covers it, you should be good. My old company paid $7-8 for a tube of urethane, I think...just to give you an idea. It's a must for sealing windshields. We were also always told not to use silicone. Not sure why.

 

I have also heard not to use silicone, and I also am not sure why.

 

So is it better to put the urethane on from the interior of the truck or from the exterior. I will check trim pieces and the cowl and make sure they are all tightened down. Does the trim just snap into place around the windshield?

 

Outside unless you like rust and want to speed up the rusting process. You need a trim removal tool to unsnap the trim.