windshield?

[Lumpyguy]

So after carefully storing my windshield for the last 8 months I brought it out to tape it in place and start the wipers. but I noticed it does not sit in the frame very well. at the top it touches ath the 2 top corners but has a 1" gap in the middle (see pic) and at the bottom it is sitting in the middle abut the 2 outer lower corners are sitting up about a 1/2 to 3/4 inch?

so about 15 mins after taping in place and I was fitting the wiper motor to figure out how to cut it and heard that distinct crack! and it cracked right on the bottom center where it was sitting, has anyone had this issue of bad fittment?

I am not sure there is some issues with the windshiel frame. I dont want to order another windshield and have it do the same thing.

I am going to contact FF about the frame, I know I am probably out of luck on the glass as I cant really prove I didnt break it, but the frame is what it is.

did anyone have any tricks to make the glass fit better?

Also what year MR2 is the windshield from?

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[STiPWRD]

I had a similar gap at the top of the windshield. It basically comes down to how you stored your frame. Since it is fiberglass, it will creep over time and take the shape of whatever forces are acting on it, whether it be bolted in place or resting under gravity in some orientation.

Before I had my windshield bonded into its frame, I noticed the bad gaps and let the glass rest on the frame supported at specific points for a few months. Eventually the gaps vanished and I had the glass bonded. I'm not sure if you used any clamps or if the tape was strong enough to crack the glass but it's the frame that needs to be conditioned (over time or possibly with some heat).

[Wayne Presley]

I believe it's the MR2 Spyder, all years of that body are the same.

[tmoretta]

Do you know if there is any steel within the plastic frame? It is not very stiff.

[flynntuna]

The only steel is the mounting brackets, it looks like the steel goes up about half way up the sides.

[Pearldrummer7]

2001 MR2 Spyder according to FFR. I got quoted $325 for replacement glass installed (I cracked mine)

[suttonb3]

That's interesting, mine also cracked and FF told me it was from a 2004 MR2 Spyder. Wayne's probably right, (as usual) and the year doesn't matter. What I can tell you is I used that information to call my local glass company and got new glass there. Factory Five was out of stock at the time. Glass alone was $145, installed was $280 and they had it in stock the next day.

[Lumpyguy]

Ok so I got a new replacement fram from factory five with the glass taped in place but I still has a sag along the top? it does not have the same curve as the glass. all the rest looks great. the last time it could have been the way I stored the glass and frame separtely but this time I left it together and even out of the box there is the sag in the middle?!? has anyone else had this issue?

I currenlty have a piece of wood pushing the center up to the same curve but I am not sure it will stay there. the center flexes up and down really easly and think the urethane will hold it up easy?

thanks

[RM1SepEx]

My original frame had a bad gap, FFR gave me a replacement when I brought mine down during a visit, it was brand new and still had a gap, just less. Glue and clamp, it went in fine. They didn't use a gasket on mine, I've seen some with a gasket and IMO it looks better with one.

[Lumpyguy]

Ok so I cut off the tape that factory five put on when the installed the windshield in the frame to ship it. and the top center is real low! I can push it up but this seems like it will put alot of stress on the glass when glued in place?!?

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[STiPWRD]

If you were to clamp the top of the frame to the glass, it would put a lot of stress on the glass, as you mentioned. You have to re-form the frame with a bit of time and possibly some heat. Let the frame rest horizontally with the windshield in place but not taped in and support the frame only at the middle (where the gap is). Let the sides of the frame hang down due to gravity. Over time, the gap at the top will decrease. Warmer temperatures will speed up the process.

[Lumpyguy]

I have the glass out and the frame in place and a 2X4 pushing the center out, if the glass. If it is glued in with the 2X4 holding the center up whlie it cures would should be fine.