Window regulator refurbish
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Window regulator refurbish
So my passenger side window is really slow to go up and down thinking its the motor which is relatively cheap but the I was thinking I should replace the regulator too. Wow, that's expensive so the question is: should I pull my regulator and clean and lube it? If so is this difficult, it appears to be riveted in can I screw it back do I have to rivet it
Thanks
Thanks
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
Fatcat, in case you didn't get my txt, it should be fine if you just pull the regulator out and scrub the daylights out of it you can loosen it up nicely. Over time the factory grease just hardens and gums up the works and it needs to be cleaned out of there. I scrubbed mine with mineral spirits and wire brushes and Scotch Brite, and both windows roll up and down at least as good as new now.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Fatcat, in case you didn't get my txt, it should be fine if you just pull the regulator out and scrub the daylights out of it you can loosen it up nicely. Over time the factory grease just hardens and gums up the works and it needs to be cleaned out of there. I scrubbed mine with mineral spirits and wire brushes and Scotch Brite, and both windows roll up and down at least as good as new now.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,323
Likes: 142
From: Green Valley Arizona
Just wondering:...as long as you have the regulator out, should you replaced all the rollers? There are rebuild kits available that have all the rollers and guides included.
Just a thought since you will have most of the door apart anyways.
Oh and Harbor Freight sells a cheap rivet gun that does 1/4" rivets....the size to use on the regulators....just for your information.
Just a thought since you will have most of the door apart anyways.
Oh and Harbor Freight sells a cheap rivet gun that does 1/4" rivets....the size to use on the regulators....just for your information.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Just wondering:...as long as you have the regulator out, should you replaced all the rollers? There are rebuild kits available that have all the rollers and guides included.
Just a thought since you will have most of the door apart anyways.
Oh and Harbor Freight sells a cheap rivet gun that does 1/4" rivets....the size to use on the regulators....just for your information.
Just a thought since you will have most of the door apart anyways.
Oh and Harbor Freight sells a cheap rivet gun that does 1/4" rivets....the size to use on the regulators....just for your information.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,417
Likes: 1,554
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
You should take everything apart and see what you really need.
A good cleaning of the tracks will help a lot, my old grease was all dried up the caused the windows to go slow.
There is a roller kit for both the window and the regulator, in my case I needed only one roller for the glass and one for the regulator.
The regulator pivot can ware out and and if so you need a new regulator.
You can replace the rivets or use 1/4 X 20 by 1/2" bolts and nuts.
A good cleaning of the tracks will help a lot, my old grease was all dried up the caused the windows to go slow.
There is a roller kit for both the window and the regulator, in my case I needed only one roller for the glass and one for the regulator.
The regulator pivot can ware out and and if so you need a new regulator.
You can replace the rivets or use 1/4 X 20 by 1/2" bolts and nuts.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
The old lithium grease dries out, and gets hard, and instead of helping the window go up and down, it becomes an obstruction to it.
Take out the windows, pull the guides - including the horizontal one, and check to see how much dried out grease is in them. Clean it out, and put in some fresh grease. I think you will be amazed at how much better it works.
Last edited by Mashman; Jul 3, 2013 at 04:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
The old lithium grease dries out, and gets hard, and instead of helping the window go up and down, it becomes an obstruction to it.
Take out the windows, pull the guides - including the horizontal one, and check to see how much dried out grease is in them. Clean it out, and put in some fresh grease. I think you will be amazed at how much better it works.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,023
Likes: 6
From: Austin Tx
This is what I use, it should be good for another 15-20 years.
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...393_0361070605
http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Ca...393_0361070605
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,428
Likes: 5
From: Japan
I suppose it's safe to assume that you got it all buttoned back up already since you took momma to the drive-in last night, eh?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
When I bought the car back in '95, one early on mod was to add power windows....and so with all the crap apart and new regulator going in, the track assy's got soaked in a pan of gasoline over night, and I never put any more grease on them since, works like a charm.....had to replace the spring on the driver's side, I recommend you paint the springs to forstall rust.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,487
Likes: 83
From: Titusville Florida
Hey FC, I know I should probably do mine too, how big of a job/pain in the *** was it to get the regulator and guides out?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Sayreville NJ
ME TOO. how hard was replacing it?? So far Ive been too lazy and would just manually assist the window by pulling it up with my hand. I know the doors on these were a B***ch to work with
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Not too bad really..
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
I really think the hardest part of the whole door is getting the lock prawel (sp) in.