Broken window in 2003 convertable top
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Louisville KY
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Broken window in 2003 convertable top
We are getting stories that the whole top needs to be replaced to the rear glass is sewn in. Anyone know how this is done.
Looks like to me it is glued in.
Looks like to me it is glued in.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 2
From: Tampa FL
Had the same problem. Tried to fix it myself. Bad move. Took it to a vette garage who had fixed this particular problem many, many times without replacing the top. He had a special rig suspended from his garage ceiling that had two big suction cups on the end. He affixed the suction cups to the glass and moved the glass into the opening on the top. Then he put a fine bead of adhesive around the whole thing and tighted the glass up against the fabric. The rig held until the adhesive could dry.
He charged me $150. Worth every freaking dime. Held up for about five months now, including Florida's rainy season. Also, that rear defogger still works and he did such a clean job, there is no residue from the adhesive.
The key is to find something to press the glass against the fabric until the adhesive can set.
He charged me $150. Worth every freaking dime. Held up for about five months now, including Florida's rainy season. Also, that rear defogger still works and he did such a clean job, there is no residue from the adhesive.
The key is to find something to press the glass against the fabric until the adhesive can set.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,014
Likes: 5
From: Rockwall TX
Not sure, mine is glued in. I just went around the window and fixed all of the loose , ungluded areas. There is a thread on here on how to re-glue them. Mine is a 99 so unless something changed? The suction cups you can buy a lot of places (inexpensive), and the glue as well. Probably an easy DIY job. But $150 is not bad if you don't want to do it yourself. Probably cost you $50 bucks to do it yourself (suction cups and glue).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 6,420
Likes: 5
From: "This is not a psychotic episode, but a cleansing moment of clarity."
Rhino Glue is what you want to re-secure the glass. I had one side start to pull away from the fabric two years ago, used a beat of Rhino Glue, rolled up some bubble wrap to put pressure on the glass from inside the car and it's held up perfectly after repeated washings. Don't use ANYTHING else. Rhino Glue is what you need. It comes with some fine applicator tips so you don't make a mess of things.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 898
Likes: 25
From: Dallas, TX
Has your glas disbonded from the top or is it broken?
If it's broken, your getting a new top, most likely. not sure you can order the glass alone. Otherwise, they have been glued in many times, just search the forum and you'll find all of the info with pics.
If it's broken, your getting a new top, most likely. not sure you can order the glass alone. Otherwise, they have been glued in many times, just search the forum and you'll find all of the info with pics.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,361
Likes: 51
From: Dallas Texas
St. Jude Donor '08
Rhino Glue is what you want to re-secure the glass. I had one side start to pull away from the fabric two years ago, used a beat of Rhino Glue, rolled up some bubble wrap to put pressure on the glass from inside the car and it's held up perfectly after repeated washings. Don't use ANYTHING else. Rhino Glue is what you need. It comes with some fine applicator tips so you don't make a mess of things.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 17,769
Likes: 3,698
From: The Sunshine State
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2021 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2020 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C5 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
2018 C5 of Year Finalist
I've seen some upscale aftermarket convertible top manufacturers catering to the Porsche and Ferrari crowds offer sewn in glass window tops. Not sure how they do that unless the connecting seam is somehow molded into the glass.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,063
Likes: 104
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
being told it's sewed in is being given a line of crap. run, do not walk away from letting that person do work on your car. the window is definitely glued in place, and as mentioned in one of the previous posts there are instructions and pictures of the rig needed to fix it yourself. if i remember correctly it is exactly as described in the post by the member who paid 150 to have it done. a couple of heavy duty suction cups and some rope and hooks in the garage ceiling to pull the glass up snug to the top to allow it to set up properly. i would think the total investment in parts and glue couldn't be much more than $20 if that.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
From: Louisville KY
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
This window is broken (shattered). Looking at gmpartsdirect it looks like the glass is not available by itself and a new top is required.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 898
Likes: 25
From: Dallas, TX
If you end up replacing, check this thread for some product info...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...placement.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...placement.html