r/fbody 7d ago

Hatch Glass Not Flush

Hello, I’m sure this has been asked before, but I have a 94 Z28, and the hatch glass is no longer sitting flush with the body. You can see the light coming in when the trunk is closed. Recently the trunk wouldn’t close at all out of nowhere, but that issue seemed to resolve itself on its own once I greased up the latch and striker. I replaced the rear hatch struts a few months ago, could these need adjusted, or do I need to adjust the hatch glass itself?

9 Upvotes

24 comments sorted by

4

u/dudeman14 7d ago

Glass is coming off. Can be repaired but do it before the glass decides to yeet into someone

2

u/MS-06FS 7d ago

Mine does that theres rust under the hatch glass. Pop the panel off and check.

1

u/xyejl 7d ago

The hatch is made of SMC i believe. What ever it is made of is Not steel (won't rust).

2

u/MS-06FS 7d ago

Underneath it theres a thing panel of steel that hold the glass down and its can rust. I took it to a glass shops to reseal the glass and they showed me.

1

u/xyejl 7d ago

Interesting. Yeah, I wonder if it lifted because of that.

2

u/MS-06FS 7d ago

Mine was and it leaks water real bad we put adhesive on it but it still leaks

0

u/82Byrd 7d ago

It don’t rust. Have owned many rbodys

2

u/xyejl 7d ago

OP. Have you ran a garden hose or glass of water over it? To see if it separated and leaks water?

2

u/bpiclyde 7d ago

I poured some water on it the other day when I noticed it and no water came in. It’s rained a lot here in TN lately and no water gets in either. I feel like if I sprayed it with a hose at the car wash it could get in though. I’ve not tried yet

2

u/bpiclyde 7d ago edited 7d ago

The glass doesn’t move or budge any though if I push on it anywhere. Even from the inside. It’s like it’s jammed on something. Like the other person said maybe the glass is loose

2

u/Successful-Effort310 7d ago

The glass needs to be glued down again. You should take care of that before it decides to give out on the freeway at 80. I redid mine about 7 years ago and it was a hassle finding a shop that would do it. 

3

u/bpiclyde 7d ago

“Go to an auto glass place and buy a tube of urethane. Then go to Home Depot and buy the tool that the tube goes into.....it's like a big glue gun.

Then pop your hatch and take all the interior pieces off. Then take that tube of urethane and just run a new bead all the way around the glass.....or in whatever area you want to re-glue. I would try to get a couple sand bags, heavy ones like 40-50 pounds. Immediately after you put the urethane bead around the glass and body. Shut the hatch and lay the sand bags onto the back glass over night.

When you shut the hatch make sure one of the car door windows in down or a door is open so the air doesn't push out where the new urethane is. Then roll the windows up and let it dry overnight.”

I found this on some old forums, does this sound about right? I’ve never done something this caliber before. I know the old adhesive would probably need to be stripped first

3

u/Successful-Effort310 7d ago

I read the same post years ago. That sounds like it would work. I decided that that I wanted new glue all around and found a guy that had a ton of experience with the hatches in 3rd and 4th gens. He completely removed the rear glass, cleaned out the old glue and put down a new bead. I bought my car new and I’m hoping that I don’t have to deal with this issue ever again. 

2

u/xyejl 7d ago

This sounds about right OP. Good luck man.

1

u/bpiclyde 7d ago

Thanks man!

1

u/I_Jedi79 1d ago

I did that when mine had a small leak, it worked

I pulled my spoiler and taped everything off first, cleaned with alcohol, then used black urethane

It's held fine, although if it leaks anywhere else I'll have a shop pull and reseal it

2

u/bpiclyde 1d ago

I think I’m going to go with a shop pulling it and resealing the whole thing. It’s held up for 32 years, it could probably use some fresh sealant all the way around

2

u/DarkLinkDs 1d ago edited 1d ago

Definitely talk to your local glass guys. Mine got so bad I could see daylight under it and I started to hear air on the highway. The paint had begun to bubble/Crack off the hatch and thats what was actually letting go, the sealant was holding tight. Lol

3

u/bpiclyde 1d ago

I found a guy around me that’s been in business for 20 or so years who said he’d take out the glass and reseal the whole thing for $175 plus tax. Think I’m gonna go with that lol

2

u/DarkLinkDs 1d ago

That is a very good deal. I think i had safe literally or someone resealed mine years ago. But it always helps when someone has been around the cars.

Weirdly enough my windshield had evidence of a similar issue with the paint lifting up as well. But I swapped it out because it was cracked iirc.

1

u/Puzzled_Estate6425 6d ago

Reajust it to line up the rite way.Shim it the rite way.

1

u/Traditional-Place101 1d ago

Does anyone in this sub know how to replace the weatherstripping or know of any good links?
Mine is cracking

2

u/DarkLinkDs 1d ago

I believe there are some write ups on ls1tech. Might even still have pictures

1

u/Traditional-Place101 1d ago

Bet goodlooks bro fr!