Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Do windhield mouldings keep the windshield from "falling out" ?

Cd · 05-06-2023, 04:36 PM

My 30 year old widshield mouldings are dry rotted and coming off on their own.
I went ahead and pulled them off, and plan to buy replacements.
In the mean time, I wanted to ask their purpose.
Looking online, it makes it sound as if you risk major damage to the car if you remove them.
I then see all of this advice comes from sources that want you to buy their window mouldings.
What has me wondering, is that i notice most modern vehicles have the windshield flush with the roofline, and there is no moulding.
The edges still have the moulding, but quite a few cars lack the piece that is at the edge of the roofline.

I like that clean look.

I pulled the ones on my door too. The ones that are supposed to fit snugly to the glass along the sill ( where you would rest your arm if you had the window open. )
I know these keep rain from entering the door, but I have to wonder - Since these are dry rotted, where has that water been going for the last few years that there has not been a good seal ?

The mouldings on my roof were also removed. ( heavy dry rot )
What is their purpose ?
I'm guessing just to hide the welds where the quarter panels meet the roofline.

05-06-2023, 04:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cd Ultimate Fail Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Austin,Texas Posts: 3,585 Thanks: 2,872 Thanked 1,121 Times in 679 Posts	Do windhield mouldings keep the windshield from "falling out" ? My 30 year old widshield mouldings are dry rotted and coming off on their own. I went ahead and pulled them off, and plan to buy replacements. In the mean time, I wanted to ask their purpose. Looking online, it makes it sound as if you risk major damage to the car if you remove them. I then see all of this advice comes from sources that want you to buy their window mouldings. What has me wondering, is that i notice most modern vehicles have the windshield flush with the roofline, and there is no moulding. The edges still have the moulding, but quite a few cars lack the piece that is at the edge of the roofline. I like that clean look. I pulled the ones on my door too. The ones that are supposed to fit snugly to the glass along the sill ( where you would rest your arm if you had the window open. ) I know these keep rain from entering the door, but I have to wonder - Since these are dry rotted, where has that water been going for the last few years that there has not been a good seal ? The mouldings on my roof were also removed. ( heavy dry rot ) What is their purpose ? I'm guessing just to hide the welds where the quarter panels meet the roofline.