How hard is it to replace window regulator?

[jrhone]

It looks simple lol. Im Wondering if it’s a simple job. Anyone have a guide? Can it be done without removing the window and all the other stuff in the door?

[ray_]

Yeah.

 

?

[Simeon]

It’s not a hard job but one that needs nimble fingers and a bit of patience. There is a recent thread on this that discusses the technique involved but I would summarise as follows:

 

1) Remove door card and any sealing cloth/ plastic. 

2) wind the glass about halfway up so that the regulator arm and the shaft that goes through the bracket at the bottom of the glass is visible in the door shell slot. 

3) Wedge the door glass in this position to stop it from falling during the next step. 

4) Undo the three bolts holding the regulator to the door shell. The regulator will be loose now and needs some wiggling to get free. Rotating the regulator handle more to ‘collapse’ the space it takes up may help. 

5) When the regulator is flapping free, you can then slide the shaft out of the ‘keyhole’ fitting at the bottom of the glass. 

 

Refitting is the reverse of removal. Get the shaft and washers properly installed before trying to swing the regulator into position. You shouldn’t have to adjust the window or change anything else. 

[jrhone]

Cool thats what i thought.  My regulator broke right on the long bar. Anyone ever see that?   Its snapped completely. My window crank is just free spinning.  Here is where it broke.  

[ray_]

I've never seen that bar break. Save the pieces. Mine always break near the spring.

 

Cheers,

[Mike Self]

Never seen one break there either, and I've messed with a bunch of 'em.

 

If you have access to a welder, you could probably weld a patch across the break and reuse it.  Wonder what caused the arm to break; the pot metal pin at the center of the concentric spring is a whole lot weaker than that arm...

 

mike

 

PS--it'll probably take you longer to remove the door upholstery and acella cloth than it does to R&R the regulator.  Not difficult, just fiddly.

[ray_]

And as Delia once said, to displace the door panel hold a 2 x 4 along the bottom edge and smack it with a hammer.

 

After unfastening it, of course.

 

Also bend the teeth on the pinch clips at the top so they don't grab, for next time.

 

Cheers,

[02Les]

2 hours ago, ray_ said:

And as Delia once said, to displace the door panel hold a 2 x 4 along the bottom edge and smack it with a hammer

And, remove all the plastic clips first, or have a bushel of replacements.

[jrhone]

Regulator replaced...easy job.  I got a refurbished on from Ireland...all nice and zinc plated.  While I was in there...I adjusted my door, window, and latch.