How to Replace Fixed Rear Glass in a Ford Expedition

The rear fixed windows in the Ford Expedition are held in place with several bolts and some particularly strong adhesive, all buried underneath the Expedition’s interior trim. Replacing these windows might be a job best left for a body shop or auto glass company, but in the event you need to tackle this one yourself, be prepared for a day or two of work on the Expedition. It is best to perform this inside, so the interior will not be exposed to the elements should you need to stop working once the old glass is out.

Things You'll Need

  • Box knife
  • Socket set
  • Helper
  • Adhesive scraper
  • Auto glass adhesive
  • Replacement glass
  • Remove the trim panels surrounding the glass carefully. You can get your fingers underneath the trim at the ceiling and pull out and away from the Expedition’s body to pop it loose. The trim is held in place with a series of plastic tabs on the back side that seat into the body. If you feel the trim begin to flex unnaturally or see any loss of color while pulling, let go and try another angle. The plastic will turn white just before it breaks.

  • Take the box knife and cut along the joint where the adhesive contacts the existing window glass. Use extreme caution here, as the razor blade in the box knife can break easily or the knife may suddenly move in the direction you are applying pressure, resulting in injury. Depending on the window size, this can take up to several hours to complete.

  • Cut the adhesive away from the bolts holding the window in place.

  • Use the socket set to remove the retaining nuts. Have a helper hold the glass during nut removal so the glass does not move before you are ready.

  • Pull the old glass carefully out of the way and set it aside.

  • Scrape away any leftover adhesive remaining on the Expedition’s body where the old glass was mounted.

  • Lay the old glass down on a clean, soft surface with the inside portion of the glass facing down.

  • Run a ¼-inch wide bead of auto glass adhesive all the way around the edge of the replacement glass, allowing it to cure per the instructions on the adhesive’s container.

  • Have a helper aid you in lifting the glass up and moving it into position. Press it firmly in place and reinstall the retaining nuts with the socket set.

  • Reinstall the trim in reverse of how it was removed.

  • Refer to the auto glass adhesive’s specific instructions regarding curing time before operating the vehicle. If the vehicle is sitting in a warm area, leave the door windows cracked open to prevent heat buildup inside the Expedition before the adhesive is properly dried.