Will any mk1windsheild fit my 87 cabriolet?

[fredges]

I'd like to replace my windshield, as it's rather pitted and has at least five dings. Which models have compatible glass? I thought I saw a chart in here somewhere that listed all compatible parts, but I can't find it again. Thanks!

[CajunSpike]

You can still buy new, for not that much, a mk1 windshield that fits in with the rubber gasket.

The glass for the 90-93 has all but vanished...but even in that case, the rubber gasket and glass do fit.

[tolusina]

There are only two styles of windshields for all Rabbits and Cabriolets, the ones held in by a rubber gasket, and the glued in style. They are pretty much interchangeable.

The gasketed style was used on Rabbit sedans from '75 through '80 and on Rabbit Convertibles and Cabriolets through '89.
Somewhere around '86 they added clips to the windshield frame to help keep the glass in place in the event of a collision. The clips make glass changing a bit of an ordeal, it's a real simple job without the clips. Gaskets are the same, clips or not.
The only differences in the gaskets are whether they have an outer groove for chrome trim or not, those with the groove can be used without the trim if desired.

Glued in windshields were used on U.S. built Rabbit sedans from '81 through '84, also on Cabriolets from '90 through '93 (air bag equipped cars).
Cutting through the old glue for removal can be quite an ordeal especially when compared to the ease of removal of unclipped gasketed glass. Of course they need to be re-glued and the trim re-installed, they are hideous without the trim.
---
While sorting out this topic relative to replacing the windshield on my old '92, I called glass shops. The 1st wouldn't have anything to do with attempting to install the gasketed glass into a glue in car citing safety feature concerns.
The 2nd was all up for it, ordered up both styles of glass plus a new gasket, had all on hand when I arrived.
The Glass Tech was real talented in his field. He very neatly cut out the old glass leaving about 1/16' of adhesive in the frame, didn't even add any cracks to the already very cracked old glass.
Once the old glass was out (with no clean up needed, the guy was that tidy), the early style, gasketed glass and gasket popped right in, just as though it was made to (because it was).

With the gasketed glass without clips in place, the next replacement (should I have ever done so, and I should have) would have taken no more than 45 minutes at home with a few very simple tools, probably one helper.




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