Body / Glass: K Body Window Rollers

[fpstude]

This is just a FYI on replacing the window rollers on our GT Hawk. I believe the same rollers are used on 53 through '64 K body cars. There was more rust on these rollers than on the rest of the car. I think I could put a watch together now. The springs are really a pain to install.

[jimmijim8]

I packed the bearings and surrounding area with white lithium grease. cheers jimmijim

[johnod]

did you have to replace them?

[jimmijim8]

A few were still good but at least half were shot as there was no evidence of lube. There are 3 different types of 5 bearings per window. The difference is the centered axles within the bearings. Look closeley when you get your bearing kit. Be very observant upon disassembly and you should not have any problems. It ain't brain surgery. cheers jimmijim

[DEEPNHOCK]

It might not be brain surgery, but it sure is a PITA.
Especially when it comes to the pic in the service manual.
Had a disintegrated window set, and a bag of SI parts.
Took a few hours to piece it together properly.

<snip> It ain't brain surgery.
cheers jimmijim

[fpstude]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that took a few hours to accomplish the project. As a reference, the SI part numger is 801453

[bhapner]

FPSTUDE thanks for the pix. mine look as bad, what a mess!
hapner

[mmagic]

Yours is in awesome shape to start!!!! Here are the parts of the side I've been able to remove.



Here is the other one ! After 6 hours in the Electrolysis tank and power scrubbing, I'm approaching a point we may be able with a few more cycles to remove the rollers.



Yes, it looks pretty rough but at this point I still think I can save the carrier. Another 24 hours in the tank and angle grinder/wire brush should make major difference.

[3rdGenStude]

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p276/fpstude/P1010769w.jpg[/IMG]

I know this is an old thread, but I'm about to do the roller replacement on mine, and want to know if there's more than the two philips screws holding the roller carrier onto the window frame? (the picture shows the end of one screw against the black background, the other one is at the very top right of the picture) I can't imagine trying to replace rollers and springs with the carrier attached, but right now I have them soaking in penetrating oil, and I'm thinking I'll end up drilling out those screws. I'd like to know from someone else's experience if that's all it takes to get the carrier separated from the window frame, or are there some welds?

edit: rats, the picture didn't come through. It's the second picture in post number 1 from fpstude.
Paul

[Jeff_H]

Check this thread. I posted my old sketches of the window frames and rollers.

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?10413-GT-Hawk-window-rollers

In reading your post, are you asking about the "bottom" of the window frame the bottom of the glass sits in? That is removed from the rest of the frame with 2 screws on each end. The bottom rear of the rest of the window frame that has the rollers mounted in it does not come off. It is welded to the stainless frame. I had to weld cracks in the stainless right near the welds when I reworked the windows. Its a high stress area from pulling on there when opening or closing the door and not using the handle (in or out).

I still wonder if SI has the cartons of NOS GT windows I saw at SASCO in 2007.

[3rdGenStude]

Check this thread. I posted my old sketches of the window frames and rollers.

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?10413-GT-Hawk-window-rollers

The bottom rear of the rest of the window frame that has the rollers mounted in it does not come off. It is welded to the stainless frame.

Jeff,

Thanks, that's exactly what I was wanting to know. No wonder everybody says changing the rollers is a PITA.

Paul

[mmagic]

My Window Roller Pics--

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?82840-Speedster-window-rollers&highlight=window+rollers

[3rdGenStude]

Thanks mmagic. Yeah, I had done search and looked at pretty much every message on the roller subject. Just didn't see anything about separating the carrier from the frame.

Paul

[ken-renda]

Replacing the rollers is a real character builder, as is almost everything associated with an Avanti. It's good to see others do this "unseen" roller repair. Ken, Deltaville Va

[rkapteyn]

It may have been in Dick Datsons publications but somewhere I read that someone
removed the rollers and installed a teflon "U" channel.
Any ingenious tinkerers wants to explore this?