Got some rust on the roof that reaches under the upper lip of the top windscreen finisher. I'd like to pull the finisher out, mitigate the rust & put a new one in (got the replacement in hand already).

It looks easy enough in the RAVE but this thing isn't budging -- anyone have a tip / trick to get this out? Do I need to remove the windshield to get this piece out?

 

It's a bear to get off and is unlikely to be able to be reused, to give you an idea of the force required. It just peels out once you get it started. Good you have a new one in hand. Where'd you get it? I'm doing a windshield shortly and will need one.

 

best thing to do is to get the screen removed do the repairs you need to do then replace the screen, I have removed all the plastic round my screen to carry out repairs, and re seal the cutter to stop water getting in you cant remove the top bit of plastic unless you remove the outer 'A' post cover, I did it by drilling a very small hole in the small round plug then screwing in a self tapping scre and then pulling out the plug this then lets you remove the clip that locks the cover in place

 

Thanks everyone, will give this a shot.

Here's what I'm working with so far, using plastic trim tools & pliers to try to pull it out (have unintentionally ripped off the bit on the corner as you can see):

 

It looks painful from the way these guys are doing it:

 

If you want your windscreen removing get it done professionally, I once need a replacement screen as it was chipped and cracked , it was covered by my insurance, but when the came to do it after removing we found the roof needed repairing as it had rust holes , the agreed to let me do the repairs then came back and replaced the screen