Windshield replacement (should I get OEM glass?, how to determine a good shop)

(Disclaimer: I haven't been a Californian for many a year....) When I have had cracks repaired they were effectively invisible. I could get

*real* close and make out hairlines, but otherwise they couldn't be seen.

Now I'm an Arizonan and as long as huge chunks of the car don't fall in the path of a patrolman, most such things are usually ignored. (A few months ago my son was attacked on the freeway by a rolling something that looked like a brake drum and lodged above his spoiler - true story!) I am cynical enough to think the complaints are saved until the patrolman wants to pull the car over, though.

Mike

Reply to
Michael Pardee
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The most important factor, by far, is how well the windshield is glued in place since there's far more variation with this than with the quality of the glass. If the windshield doesn't stay in place in a crash, not only will unbelted occupants be at greater risk of injury but also belted occupants can suffer since airbags, especially the passenger one, depend on the windshield to hold them in place.

A good installation requires taht the glass and window opening be very clean, gloves worn during installation to prevent skin oil from contaminating the surfaces, and the proper primer and urethane adhesive (made with different cure rates for different temperatures) be used. The current preferred practice is to remove all the old urethane from the window opening. Also the car should not be driven until at least twice the cure time has passed. When I replaced my own windshield, the adhesive required anywhere from 2-6 hours to cure. My windshield never leaked, unlike most of those done on company cars by a local chain of glass shops that advertised heavily and offered insurance deductible rebates and free restaurant dinners.

Reply to
do_not_spam_me

I believe federal regulations only require that a certain high percentage of the windshield remain in place and unpierced. It doesn't mandate the use of adhesive, and I had a VW Golf (Rabbit in U.S.) with the windshield held in place with a gasket, but on the left and right sides were metal strips with alligator teeth to dig into the gasket and make it hold the glass much more securely. The alligator strips also made installation much more difficult, and I'm sure some unscrupulous glass shops left them out. These strips, being made of heavily galvanized steel, probably also prevented the opening from rusting, a major problem with my rear hatch window. I believe car makers switched to adhesives in order to save time (glue can cure as the car travels down the production line) and to allow a more flush perimeter around the glass.

Reply to
do_not_spam_me

Thanks guys. I guess I'll ask my shop manager at my yard. I know we have to replace cracked windows on buses, but not sure what law(s) or reg(s) cover that. But that's commercial, dunno if it applies to personal vehicles.

Reply to
Doug McCrary

commercial use is WAY more strict. in california, commercial drivers arent allowed traffic school any more to get a point off their record, even if theyre driving their own personal vehicle. its THAT strict...

Reply to
SoCalMike

The best way to find out what the law requires is to read the law. Do a search of your legislated laws and regulations and then have a read.

Here any defect (stone chip, crack, etc.) that is in the line of sight of the driver is reason to repair or replace the windshield.

Reply to
Brian Smith

Getting farther OT... the CDLs where I work are shocked by new DUI provisions in the regulations. (I have no idea if it is a state or federal statute involved.) Now, if they get a DUI and have had another DUI in the last 55 years - like if they are 70 and had one when they were 16 - their CDL is permanently revoked and they have to find a new line of work. I have no patience for DUI, but that seems a little ex post facto to me in that whether a driver gets one or two strikes is tied to their record before the law was enacted. Of course, it is no different than "three strikes" laws in that respect.

Mike

Reply to
Michael Pardee

Yeah, if you read above you'll see I looked for, but couldn't isolate such law. Asked for chapter and verse. No specific response.

Reply to
Doug McCrary

I think that might be a slight exaggeration, but yes, I believe it's state laws, forced by Federal regs. I know that is the case with the new "S" endorsement.

Reply to
Doug McCrary

Then the people to ask (in person or on the phone) would be a Vehicle Compliance Officer or Inspector. You can find those at a DOT Scale. They will (around here anyway) look up the pertinent section of the Act and photo copy it for a person.

Brian

Reply to
Brian Smith

It probably isn't OEM. I've had windshields replaced for as little as $125.

1/2 hr? They must be damn fast. I've watch windshields getting replaced and it takes longer than that to do the job right. Rushing means making a bigger mess that will take more time to clean up. Once the work is done, you can drive right away. It will take a day or so to fully cure, but that doesn't really affect the windshield unless you get caught in a storm.

--------------- Alex

Reply to
Alex Rodriguez

Another difference I noticed when I got a windshield replaced was that the OEM glass was thicker than the new windshield that was put in. Not sure if that makes any difference.

------------- Alex

Reply to
Alex Rodriguez

Reply to
radar

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