Is there a difference in windshield glass from factory to aftermarket? What are the differences? How hard is it to find factory quality glass aftermarket? Seems like all of the replacement shops are all trying to go "cheap", where I want to look for more "quality".
OT windshields
Mar 16, 2005
7 Replies
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Without looking I'm guessing that the polycarbonate winshields are neither street-legal nor windshield-wiper safe.
Lee Ayrton did pass the time by typing:
Street legal, depends on state. Winshield wiper safe, no.
Jerry Bransford did pass the time by typing:
The only use I've ever seen out of them is in IASCA competition vehicles where the sound pressure would shatter normal safety glass.
That and non-wiper windows such as camper shells. But even then an errant wipe with a paper towel will scratch them.
DOT approved and hold up under wiper use you just cannot clean them like glass by the use of chemicals (widex).
I don't think that it is up to the states. Windshield systems are now considered part of the restraint system and as such are covered by NHTSA vehicle safety regulations. The state rules that I found on-line simply point back to 49 CFR 571.5 -- the actual text of which I cannot coax out of Google. In any case, it looks like AS-1 lamanated safety glazing for motor vehicles is currently the only legal windshield for highway use.
The "not-wiper safe" part will be a show-stopper. The government is never going to allow a windshield that interfers with driver vision.
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