Weak Windshield

Dr1ft3r · April 24, 2023

Is it just my truck, or does anyone else notice that our windshields chip really easily? Every single piece of debris that I have heard hit my windshield has chipped it. Today a rock actually cracked it. I've had windshields get chipped and cracked before, but I've never noticed a windshield chip this easily. I've had some windshields that took some really hard hits and didn't chip at all.

If I have to replace it then I'm going with an aftermarket windshield.

Jettech1 · April 24, 2023

17 hours ago, Dr1ft3r said:

Is it just my truck, or does anyone else notice that our windshields chip really easily? Every single piece of debris that I have heard hit my windshield has chipped it. Today a rock actually cracked it. I've had windshields get chipped and cracked before, but I've never noticed a windshield chip this easily. I've had some windshields that took some really hard hits and didn't chip at all.

If I have to replace it then I'm going with an aftermarket windshield.

I haven't noticed that yet with 7600 miles on my truck, but I do remember having safelite change out my windshields in several cars I've owned and afterwards never had a problem. This included Ford and Dodge. Never had a problem with big hits on my 2014 Impala. So I don't know if it's a crappy windshield or just crappy luck.

Pryme · April 24, 2023

One thing that will make a big difference from vehicle to vehicle is the angle of the glass. The more upright it is as in a truck, the more squarely it will be hit. A sporty type car has more aerodynamic angles including the windshield. Less likely to take a direct blow.

Jettech1 · April 24, 2023

1 minute ago, Pryme said:

One thing that will make a big difference from vehicle to vehicle is the angle of the glass. The more upright it is as in a truck, the more squarely it will be hit. A sporty type car has more aerodynamic angles including the windshield. Less likely to take a direct blow.

Excellent point!

diyer2 · April 24, 2023

I remember a small independent (the cheapest) shop telling me that the glass is softer.

Jettech1 · April 24, 2023

16 minutes ago, diyer2 said:

I remember a small independent (the cheapest) shop telling me that the glass is softer.

I'm not sure the glass is softer, but I can see where it might be thinner perhaps? Glass is heavy. I can easily see some Director saying "we need to shave that glass down to save weight and cost".

Edited April 24, 2023 by Jettech1

customboss · April 24, 2023

1 hour ago, Jettech1 said:

I'm not sure the glass is softer, but I can see where it might be thinner perhaps? Glass is heavy. I can easily see some Director saying "we need to shave that glass down to save weight and cost".

Density like we have on jets. In aircraft they are heated and layered but density is key for safety and mostly sound absorbing capability in autos.

Jettech1 · April 25, 2023

1 minute ago, customboss said:

Density like we have on jets. In aircraft they are heated and layered but density is key for safety and mostly sound absorbing capability in autos.

I'm not sure what you are trying to say here. Do you work on Aircraft?

customboss · April 25, 2023

3 hours ago, Jettech1 said:

I'm not sure what you are trying to say here. Do you work on Aircraft?

What did you not understand? I did.
Density of the laminate relates to sound deadening of a windscreen in our trucks.

Dr1ft3r · April 25, 2023

On 4/24/2023 at 4:14 PM, Pryme said:

One thing that will make a big difference from vehicle to vehicle is the angle of the glass. The more upright it is as in a truck, the more squarely it will be hit. A sporty type car has more aerodynamic angles including the windshield. Less likely to take a direct blow.

I know this is true. But have you looked at the angle of the glass on our trucks. I was just looking at it and comparing it to others in the parking lot at work. While it's not as angled as some sports cars, it's on par with most other vehicles I have compared it to. Our windshields are not very straight up and down. They likely tried to increase the gas mileage by improving the aerodynamics and the windshield is a major part of that. I do notice that anything I do to affect the aerodynamics on my truck makes an immediate and noticeable difference to my gas mileage. Having my ATV on the bed cover reduces my mpg at highway speeds by 2-3 mpg. Adding the steel bumper on my front end reduced mpg at highway speeds by about 2 mpg. I now average about 12 mpg at 75 mph with my ATV on my bed cover. If I'm driving into a headwind on level ground it can drop below 10 mpg.

Maybe I have just been unlucky with the hits I've taken in the last 3 months and 8,500 miles.

Jettech1 · April 26, 2023

On 4/23/2023 at 9:58 PM, Dr1ft3r said:

Is it just my truck, or does anyone else notice that our windshields chip really easily? Every single piece of debris that I have heard hit my windshield has chipped it. Today a rock actually cracked it. I've had windshields get chipped and cracked before, but I've never noticed a windshield chip this easily. I've had some windshields that took some really hard hits and didn't chip at all.

If I have to replace it then I'm going with an aftermarket windshield.

I had some time to do a little research on this windshield topic and was surprised at all the hits. Apparently this is a huge topic on a lot of forums. The writer of one article I was reading wasn't attributing it to weaker glass but did surmise that windshield angle played a huge roll just like @Pryme mentioned. So I'm not sure if they are weaker or maybe there are too many gravel trucks on the roads these days dropping rocks off the bed, all the while not caring a bit. I know around here in Atlanta there is constant road construction no matter where go in and around the city. So that might be playing a large roll too depending on where you live.

Edited April 26, 2023 by Jettech1

Dr1ft3r · April 26, 2023

I've owned vehicles with some windshields that are much closer to 90 degrees than our trucks. Jeep Wranglers are one example of such a vehicle, and there are many more. How deep the dashboard goes is the first sign of how much angle is on the windshield. I can remember a truck I had back in the 80's. The dash was about 8" deep, similar to a Jeep Wrangler. I never even got a crack in the windshield of that truck. Maybe it was luck, but still, that windshield was very steep.

The angle on our windshields are on par with most other vehicles. If other vehicles are not getting cracked windshields due to the angle then there's no reason ours should be either. It has to be something else, such as inferior glass, or just bad luck.

Jettech1 · May 1, 2023

Delete

Edited May 1, 2023 by Jettech1
Delete

mtbadbob · May 1, 2023

On 4/24/2023 at 4:26 PM, Jettech1 said:

I'm not sure the glass is softer, but I can see where it might be thinner perhaps? Glass is heavy. I can easily see some Director saying "we need to shave that glass down to save weight and cost".

They did that with the Squares in 1985 I believe. Went from 1/4" to 3/16" thick door glass. Also, most all glass is Chinese made too. The good 'ole PPG windshields that were US made are now PGW (Pittsburgh Glass Works) now outsourced to CHINA! I got nailed the second or 3rd day I owned my truck by a semi & it chipped it but Safelite fixed it and it has stayed put. can hardly see it

Jettech1 · May 1, 2023

1 minute ago, mtbadbob said:

They did that with the Squares in 1985 I believe. Went from 1/4" to 3/16" thick door glass. Also, most all glass is Chinese made too. The good 'ole PPG windshields that were US made are now PGW (Pittsburgh Glass Works) now outsourced to CHINA! I got nailed the second or 3rd day I owned my truck by a semi & it chipped it but Safelite fixed it and it has stayed put. can hardly see it

Very interesting. Thank you for educating me...