Windshield Disease

[al r]

It wasn’t going to happen to me.
I educated myself every way I thought possible. I attended the build school and listened carefully to every direction on how to set up and install the windshield. Use care to not cross thread the screws and strip the brass strip. Make sure the screws are not too long and make contact with the glass. And their most important instruction, make sure you are at total peace with the universe the day you install the windshield. I carefully followed the build manual instructions. I applied every bit of wisdom from the forums. I followed all the postings of those who had experienced the dreaded crack. The day we installed the windshield we found that perfect Zen. We made every effort to correctly shim the side posts perfectly into alignment with the windshield frame. Not pushing in, pulling out or twisting. The bottom of the frame hovering perfectly above the body with the rubber strip gently sealing the bottom. When installing the sun visors I went and purchased the correct mounting screws since those supplied with the visors were incorrect in thread size and length. But perfection was accomplished. Nothing stressing the glass. In three seasons, 6,500 miles on the road it was beautiful. Not a single scratch or rock chip. Not even a June bug hit. I wasn’t going to let it happen to me. And then…..

There I was, Friday afternoon. Cruise in coming tonight, beautiful weather, finally a clear blue sky. Go out to the shop to give her a quick dusting, turn on the light … and there it is. Ah SNAP. Kicks me right in the gut. Six inches over from the bottom of the drivers side, runs up about four inches. A frackin’ crack out of no where. No one, no thing had touched it. Dang it !

The disease found me.
But today I’ll be thankful for three years of believing I did everything windshield correct. Now the “opportunity” to learn how to change the glass. And I feel for everyone out there that did it correctly and still got bit.

The disease is still lurking out there.
Peace,
A


17933

[Gumball]

One other thing to try with the next piece of glass is to have a local glass shop smooth and polish all of the edges. I followed all the same precautions as you, but on the advise of one of the other members here, I pulled my glass out and took it to a local guy. He said that the edges were very rough and had lots of nicks and chips from the finish cut that could have caused stress cracks over time. $25 worth of piece of mind, at least until mine cracks, too.

[skullandbones]

Man you are luckier than most and rightfully should be thankful! If I get three years of crack free chip free service from mine, I will be a very happy guy. But I still have the wind wings and visors to install so I shouldn't get to confident yet. Right? The windshield grimlins might still strike! Good luck on your new one. WEK.

[efnfast]

Mine cracked same spot same way. Not manufactured properly; these windshields are a total POS.

Buy Fast Freddie's MR10 lexan windshield, be happy. No worries about cracking during install or driving and way clearer visability.

[cobrajj]

Looks familiar, mine cracked exactly like that only on the passenger side after 700 miles. Replacement still good at 5500 miles. Keeping my fingers crossed!

[CraigS]

If you don't go w/ Lexan I definitely agree w/ the pro edge treatment. Another thought on installation. It is critical that the glass NOT be under any stress from twisting. I like to put a couple of 1/4 inch shims between the frame and the body to let it rest on them so it doesn't sit down to where the lower outer corners of the frame are digging into the fiberglass. One of the wooden supports from the top center of the w/s frame to the back edge of the cockpit adjusts the side view angle. The manual or build school has the length of this support. Then tighten the mount bolts. If the bolts won't fit through the holes do not change the angle even a little-especially don't adjust just one side even a little-make the holes larger. Good luck.

[al r]

It is critical that the glass NOT be under any stress from twisting. I like to put a couple of 1/4 inch shims between the frame and the body to let it rest on them so it doesn't sit down to where the lower outer corners of the frame are digging into the fiberglass. One of the wooden supports from the top center of the w/s frame to the back edge of the cockpit adjusts the side view angle. The manual or build school has the length of this support. Then tighten the mount bolts. If the bolts won't fit through the holes do not change the angle even a little-especially don't adjust just one side even a little-make the holes larger. Good luck.

Thanks Craig
But the maddening part is that I followed this shimming and tightening process to the letter and still got bit.
May have to pursue the lexan option if quality of the glass continues to go un-addressed.
Thanks all.
Peace
A

[NHolds]

Mine's been fine for 15 years.... no problems.

[efnfast]

Thanks Craig
But the maddening part is that I followed this shimming and tightening process to the letter and still got bit.
May have to pursue the lexan option if quality of the glass continues to go un-addressed.
Thanks all.
Peace
A

For an extra $100 you'd be foolish not to buy the MR10 lexan. No headaches, no shimming, no special tightening, just install and go. "Worst" is that you probably don't want to use wipers with it (wipers will marr <marr, not scratch> glass, so overtime they'll marr the lexan as well, but it naturally beads water anyways)

[Slider]

sorry to hear about the windshield cracking... I've been fearing that all along as well. Along those lines, in your post you mentioned you purchased the "Correct" mounting screws for the sun visors. I was trying to put those on this weekend, and the supplied ones weren't even starting to thread. I stopped, figuring I'd see if anyone had any ideas, and waiting until I got a little more patience (so as to not crack the windshield). Can you let me know what the "Correct" screws are? I'd like to get those today and get that last job finished up if possible. Thanks in advance


...When installing the sun visors I went and purchased the correct mounting screws since those supplied with the visors were incorrect in thread size and length...


17933

[al r]

sorry to hear about the windshield cracking... I've been fearing that all along as well. Along those lines, in your post you mentioned you purchased the "Correct" mounting screws for the sun visors. I was trying to put those on this weekend, and the supplied ones weren't even starting to thread. I stopped, figuring I'd see if anyone had any ideas, and waiting until I got a little more patience (so as to not crack the windshield). Can you let me know what the "Correct" screws are? I'd like to get those today and get that last job finished up if possible. Thanks in advance

Looking back thru my notes I found that I used M3 x 0.5 screws
also some discussion here: http://www.ffcars.com/forums/31-canadian-region-sponsored-specialty-car-parts-canada/224021-sun-visors.html
All the best
A

[al r]

Mission accomplished.
Fast Freddie Lexan.
Great quality, perfect fit, ease of installation.
Great service.
Optical clarity exceptional.
Removal, new installation and clean up, about 3 hours and 2 cold ones.
Also found a cleaning product for lexan, great on eliminating static (pic attached)
Have not seen any excess frame or shield flex when up at speed.

Happy to be here. Be careful out there.
Cheers
A

[DaleG]

One other thing to try with the next piece of glass is to have a local glass shop smooth and polish all of the edges. I followed all the same precautions as you, but on the advise of one of the other members here, I pulled my glass out and took it to a local guy. He said that the edges were very rough and had lots of nicks and chips from the finish cut that could have caused stress cracks over time. $25 worth of piece of mind, at least until mine cracks, too.

Now that's good advice! Also, avoid stress at the arms that get bolted to the chassis; use washers if necessary to avoid bending them when tightening the bolts.

[riptide motorsport]

Perfect choice.