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3rd cracked windshield in 2 years..


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when i first got my 89GL wagon it had a cracked windshield, eh 25year old car, what else do you expect, but now that this car is about to see its 5th windshield under my ownership, i think its getting ridiculous, and thats because the windshield that the car came with was a pilkington and not the original, so for all i know its had 5 and going to a 6th in its lifetime (atleast including the original subaru windshield only), it had a pilkington that was cracked when i bought it, autolite was the first one i bought, then pilkington, then solar shade, and now the solar shade just got cracked.

 

they have all been rocks from semis, no i do not tailgate them, infact i avoid them!! the first one was a rock 3 lanes over! i have it on the dash cam, second was the car infront of me bounced a rock from their windshield to mine that came from a semi infront of him (the chances for that to happen)also got it on dashcam, the third that just happened yesterday the semi was in the left lane passing me and i get a thank you by getting a cracked windshield (also taped on my dash cam)

 

tried contacting the company (Sunset Logistics Inc. or also known as Drive4Sunset) to see if i can get them to pay for it because $220 is kinda punishing each time and they keep sending me to a voice machine that leads nowhere, and i doubt the police would do anything, they can care less.

 

what brand of windshield do you guys use and has cracked windshields happen to you?

 

i have a 93 impreza that used to be my daily with a pilkington windshield that has taken 5 rocks and 2 chunks of tires to the windshield and its been perfectly fine, but the first rock that hits my GL always cracks the windshield.. :/

Edited by Subasaurus
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I replaced the one in my brat that had been cracked for 15 years ( they don't push cracked windshields around here because of all the dirt roads ) and had a rock chip within a week. I did a chip repair and am not going to replace it unless it cracks out.

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Don't worry about cracked windshields?I haven't owned a vehicle that didn't have a cracked windshield.Sure, sometimes you get pulled over and a rookie cop has something to say about it,but most of the time they don't even mention it.Cracked windshields are just a fact of life and will be until they figure out how to make transparent aluminum.With that being said if a baseball sized rock hits your windshield directly in front of you and spider webs, it would probably be a good idea to replace the window.

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i can't pass inspection if the web comes into view of the road with the driver, so probably a foot by 2 feet rectangle it can't be cracked at. and plus it bugs the hell out of me having a cracked windshield, i have the money to replace it (again) but just want one that can withstand "more" than the other brand ones, and which one has worked best for you? or has been "tougher" than others? which ones are cheap brands and which ones are the good ones?

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I've had 2 replaced by the services that come out and do it.  Never had any problem with the replacements, have no way of knowing if they were better or worse than OEM.  I didn't shop by price, just ok you can do this car?  Moderate amount of money, good. 

I have removed one windshield intact successfully.

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I have removed one windshield intact successfully.

1 out of? lol, pick n pull windshields are $30 (if you can salvage one) i tried 2 subarus but both cracked on me like halfway (this was when i first got the car and hadn't bought the first one yet) gave up on salvaging one pretty quick and just went to an auto glass shop to get one installed new.
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I have attempted 2 so far.  The official windshield removal tool I bought breaks them, the blade is too thick.  What worked was a guitar string, one of the lower frequency ones with the 2nd wire spiraled around the steel string.  Not a big fat bass guitar string, one for a regular guitar.  Add some steel wire to a couple blocks of wood for handles.   Have to carefully poke it through the sealer to get started, then a lot of "sawing" to work your way around. 

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I am thinking you can pay for your windshields with a youtube channel and a compilation of greatest windshield cracking episodes.

 

After 20 years as the original owner,  I am on windshield number three with my Subaru (UNO) and was thinking I was somehow a rock magnet for those damned semi trucks. But after hearing your story, I feel I am fortunate. Thank you.

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thank you for the tip dave, next time theres one at the junkyard i will attemp this due to the fact that only one old gen subaru arrives at the junkyard per year.

 

well since no one has any ideas about brands, could you guys tell me how much you payed for a new windshield? to see if $220 (with the trim around the windshield) installed is a good price? windshield alone is $175, typical cars are $125 but for some reason the 3rd gen subaru windshields are $50 more..

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thank you for the tip dave, next time theres one at the junkyard i will attemp this due to the fact that only one old gen subaru arrives at the junkyard per year.

 

well since no one has any ideas about brands, could you guys tell me how much you payed for a new windshield? to see if $220 (with the trim around the windshield) installed is a good price? windshield alone is $175, typical cars are $125 but for some reason the 3rd gen subaru windshields are $50 more..

 

I think about $220 was what I paid last time I replaced one (2013). Not sure if that is reasonable or not but after 6 years of getting by with a cracked windshield I decided to just do it. Kind of made the car feel somewhat like new compared to the old cracked junky one.

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maybe ask around some local glass shops and ask if they've ever seen a vehicle (not model) break multiple windshields over and over?  they do this every day, maybe ask the ones that have been around a long time/are large?

 

tell the installer - ask if there's any prep, frame, sealant issues that could be happening?

 

i've never had a problem.  replace and it never happens again. so i've never paid attention to brand.

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I wouldn't expect you to be able to get the trucking company for paying for your windshield UNLESS the truck was defective somehow.  For example if it was missing its mudflaps.

semi dropping chunks of dirt from the wheel wells on the highway, if it was a rock from the highway i would understand because its not his rock, but random chunks comming off of the semi i think its his fault. but that doesn't matter anymore since ill just replace it with my own money now, i ain't waiting months and then find out there not going to replace it.
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maybe ask around some local glass shops and ask if they've ever seen a vehicle (not model) break multiple windshields over and over?  they do this every day, maybe ask the ones that have been around a long time/are large?

 

tell the installer - ask if there's any prep, frame, sealant issues that could be happening?

 

i've never had a problem.  replace and it never happens again. so i've never paid attention to brand.

yes i will ask this, thanks grossgary, gonna wait alittle for the crack to grow more then replace it.
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Ok if its coming off of the truck I guess they would technically be responsible.  Though it would be incredibly hard to prove.  Since you have a dashcam you do have proof, but I bet you would likely need to go to small claims court to get them to even listen to you.

yes and pay the court fees and stuff and that still doesn't guarrantee me winning the case. im sure after everything it will cost me around $150-250, or just replace it for $220
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Anybody ever looked into Plexiglas? I know there are a couple of companies that do custom Plexiglas windshields for autocross and stuff. It may be a bit more spendy (or not) but at least you wouldn't ever have to worry about cracks!

 

--Nathan

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Yeah it's fine as long as you live where it never rains and you don't use the wipers if you do use them it all turns bad in about five minutes even quicker if it's off road and muddy.

 

Seen it happen to a guy rallying a Lancia Stratos with a Lexan screen because in Australia Lancia Stratos screens are not exactly common and it took two months to get one from Italy and he did not want to miss an event, sadly for him it started raining and he had to pull out after three stages because the screen was so scratched up he couldn't see through it anymore.

 

So I guess Plexiglass is fine for something like a side by side to keep the wind off when it gets cold but otherwise no go.

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Comprehensive Insurance covers road hazards, theft and acts of God (like a hail storm). Hopefully, you have comp. It's quite inexpensive. Although, there is a deductible, but alot of glass shops will 'pay' your deductible.

can't, im 20years old and you know what that means with insurance, all i have is third party coverage (liability i think) at $90 month which is pretty cheap (i crash into someone, they get their car fixed but im left with nothing.. or if someone crashes into me i get my car fixed, no not really ill just get $1,200 and hope that covers it, already happened once and i bought a parts car for $200 and that fixed my damages with my free labor) and bought more Subarus with the rest of the money.

 

full coverage on my old subie at my age would range between $220-$300+ A MONTH. ridiculous.. thats like buying a Subaru every month.

Edited by Subasaurus
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I'm not young, and have very few insurance claims, no tickets. I dropped comprehensive / collision and got a second car. Costs about the same for registration and insurance, etc. , and I usually have instant backup if a car dies, or I need to work on one.

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