choosing a windshield

[David Williams]

So I saw a thread a few days ago about windows. Someone mentioned that they had a windshield made of safety glass. Did I get that right? How much was that, and is this recommended gear for a chase car? Will it protect against hail? I'm looking into outfitting my car with some preventative gear in order to avoid any big hassles on the road. i took Tim V's advice about getting a full size spare and a trustworthy jack and rain-x as well. However, is there anything else that anyone can recommend for a car that will be seeing a lot of miles and storm wear and tear in the next few years? I have a four door sedan, nothing special. I surely don't plan on buying a new car even though mine is 8 years old: the thing still runs like a champ. i have new tires, brakes, alternator, etc., but I'm thinking specifically about smart, preventative stuff. Also, can you throw a general price down if you can think of anything? I'm doing my best to figure out a budget for the upcoming season. I'm sure you understand. Cheers!

 

[David Williams]

Sorry I posted this twice. But, I spelled windshield incorrectly, and being an English teacher, that would drive me crazy if I left it! Thanks for understanding.

 

[Bob Hartig]

Sorry I posted this twice. But, I spelled windshield incorrectly, and being an English teacher, that would drive me crazy if I left it! Thanks for understanding.

Hey, David, just use the edit button to edit your post. It's a grammar freak's best friend. I'm super-anal about perfecting my posts. Nice to know someone else is like that!

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

So I saw a thread a few days ago about windows. Someone mentioned that they had a windshield made of safety glass. Did I get that right? How much was that, and is this recommended gear for a chase car? Will it protect against hail?

I think all auto glass is made of safety glass of one type or another -- it basically just means that if it breaks, it won't break into long jagged shards that stabbity-stab you, it'll just break into tiny little bits. The side and rear windows use tempered safety glass. The front windshield is made of laminated safety glass, which is even better in that it not only won't break into shards, it won't lose all physical integrity if it shatters -- the shattered bits are held together by some sort of plastic laminate. This is why they usually have to get the "Jaws of life' to peel the windshield off of cars in bad wrecks; the windshield breaks but stays in place. Works great to stop things like hail, road debris, and your ex's baseball bat from coming through the windshield and hitting you in the face.

 

[Jason Boggs]

David, all windshields are pretty much the same when it comes to safety. They all have the layering over them to prevent glass from flying everywhere in case the windshield is broken.

Now, you asked what we recommend for a car with a lot of miles that will be chasing a lot. Of course this list is personal, but it's what I carry and recommend.

at least 2 flashlights
extra batteries for flashlights
lots of different tools in case of breakdown.
fix-a-flat
duct tape and plastic sheeting to cover broken side windows in vehicle.
rain-x
extra fluids (oil, water, anti freeze, etc...)

I mights be missing something, but this is the brunt of the list.

 

[Jason Foster]

So I saw a thread a few days ago about windows. Someone mentioned that they had a windshield made of safety glass. Did I get that right? How much was that, and is this recommended gear for a chase car? Will it protect against hail? I'm looking into outfitting my car with some preventative gear in order to avoid any big hassles on the road. i took Tim V's advice about getting a full size spare and a trustworthy jack and rain-x as well. However, is there anything else that anyone can recommend for a car that will be seeing a lot of miles and storm wear and tear in the next few years? I have a four door sedan, nothing special. I surely don't plan on buying a new car even though mine is 8 years old: the thing still runs like a champ. i have new tires, brakes, alternator, etc., but I'm thinking specifically about smart, preventative stuff. Also, can you throw a general price down if you can think of anything? I'm doing my best to figure out a budget for the upcoming season. I'm sure you understand. Cheers!

Safety glass is standard on all vehicles for the windshield. This is the tempered glass that is laminated and covered with a thin plastic film that reduces (not prevents) the risk of glass cutting you during an accident. If you forget to wear you seatbelt, you will go through the windshield, you will get glass in your head (happened to my father long time ago).

Tempered glass is what you find standard on vehicles for everything but the front windshield. There may be some vehicles to that exception, but I don't know of any. Tempered glass is simply designed to break into small pieces instead of large shards. This again is to prevent injury.

Then there are plastic derivatives like plexiglass and lexan glass. They are poly- products that flex and bend more so than their glass equivalents. These are sometimes used by Storm chasers on side windows and such to help reduce the risk of broken windows. They can and hold up better, however, they can only replace window glass that is flat, otherwise you have to have a custom mold done, which is extremely expensive. Another downside to these poly-products is that they tend to become foggy and scratch easy, minimizing your view through them. You cannot easily tint them (but possible). And it is difficult to cut, size and install replacements/substitutes.

So, as far as your question goes. No, there really isn't anything you can do to the factory windshield to make it withstand hail or other chances of fracture (rocks from trucks for example). This is why you may have seen the extensive and inventive hail grills and other devices that are deployed to help protect the windshields from damage during a chase. It is also the reason, that we still see many windows broken. It is also a very big reason that it is important to be a good chaser, with good forecasting and technique, so as to avoid the hail altogether.

Hopefully that answers your question a little better.

 

[Mike Smith]

I'm pretty sure windshield construction is dictated by law.

 

[Jason Foster]

I'm pretty sure windshield construction is dictated by law.

Some Hot Rodders and racers have them made...but I don't know how they deal with the law, but they do drive them on the street.

 

[Damon Scott Hynes]

What do rappers and Presidents use in their limos? Bulletproof glass? I hear it's expensive and heavy as hell, and I think the physics of the differences in ballistics (bullets v. hail v. two-by-fours) might not make bulletproof glass any better.

 

[Jason Tunzer]

Bulletproof glass is in a sense the same as your windshield glass,the membrane between the sheets of tempered glass act to slow down the bullet. In you auto there are 2 pieces of glass with the membrane in between. In bulletproof there are just more pieces of glass and membrane.

Yes "hot rodders" drag racers use lexan or plexi. It is for weight loss. No it's not legal for a windshield but how many PD's know what SS,DS,lami,tempered glass is?

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

It may be a smart notion to consider Lexan as a windshield. However in reality, it is a very costly thing to pursue. When one considers that most windshield glass is curved, it would take a large chunk of change to have it made to specs. $1500-2000 is probably a low-ball price for it - and then one would have to find a shop that would do that work. Very time-intensive. A standard windshield replacement is between $300-450 - and if you lost a windshield and have full coverage it almost covers the cost of replacing it yourself.
Nice thought - though...

 

[David Williams]

Thanks for the responses everyone. And, I have one more question. I have a small u shaped crack in my windshield all the way at the top (it almost encircles my rear view mirror), and I'm wondering if my entire windshield integrity would suffer due to that crack. Should I get the windshield replaced just for a small crack? Would it make any difference?

 

[Rob Wadsworth]

Surely if the local PD can see it, they will issue an equipment violation for the crack.
Sometimes if you can ooze enough super-glue into the crack - it will seal it and sometimes render it invisible to the naked eye - if done right. Clean it up with acetone - of course.
BUT - a big 'but' too - really cold weather and the heater/defroster can make it worse or split it even farther/bigger.
It's a nice temp fix - though...

 

[Jason Boggs]

Thanks for the responses everyone. And, I have one more question. I have a small u shaped crack in my windshield all the way at the top (it almost encircles my rear view mirror), and I'm wondering if my entire windshield integrity would suffer due to that crack. Should I get the windshield replaced just for a small crack? Would it make any difference?

If you can afford it, I would go ahead and replace it. I do think the intergrity of your windshield is suffering due to the crack, so replacing it makes sense.

 

[Brandon Ivey]

A standard windshield replacement is between $300-450 QUOTE]

I have replaced 2 windshields and a rear window. Each time the bill was less than $200. I replaced my front windshield just this last May and I think it was $129. That didn't seem too expensive at the time considering we were paying $4/gal. for gas.

One thing I would recommend having in the trunk is a couple pieces of plywood. Pre-cut them to your needs before chasing, but they do come in handy if you have to travel on muddy dirt roads and get stuck. I had to use one of my factory floor mats in Eastern Colorado this year to get more traction on one of the tires that was spinning. It got us out of the mud, but a small piece or two of plywood at the time would have been nice. I ended up just leaving the floor matt out there in Eastern Colorado!