What to look for in replacement windshield?

[Moab]

I had a windshield replaced in my Yukon last year. And I know I made sure it was stamped with some sort of authentication that is was the real deal. What do you look for in a new Jeep TJ windshield? Mopar? ARe they hard to find? I think the last installer was some guy on CL that did the whole thing for $200. Right out in front of my house. I have the same problem now as with my Yukon. The windshield is pitted pretty bad. Looks like it spent it's fair share of time out in the desert or something. Driving into afternoon light all the pits and specs show up. And the window is covered in them. I don't have great vision. So I want to get it replaced eventually.

 

[Jim B]

I had a windshield replaced in my Yukon last year. And I know I made sure it was stamped with some sort of authentication that is was the real deal. What do you look for in a new Jeep TJ windshield? Mopar? ARe they hard to find? I think the last installer was some guy on CL that did the whole thing for $200. Right out in front of my house. I have the same problem now as with my Yukon. The windshield is pitted pretty bad. Looks like it spent it's fair share of time out in the desert or something. Driving into afternoon light all the pits and specs show up. And the window is covered in them. I don't have great vision. So I want to get it replaced eventually.

I don't know how to identify a quality windshield but you may want to have them install the mirror mount higher which will give you better vision.
I recently had a Windshield replaced in my Toyota and notice a lot of sand pits in it which didn't happen in the original windshield so there is a quality difference.

 

[Moab]

I don't know how to identify a quality windshield but you may want to have them install the mirror mount higher which will give you better vision.
I recently had a Windshield replaced in my Toyota and notice a lot of sand pits in it which didn't happen in the original windshield so there is a quality difference.

Great idea! I hadn't thought of that at all. And I'm 6'3" so that helps alot. I did turn it upside down. But I could use all the help with height that I can get.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

I've had a few replacement windshields installed into my TJ and so long as it has a DOT number and Laminated AS-1 in the corner I was good with it. AS-2 doesn't pass all the impact tests, AS-1 does.

 

[Daryl]

PPG makes a good replacement windshield.

 

[LukesfirstJeep]

Where I live there are several companies that will replace your windshield in your driveway or where you work. All their products meet the necessary standards. I know two of the owners.

There are a lot of stone and other truck son the road, so cracked windshields are common for my family. FWIW, my last one $220 installed. Most are covered by my insurance.

 

[Moab]

That's what it was DOT AS-1. Thanks JErry.

 

[Dan T.]

I recently had mine replaced from that company who is always advertising on TV and Radio. It was AS-1. I just also used a recent company for my wife's Infiniti. Company was Auto Glass Now, which I believe has a national presence. They were more affordable and used the same brand aftermarket glass. Good Luck.

 

[primetime4]

I generally obsess with keeping everything original on my Jeep. Unfortunately TJ windshields are no longer available from Mopar and I checked. Even after agreeing to the $650 replacement cost they are nowhere to be found so I ultimately went with PPG which seems better than the aftermarket one I had before it. My original lasted about 14 years. The generic replacement 1 year and leaked like crazy. The PPG one seems to be holding up well for the last 2.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

I owned a glass company.

While OEM windshields are generally 2 to 3 times the cost of the most expensive aftermarket windshields they aren't any better. They are the only way to get certain logos unless the OEM comes from PPG, Pilkington, which aren't the only OEM glass supplier.

PPG and Pilkington are the best aftermarket brands out there. They generally make about 20,000 of any particular windshield then replace the tooling.

SafeLite makes their own glass which I had to use a few times due to it being the quickest and easiest to get what I needed. They will make 50,000 or more windshields per tooling. They start out pretty good but the more they make the worse they get. Anyone ever see "waves" while looking "diagonally" through the windshield of the car beside you at a redlight? If so that was most likely a SafeLite windshield that was made in some older tooling. The worse (more and/or bigger) the waves, the older the tooling. The more curvature in the design of the windshield, the more noticeable the waves.

We also have Auto Glass Now not too far from me. They buy any brand they can get their hands on. Their main goal is the cheapest, then the fastest they can get. They also use the same goals for whatever urethane (black glue-like stuff) they install with. Some, of either glass or urethane, is better than others. If you have a dozen 2016 Chevy vans that were vandalized last night and need new windshields, they will get to your shop by early afternoon today. I'm sure they will get there today because they can sell you 12 windshields while putting 8 other customers on hold. I would be surprised if they had less than 3 three different brand windshields ready to install. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if they brought 5 or more brands.

After all that I'll add that you don't ever want to take a car to a dealer for glass repair. They generally just farm it out to the cheapest they can get the job done whether or not they supply OEM glass then charge you as if their factory trained technicians are the only people that could possibly know how to install it.

I hope this helps.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

... My original lasted about 14 years. The generic replacement 1 year and leaked like crazy.

The generic windshield didn't leak, the installer rushed/botched its sealing process.

 

[JEEPCJTJ]

I generally obsess with keeping everything original on my Jeep. Unfortunately TJ windshields are no longer available from Mopar and I checked. Even after agreeing to the $650 replacement cost they are nowhere to be found so I ultimately went with PPG which seems better than the aftermarket one I had before it. My original lasted about 14 years. The generic replacement 1 year and leaked like crazy. The PPG one seems to be holding up well for the last 2.

I'm glad to hear that your PPG is doing well.

As for your generic replacement the glass itself wasn't the problem. Leaks are the result of of any number of things, including:

1. improper "lubrication" while cutting out the broken windshield
2. improper clean up of cut urethane
3. not using correct primer that matches the urethane used (where needed)
4. improper clean up of new windshield
5. not using correct primer on the glass
6. not properly running the urethane bead
7. rubbing your sleeve (or arm, or whatever) in the bead while setting the glass
8. waiting too long between running the bead and setting the glass
9. setting or partially setting the glass then removing it for whatever reason then setting it again

 

[06TJ35's]

Link to the ppg anyone ?

 

[GoldenGorilla]

Link to the ppg anyone ?

This thread hasn't been active in 6 years.

PPG is just the producer. Call around your area and ask installers if they use PPG and if they have it for your Jeep.

WIndshields are broken all the time here in CO. I have my own professional windshield repair kit and carry it in my vehicle on any road trip, including a small battery dremel and diamond bit and UV light to cure the resin. Broke my TJs windshield the first time within a month of buying it new.

Currently have a cracked windshield in 2 of my cars and am trying to make to late spring to replace them, when most of the winter gravel is off the roads. Both of those will cost $1k+.

 

[John Cooper]

Dang another resurrection......


I was gonna answer the question........

Glass ........

 

[GoldenGorilla]

Glass ........

You say that, but I was very surprised to find a thread about someone using acrylic a year or moire back.
It's not DOT legal, don't try that at home kids.

 

[suicideking]

Between the 3 Jeeps I've owned, I've had 4 windshield replacements. For the TJ, I have a local guy that will do a generic windshield for $150. No complaints considering how easy they are to damage.