Hailstorm damage

[andyj]

We did have a bad hailstorm last Thursday in Adelaide with hailstones the size of golf balls. My TJ got badly damaged, the bonnet looks like a golf ball, the windscreen is cracked, indicators at the front and the rear lights are knocked out. I temporarily fixed it with sticky tape and epoxy glue over the weekend...

Basically I've quite a few questions now regarding new parts:

I found indicators on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0977KCQ2Q/
What is your opinion about them, are they any good? Maybe someone has them already and can tell us about it. It's actually not the glass that is broken, but the plastic "screws" that hold them in place in the fender.

However I didn't find matching rear lights yet. I thought it would be nice to have something that has not that clumsy huge case and matches that grey smoke glass of the signal lights above. I do like the savvy ones (https://savvyoffroad.com/product/sav-tl/) but it appears that there is no European version not to mention that grayish stuff. Any recommendations?

Most importantly, the wind screen: https://www.autoglasswarehouse.com.au/jeep-wrangler-tj-11-1996-to-2-2007-2dr-wagon-front

Is it difficult to replace it? Do I need new rubber linings, etc.? How do I get the rear mirror off the old windscreen and how is it glued to the new one (what glue)?

Thanks,

Andy

 

[Ironman]

Wow, that’s a shame. Good news is that flat glass is the easiest to replace. Due to the age of our rigs I would replace the rubber. I will let others help you with the rear view mirror because I would be guessing. There is special glue to reattach it. Best wishes on your repairs.

 

[John Cooper]

Dang it is bad, hail storm so bad it knocked the steering wheel slap to the wrong side!!!!!!!

For real though I hate hail storms, and am sorry yours got hit!!!

 

[JKP]

The rear view mirror just slips over the metal mount that is glued to the windshield and has a set screw to hold it.

The new windshield should have the metal mount already installed for the mirror, just slide it on and tighten the set screw.

 

[bucky]

I would replace the rubber it will easier to put in the new glass and does not cost that much. Just had the one on my YJ replaced last year at my local glass shop for $125. They used the rope technique to put it in place. YouTube should have a video on it. Mine did not come with the metal mounting tab so they just used the old one. Make sure you clean the area with alcohol before gluing. Your local auto parts store should have the glue.
For the dents in the hood try dry ice. We get hail like that in North Dakota and it worked on my pickup hood. After that incident I always try to park my vehicles in one of the pole barns.

 

[Fishtaco]

Just one consideration the export side indicators are different to the US ones well they didn't fit my 06 anyway!, If you look on Quadratec they have domestic and export side indicators, the US ones I bought from Amazon didn't line up. I can post you the US ones if you like to make sure the new ones you are looking at (front/side kit) will fit.

We were lucky in Perth the hail was small, came a day before you guys, some strange weather this year that's for sure! one day it was 29c the next it was 10c, I thought it was going to snow but it just hailed.

 

[Fishtaco]

I would replace the rubber it will easier to put in the new glass and does not cost that much. Just had the one on my YJ replaced last year at my local glass shop for $125. They used the rope technique to put it in place. YouTube should have a video on it. Mine did not come with the metal mounting tab so they just used the old one. Make sure you clean the area with alcohol before gluing. Your local auto parts store should have the glue.
For the dents in the hood try dry ice. We get hail like that in North Dakota and it worked on my pickup hood. After that incident I always try to park my vehicles in one of the pole barns.

How does the Dry Ice work and method? Cheers

Deadwood lol Got to visit me some North Dakota next time We are in USA, that's if its mining boom is over else I will have to take out a small mortgage for a hotel room!

 

[bucky]

Dry ice shrinks the metal and pulls the dent out.

 

[dbbd1]

Dry ice shrinks the metal and pulls the dent out.

Do you heat it first, then apply the dry ice?

 

[andyj]

Just one consideration the export side indicators are different to the US ones well they didn't fit my 06 anyway!, If you look on Quadratec they have domestic and export side indicators, the US ones I bought from Amazon didn't line up. I can post you the US ones if you like to make sure the new ones you are looking at (front/side kit) will fit.

The side indicators look the same, only that small slick pin at the back is actually a plastic screw on the ones that I have - so it may not fit. Thanks for that hint! I don't get it why car manufacturers make these minor changes for the very same model; it's really making things hard.
I just ordered the windscreen replacement (after trying to phone them for days). 475 bucks. Feels like a rip off to be honest. (