Joined the Gladiator cracked window club

[BAT]

Could you please elaborate on what kind of glass repair kit you have and how it works? I've not used anything like this.
thanks.

I don't remember the exact brand but I bought a few of them from Amazon (Blue Star). But there are other brands like Rain X, etc. It contains most everything to do a pretty basic self repair to stop it from streaking if you feel it will streak on you.

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[rr11]

I had a hit sounded like a hard-shell bug, no other traffic around. Did not see any damage. As I pulled off the highway in to a gas station it split from top to bottom. Man I have 3 stars on my F250 that have been there for years no runs or cracks. Since it's in the middle of the windshield I don't know if I will bother with replacing it.

 

[IamPro2A]

So are Jeep windshields just trash?

No, the glass is no different than any other windshield. The problem is the windshield is more flat and vertical than any other car or light truck.
In this case, the cliché "It's a Jeep thing." is 100% true.

Think of how little dash there is on a Jeep compared to say a Ram truck. That's the difference in angle. The more angled windshields deflect rocks better.

 

[Choatecav]

I don't remember the exact brand but I bought a few of them from Amazon (Blue Star). But there are other brands like Rain X, etc. It contains most everything to do a pretty basic self repair to stop it from streaking if you feel it will streak on you.

Thank you

 

[Choatecav]

No, the glass is no different than any other windshield. The problem is the windshield is more flat and vertical than any other car or light truck.
In this case, the cliché "It's a Jeep thing." is 100% true.

Think of how little dash there is on a Jeep compared to say a Ram truck. That's the difference in angle. The more angled windshields deflect rocks better.

This is absolutely true.

I do a lot of shooting and check ballistics tests on ammo. There are many reports from both law enforcement as well as private shooters stating that due to the slant of conventional vehicle windshields, calibers as large as 45 ACP have been known to ricochet off if shot at the proper angle.

Jeep windshields take hits that are almost perpendicular to their surface.

This is what we get for having the ability to lay the windshield down on the hood.

 

[4xjeepr]

Had a chip repaired last August. Cleaning the windshield this morning and found a chip I had no idea was there. I don't remember anything hitting it recently. Since I retired last year it hasn't been driven that much.
Has anyone had success with the Rain-X windshield repair kit or similar kits? Like to know some real world experiences. TIA.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Had a chip repaired last August. Cleaning the windshield this morning and found a chip I had no idea was there. I don't remember anything hitting it recently. Since I retired last year it hasn't been driven that much.
Has anyone had success with the Rain-X windshield repair kit or similar kits? Like to know some real world experiences. TIA.

That's not just a chip - it's already cracked to the edge of the gla, and to the driver side a good quarter inch as well. It's "flowered", too. Is that another crack to our left of that big chip?
If it was smaller and not already cracked out, I'd say yes, the RainX kits do well for chips. But a crack to the edge means stress. My bet is that it's larger than a quarter if you include the cracks, and I would hesitate to say if it would even be successful at that size.

Those cracks............. the one from the chip to the edge........

and is that line I pointed to on the left a crack as well?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This is #2 for me - and of course, 2 weeks after the dealer agrees on a number for taking this on trade for a 2022. which probably won't be here for months. So, I told my wife we live with it until a week before this one goes to the dealer and becomes theirs. If I replace it now, my luck it will get busted again in 3 or 4 weeks.

It was LOUD, sounded like a gunshot and we were not even behind anyone.

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Yep... mine decided to crack Monday night as I slept. I know there wasn't a crack when I parked at home for the night... woke up Tuesday morning with a 6" crack diagonal from the upper drivers corner smack in the middle of my view. At least this second windshield lasted longer than the first one did... 2 months for the first, and almost 2 years for the second...

 

[4xjeepr]

That's not just a chip - it's already cracked to the edge of the gla, and to the driver side a good quarter inch as well. It's "flowered", too. Is that another crack to our left of that big chip?
If it was smaller and not already cracked out, I'd say yes, the RainX kits do well for chips. But a crack to the edge means stress. My bet is that it's larger than a quarter if you include the cracks, and I would hesitate to say if it would even be successful at that size.

Those cracks............. the one from the chip to the edge........

and is that line I pointed to on the left a crack as well?

Hadn't noticed the two line cracks until after I posted this. See now it's spread to the edge.
The line under the wiper is just glare from the canopy @ Sheetz. No damage there.
I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do a simple repair. Not really wanting to have to wait on a replacement or have to pay safelite to come out again. Was filling up my tank and that took enough of my dough.

 

[4xjeepr]

Have an appointment with Safelite on Friday to come to the house. Hoping they can do something with it being on the edge of the glass. Submitted some photos. Now to hurry up and wait.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Have an appointment with Safelite on Friday to come to the house. Hoping they can do something with it being on the edge of the glass. Submitted some photos. Now to hurry up and wait.

I'd be interested in what they say - if nothing else, to let them say what they can or can't do.

 

[4xjeepr]

I'd be interested in what they say - if nothing else, to let them say what they can or can't do.

Once I find something definitive from them, I'll post up here and let you know Papa.

 

[Summitsearcher]

Ohhhhhh. Been there done that. I went with factory replacement.?

 

[area5179]

At a little less than a year and at 6k miles I've joined the club. I got it coming home from work today and it was loud. About 5 minutes after I heard it I ANNIHILATED a robin about 4 inches up and to the right of the spot the rock hit. The bird didn't leave a mark. I highlighted the crack coming off the hit in red as it's tough to see with all the pollen on the windshield.

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