Cracked Windshield Club

[ShadowsPapa]

Just got mine replaced this morning. Pretty the car wash did mine in.

Wow, that looks more like a stress crack or something chipped the edge of the glass. Once there's the tiniest of nicks on the edge, wipe off an area of the windshield to remove all bugs, and kiss it goodbye.

I’m not convinced a “shield” type approach over top of the glass is going to fix the issue, unless it’s separated and riding above the glass with a buffer zone. I say that because the Gorilla glass is basically a shield, and they’re breaking right and left too according to the owners that have it.

No, the applied shields do work - proven, and no, GG is NOT a shield!
The GG layer is the inside layer, next to your face in the cab.
People keep thinking the Gorilla glass is the layer facing the june bugs and flies, it's not.
The point of Gorilla Glass is to protect the occupants in event of a serious glass hit, and to save weight. GG cuts the weight of the windshield by about 1/3. That's a lot.
It also prevents occupants from getting glass in the face if there's a hard enough hit.

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[Cracked_Windshield]

No, the applied shields do work - proven, and no, GG is NOT a shield!
The GG layer is the inside layer, next to your face in the cab.
People keep thinking the Gorilla glass is the layer facing the june bugs and flies, it's not.
The point of Gorilla Glass is to protect the occupants in event of a serious glass hit, and to save weight. GG cuts the weight of the windshield by about 1/3. That's a lot.
It also prevents occupants from getting glass in the face if there's a hard enough hit.

This article doesn’t support what you’re claiming:

”In the case of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, the models' newly available windshield option consists of a thin Gorilla Glass inner ply and a 52 percent thicker outer ply. As a result, it ought to provide ample resistance to chips and cracks from the rocks and other debris Jeep owners encounter both on- and off-road.”

https://www.motortrend.com/news/jeep-wrangler-gladiator-gorilla-glass-windshield/

This article further elaborates on the construction:

”In a traditional windshield, two sheets of heat-strengthened glass are connected with a third layer of thermoplastic which binds the two together. In Cornering Gorilla Glass windshields, the three layers involved are a hybrid glass layer for the interior of the vehicle, a heat-strengthened glass exterior, and a layer of noise-absorbing thermoplastic between them.”

https://www.akinsford.com/blog/what-is-gorilla-glass-windshield/

I just walked the dog and was checking out some of the windshields on my neighbors vehicles. They’re sloped as much as 45 degrees or more, and that’s why they’re not easily broken. Same goes for the Challenger I traded in on this Rubicon. It took four really bad hits and never broke. This Gladiator is like throwing rocks at the side of a glass barn hurtling in your direction.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

This article doesn’t support what you’re claiming:

”In the case of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, the models' newly available windshield option consists of a thin Gorilla Glass inner ply and a 52 percent thicker outer ply. As a result, it ought to provide ample resistance to chips and cracks from the rocks and other debris Jeep owners encounter both on- and off-road.”

https://www.motortrend.com/news/jeep-wrangler-gladiator-gorilla-glass-windshield/

I just walked the dog and was checking out some of the windshields on my neighbors vehicles. They’re sloped as much as 45 degrees, and that’s why they’re not easily broken. Same goes for the Challenger I traded in on this Rubicon. It took four really bad hits and never broke. This Gladiator is like throwing rocks at the side of a glass barn hurtling in your direction.

Inner ply is the inside by your face. Outer ply is the part facing the rain.

MT as usual is hyping marketing talk and isn't explaining what outer and inner mean.

It's BETTER, yes, and will likely prevent some of the cracks or damage out there, but not all because the outer layer is STILL soda lime glass.
The inner layer is GG - note INNER. And where's the inner layer? Next to your face.
They aren't talking of the CENTER ply that holds the inner and outer together, that's still the same stretchy stuff. The center ply is the same as always.

I've posted this a half dozen times, guess it's time to show it again -



Here, if you don't want to see the whole process and learn how it compares, skip right to the part where they show the outer layer is still soda lime glass - and how it still breaks.

 

[PDiddy]

Wow, that looks more like a stress crack or something chipped the edge of the glass. Once there's the tiniest of nicks on the edge, wipe off an area of the windshield to remove all bugs, and kiss it goodbye.



No, the applied shields do work - proven, and no, GG is NOT a shield!
The GG layer is the inside layer, next to your face in the cab.
People keep thinking the Gorilla glass is the layer facing the june bugs and flies, it's not.
The point of Gorilla Glass is to protect the occupants in event of a serious glass hit, and to save weight. GG cuts the weight of the windshield by about 1/3. That's a lot.
It also prevents occupants from getting glass in the face if there's a hard enough hit.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. All it took was the car wash to make it run down the window.

 

[Cracked_Windshield]

I’m beginning to feel like Safelite played me. They called right away, claiming they had a windshield to set up an appointment, to which I agreed to. Safelite then cancelled the appointment a couple of days laters, saying the windshield is on back order at the dealership. Last I heard from them, and it’s been a couple of weeks now.

How long has it been taking those of you that got your rock catcher’s replaced to get the new windshield put in?

 

[Hootbro]

I’m beginning to feel like Safelite played me. They called right away, claiming they had a windshield to set up an appointment, to which I agreed to. Safelite then cancelled the appointment a couple of days laters, saying the windshield is on back order at the dealership. Last I heard from them, and it’s been a couple of weeks now.

How long has it been taking those of you that got your rock catcher’s replaced to get the new windshield put in?

Are you stuck in getting OEM MOPAR glass? Vitro is the OEM maker and can be had aftermarket from most windshield shops in a couple days if not same day.

 

[Cracked_Windshield]

It wouldn’t be fair to frame it as me being “stuck” getting OEM glass, because I won’t settle for anything less. My vehicle still has less thank 4 miles.

And a “hell yes,” if they can somehow get me the Gorilla glass for a replacement, even if I have to cough up some extra money beyond my $50 deductible.

 

[Hootbro]

It wouldn’t be fair to frame it as me being “stuck” getting OEM glass, because I won’t settle for anything less. My vehicle still has less thank 4 miles.

And a “hell yes,” if they can somehow get me the Gorilla glass for a replacement, even if I have to cough up some extra money beyond my $50 deductible.

Fair enough.

I will say the online builder for 2023 models seems to have dropped the Gorilla Glass option and it maybe a long part constraint getting a replacement.

How Jeep has marketed Gorilla Glass and handled replacements has left a lot to be desired. Hopefully you get what you want.

 

[Cracked_Windshield]

Yeah, I’ve studied the pros and cons of the Gorilla glass, and the fact that it’s almost impossible to get because of supply chain issues isn’t lost on me, but if some divine intervention occurs and Safelite manages to get me one, I’ll take it over the regular OEM.

No harm living in fantasy land until the next (800-pound gorilla) rock bursts my bubble (windshield).

 

[Rusty PW]

Gorilla Glass is made from chemically strengthened alkali-aluminosilicate. The product's strength is a result of the ion exchange process the glass undergoes during manufacturing. Once the glass has been manufactured, it is dipped in a bath of molten salt. Gorilla Glass is on the inner ply of the laminate [windshield]

The diagram on the Corning website show a sodium lime glass, a polyvinyl butyral middle, the gorilla glass.

 

[Cracked_Windshield]

I’m at Safelite typing this, and the price is definitely higher than I was quoted to replace the windshield.

OEM Windshield Part: $900.15
Labor: $386
Tax: $70.66
Total: $1356.81

Plus my $50 deductible.

Ugh, this was an expensive hit! ?

Interestingly enough, they showed me the new one before installing it, and the manufacturing date was 2020, according to the part sticker.

Be careful out there!!!

 

[flipboltz]

Ok. GG cracked 5 days after initial pickup from the dealer. Took to dealership a couple months later, got the run around, guys says most likely Jeep won't cover. I totally forget about the whole thing, just driving with the windshield messed up. Never hear back from Jeep or the Dealer - Guy just never put the claim in. Decide to look at my insurance, I have $100 windshield replacement. Put claim in, make appt at Safelite, totally expecting to get cheap Safelite windshield. Wasn't even going to fight anything. Get to my appt yesterday, check in, guy is like so we have the GG in and we'll get this replaced right away. 40 minutes & $100 later, brand new GG windshield. Wow.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Ok. GG cracked 5 days after initial pickup from the dealer. Took to dealership a couple months later, got the run around, guys says most likely Jeep won't cover. I totally forget about the whole thing, just driving with the windshield messed up. Never hear back from Jeep or the Dealer - Guy just never put the claim in. Decide to look at my insurance, I have $100 windshield replacement. Put claim in, make appt at Safelite, totally expecting to get cheap Safelite windshield. Wasn't even going to fight anything. Get to my appt yesterday, check in, guy is like so we have the GG in and we'll get this replaced right away. 40 minutes & $100 later, brand new GG windshield. Wow.

If you look at the fine print of some of the windshield warranties and other coverages, you need to report damage within xx hours or yy days. You can't wait 2 months and then go "oh, by the way".
My coverage - they ask WHEN, the date that it happened................

For me, it's really hard to drive around with busted glass and not remember it LOL - it's in your face every time you get in, or my wife would ask - when are you going to do something about that?

 

[snowbear]

I joined a couple weeks ago, from driving on the Capitol Beltway. Safelite just left and put in OEM glass.

 

[Idlethunder]

I'm a member as of about 8 am this morning. Had driven 20 miles with heater / defrost on and 24 degrees outside. Watched the crack happen while parked as I opened the door. It started at lower edge in front of steering wheel and comes up a few inches then turns toward passenger side and runs approx another 6". I made it about 10,800 miles before getting first one on the Gladiator and I'm kind of proud about that

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