I had a brand new windshield installed and then went on a trip to Colorado about three weeks later. After 1380 miles and multiple climbs up and down through the Rockies (elevations between 6,000ft and 12,000ft) my windshield developed a crack from top to bottom just right of center after stopping for the night at 8,700ft. Wondering if anyone else has experienced this and wondering if elevation variance might be the cause. We did not take any debris impacts to the windshield up to this point.
*Windshield Issue
dst7160
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I had a brand new windshield installed and then went on a trip to Colorado about three weeks later. After 1380 miles and multiple climbs up and down through the Rockies (elevations between 6,000ft and 12,000ft) my windshield developed a crack from top to bottom just right of center after stopping for the night at 8,700ft. Wondering if anyone else has experienced this and wondering if elevation variance might be the cause. We did not take any debris impacts to the windshield up to this point.
That's never happened to me (yet)...However, I was blowing one off with compressed air in the hot sun one time and it cracked.
Sounds like yours was not able to expand (or contract) fast enough.
Sounds like yours was not able to expand (or contract) fast enough.
this happens because nobody dresses the glass edges anymore. if the sharp edges were seamed first they would not stress crack.
Thanks for all of the feedback. When I returned to the shop a small nick was found below the right windshield wiper. We apparently took a very small pebble hit which caused the failure of the windshield. The rapid changes in elevation as well as rapid fluctuations in temperature culminated in the full crack.
We are going to avoid trips of this nature (multiple ascend and descend type roads in the future). Fortunately the US is a very large country
We are going to avoid trips of this nature (multiple ascend and descend type roads in the future). Fortunately the US is a very large country
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57 Belair 2-door sedan, original 283 with a Muncie 4 speed
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392 Posts
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Denver Metro area
If you avoid trips like that, you will miss a lot of fun and beauty. Heating and cooling had more to due with it than altitude change. That is from someone with over 20 years of cross country trucking experience, and a Colorado native. Before I retired, I averaged a windshield once a year from pebbles while commuting to work, that's life.
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Insurance claim it
So many people don't know, but insurance usually pays for new windshields. I had a rear glass shatter once on a hot day (not in the 55) and insurance covered that. I've had at least 5 front windshields break or chip large enough that they said to replace it.
My insurance also paid for a full wiring harness when my old JC whittney harness shorted out and fried a bundle of wires. It was covered under fire damage.
57 Belair 2-door sedan, original 283 with a Muncie 4 speed
Joined
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392 Posts
Location:
Denver Metro area
Your 56 Chevy is for driving and enjoying, don't leave it home over one cracked windshield. I drive my cars all over the state, and if I have any damage issues, I let Hagerty take care of it.
Let me add that they also paid for the installation of the wiring harness. They called restoration places and gave me the lowest bid, which I believe they paid for 40 hours labor. I made out on that one!
Now THAT's the way to drive it. I suppose it's almost a daily driver. I was doing that when I first got mine on the road but unfortunately, not now. I'll start driving it more again when I get antique car insurance. For that I need some much needed body work done on it and the interior is out in places waiting for me to install new windows, and the outside isn't completely painted.
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