Anyone replace the windshield themselves ?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
Why would you? Most glass places only charge $100 or so to put one in and generally come to you. By the time you get the correct tools and sealants you would most likely be at least 1/2 to having someone EXPERIENCED do it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Its probably not a real tough job BUT,,,,,,,the windshield is an integral body structure and it's BONDED to the windshield frame with a special bonding adhesive. You have to have the special battery powered duel chamber application syringe to apply the bonding agent. If the surfaces are not prepped correctly, it will leak, and if you happened to get in to an accident, fail prematurely and cause more damage or injury/death.
Another point of interest is, a windshield is fairly fragile when not installed. All it takes is one small bump on the edge and your investment is trash.
I do a LOT of Corvette repairs that are "QUOTE" (A dealer tech repair) and feel confident that it was done correctly. The windshield replacement would NOT be one of them.
Visit a windshield repair facility and watch what they do. They have special tools and all the correct primers and bonding agents. They also guarantee their work.
Doesnt your insurance company cover your windshield replacement?
Just my 2 cents
Another point of interest is, a windshield is fairly fragile when not installed. All it takes is one small bump on the edge and your investment is trash.
I do a LOT of Corvette repairs that are "QUOTE" (A dealer tech repair) and feel confident that it was done correctly. The windshield replacement would NOT be one of them.
Visit a windshield repair facility and watch what they do. They have special tools and all the correct primers and bonding agents. They also guarantee their work.
Doesnt your insurance company cover your windshield replacement?
Just my 2 cents
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Let an expert do it!
When I watch the windshield replacement on my '01 vert last Summer, breaking the old sealant bond was the most difficult part of the job.
Luckily, the glass shop's owner himself came to my house along with one of his installation techs. Having done C5 Corvette windshields before, he brought a special battery operated reciprocating blade tool. Using that tool from the INSIDE of the car, it worked like magic cutting the windshield vertical side bonds.
Luckily, the glass shop's owner himself came to my house along with one of his installation techs. Having done C5 Corvette windshields before, he brought a special battery operated reciprocating blade tool. Using that tool from the INSIDE of the car, it worked like magic cutting the windshield vertical side bonds.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 5
From: Denver, North Carolina
I have had several windshields replaced on some of my other vehicles and the professionals make it look easy. I say best to let them handle it.
I just wonder why my C5 windshield has pitted so badly (especialially noticable and annoying when driving into the sun). Other vehicles I've owned have had twice the mileage and the windshields weren't half as pitted.
I just wonder why my C5 windshield has pitted so badly (especialially noticable and annoying when driving into the sun). Other vehicles I've owned have had twice the mileage and the windshields weren't half as pitted.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Pro
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 626
Likes: 0
From: Fresno CA
Some windshields are an EZ install, not so on the C5. I just had mine done and it was really involved. The installer really worked hard on all the removal and reinstall. He even replaced all the weather stripping that surrounds the outside of the window. This is the weather stripping the targa top and side windows seal to. He did a nice job and has a lifetime leakage install guarantee. It was 100% covered on my comp.(glass breakage). I checked the charge......$900. I had a soda while this guy worked over 2 hours!
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Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 35,874
Likes: 1,600
From: Honolulu HI
Some windshields are an EZ install, not so on the C5. I just had mine done and it was really involved. The installer really worked hard on all the removal and reinstall. He even replaced all the weather stripping that surrounds the outside of the window. This is the weather stripping the targa top and side windows seal to. He did a nice job and has a lifetime leakage install guarantee. It was 100% covered on my comp.(glass breakage). I checked the charge......$900. I had a soda while this guy worked over 2 hours!
No way would I consider doing this myself...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,030
Likes: 9,788
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Since comprehensive insurance covers glass replacement as long as the glass is damaged to the point the insurance company considers it dangerous they will pay to replace it. The job is not easy and when I had a shop replace the broken windshield on my 03Z in 2007 I ended up with a year and a half long saga that involved two major leaks, multiple trips to the shop to try and get the leaks fixed, the shop owner throwing up his hands and saying he couldn't fix it, getting State Farm involved to get him to respond, State Farm telling me to choose another shop and paying for another complete windshield and weather strip replacement. When it was all said and done it only cost me heartache and time. If it needs to be replaced get some money back from the insurance company and save yourself a bunch of heartache. If the job gets screwed up you have your insurance company on your side. It will not affect the cost of your insurance.
Bill
Bill
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 946
Likes: 2
I watched mine get replaced. It is a very complicated job, believe it or not. Not from the glass at all, but in removing the seals so that they can be reused. If you mess that up, you are out at least $550, and possibly $1200. Plus, as everyone already mentioned, your insurance company is required by federal law to fix it. I paid $0.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 381
Likes: 3
Good info guys, you've convinced me, I'll let a pro do it.
By the way, the reason I brought it up. My C5 has been outside under a car cover for nearly two months, while I had my wife's Supra in the garage doing a bunch of maintenance items, and detail work in my spare time.
The other day, I moved her car out, to move mine in. Took the car cover off, and discovered I had a crack from top to bottom of windshield. I had a tiny, and I mean tiny tiny rock chip, that I picked up at the end of Summer. You had to look really close to see it at all, and it appeared to be just a surface chippy, nowhere near even remotely deep. I can't underscore enough how tiny it was. Anyway, the crack went right through the spot of the chip. Last time I drove the car, was just the tiny chip. While the car was outside, we experienced a week of really cold weather for here, got down to 8 degrees most of the week for the low. Wonder if the cold caused the crack itself, because of the tiny chip as a starting place ?
By the way, the reason I brought it up. My C5 has been outside under a car cover for nearly two months, while I had my wife's Supra in the garage doing a bunch of maintenance items, and detail work in my spare time.
The other day, I moved her car out, to move mine in. Took the car cover off, and discovered I had a crack from top to bottom of windshield. I had a tiny, and I mean tiny tiny rock chip, that I picked up at the end of Summer. You had to look really close to see it at all, and it appeared to be just a surface chippy, nowhere near even remotely deep. I can't underscore enough how tiny it was. Anyway, the crack went right through the spot of the chip. Last time I drove the car, was just the tiny chip. While the car was outside, we experienced a week of really cold weather for here, got down to 8 degrees most of the week for the low. Wonder if the cold caused the crack itself, because of the tiny chip as a starting place ?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 35,874
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From: Honolulu HI
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,100
Likes: 17
From: Somers, CT and Clermont, FL
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
