windshield chip
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 987
Likes: 152
From: California
Congratulations on the new car! So sorry you were "rocked" so quickly. The clear bra is a good move, take it from one who lives in highway road rock land (AKA New Mexico). While you have your vette in, you might want to have the door handle "cups" done with the same material too. This application was cheap -$21 for both doors - eliminating finger nail scratches in the area.
I have had several 'star' chips repaired. You know, clean out the chip, add the magic goop, activate the goop, collect your bucks and send you off. I have had anywhere from OK to excellent results with the process. Best results came with the shop doing a mild grind of the star, then proceeding.
Enjoy your new ride!
I have had several 'star' chips repaired. You know, clean out the chip, add the magic goop, activate the goop, collect your bucks and send you off. I have had anywhere from OK to excellent results with the process. Best results came with the shop doing a mild grind of the star, then proceeding.
Enjoy your new ride!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 987
Likes: 152
From: California
The first week i bought my 350Z i got a chip just big enough to annoy me but not big enough for repair. so in 07 when i bought my c6 it was driven from the dealer to my garage where it sat for a week waiting for my friend to apply a product called clear plex to the windshield, along with the clear bra on the nose, mirrors, rocker panels and a couple of cut custom pieces where i felt the paint needed protection. The clear plex has been on my windshield for 5 years and not one chip. It suppose to be good for only 2 years but i only have 7000 miles on my ride so its not driven alot. I recommend you do a little research and try to find a shop that knows about clearplex and have it done. it will save you alot of stress.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,502
Likes: 465
From: Southern Utah
Sad thing is that California roads are only going to get worse as the state falls further and further into debt and diverts even more of the gasoline tax money away from road repair. If all gas tax money in the USA was actually used for roads, there is enough that there would never be a pothole anywhere.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,468
Likes: 1,149
From: Wayne Township WI
Hi... Neither of the two I had done in years past were "drill and fill"... In fact I only heard about the "drill" part last night while reading about current chip repair technology... And this one I have now, even though it is incredibly visible it is also very small.... And I think, again, from what I've read, that any repair place would likely need to make it a little larger if any fill is going to help... If it's too small they just can't get any material to be injected (apparently)...
Plus as other members have said, many insurance carriers pick up the tab for this type repair no-questions-asked. (Mine, Auto Owner's, did FWIW)
You'll be good to go, fast; and, again if you don't like the result you're out nothing. May start a search for C6-competent windshield shops for a replacement.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,355
Likes: 12
These windshields are soft and chip real easy, No different to replace than any other car. I had a chip on my wifes vert windshield, later it turned into a crack. Luckily in Florida, insurance companies have to replace windshield for free. So, maybe I helped that chip turn into a crack.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Dover NJ
Its been ready for prime time for awhile i had it done 5 years ago. Its very clear in fact i cant tell that its there from the inside . after 5 years the edges on the outside perimeter have lifted a fair amount in certain spots which i dont like, but hey its been 5 years. i never ever drive my vette in the rain but if you do i can see where the windshield wiper might cause scratches when in use because of the dirt that sits on the windshield. im sure theres a shop in your area that does this. I will post again a little later with some new info on this product . I spoke with my friend yesterday about redoing it because of the lifted edges, and he was going on and on about them improving it so i will get all the info and PM you later
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
Outcome of chip repairs will vary depending on the owners comfort level. It has worked ok for me maybe primarily because I know it will stop further splitting.
If the chip is centered visually, replacement may be the best course of action.
If the chip is centered visually, replacement may be the best course of action.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 987
Likes: 152
From: California
I looked more closely at the chip tonight... It appears a rock must have just skipped off the windshield, bottom to top... It's maybe 1/8 inch in length and barely a finger nail width wide.. And only enough depth for you to catch your finger nail on it... I know that doesn't sound like much but it sure is visible... I would say whatever the tint coat is that covers the windshield has been removed. But the way light passes through it you see the ding and then the reflection of the ding on the inside of the windshield... The guy coming to my house to install clear bra on the front of the car this weekend also does window tinting... Anyone ever heard of recoating an area that appears to have just had the outer coating skinned off???
thanks.... bob...
thanks.... bob...
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,987
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix
Hmm. Maybe I have the Hercules of windshields. I've taken so many hits that haven't cracked my windshield it's crazy. You can see little divits where rocks have hit. Heck, I had one rock literally explode when it hit. That was nuts. I do have one chip that I did have to get filled and that happened the first week I owned the car. Arizona is really rough on windshields also. All the dirt/grit in the air almost sandblasts your windshield over time.
CF Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 23,313
Likes: 25
From: Tucson Arizona
Sorry about the ding but that's an occupational hazard when you drive any car. Not long after I got my new C6 I got a small windshield ding directly in my line of sight. I had never tried a repair before but I did that time. It turned out great...in fact, you'd have trouble finding where they made the repair. Good luck.
I've never heard about Florida forcing insurance companies to replace windshields for free but it's my understanding most insurance companies will cover the entire cost of a chip repair (at no cost to the insured) instead of bearing the more substantial cost of replacement. I carry additional full glass coverage for a very nominal amount (something like $20 a year) and there's never any deductible charged for glass replacement.
I presume you've never had a windshield fixed, as in chip repair. There are small, indie companies that do it, and there are large ones like Safelite. Usually, it will run about $50-$90. They come to your house/biz, or in the case of major companies, you can find retail locations. It works.
Other than the HUD which does require a special windshield, there is no special feature of the C6 windshield other than attachment of all things such as the OnStar black box.
Other than the HUD which does require a special windshield, there is no special feature of the C6 windshield other than attachment of all things such as the OnStar black box.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,709
Likes: 1
From: Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '06
I think you may find some helpful information in the following thread...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...placement.html
Be aware that there can be some confusion about what OnStar (the windshield box) is called when you're ordering the windshield. As I recall the shop that I went through had it listed as 'GPS' in their books, not OnStar. We went back and forth a bit before we settled on the right windshield since I don't have NAV.
Also, the pins in the mirror mount often (always?) get bent when the mirror is removed. This thread explains the fix and it works perfectly.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...post1577873528
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...placement.html
Be aware that there can be some confusion about what OnStar (the windshield box) is called when you're ordering the windshield. As I recall the shop that I went through had it listed as 'GPS' in their books, not OnStar. We went back and forth a bit before we settled on the right windshield since I don't have NAV.
Also, the pins in the mirror mount often (always?) get bent when the mirror is removed. This thread explains the fix and it works perfectly.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-c...post1577873528
