windshield pitting
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 142
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windshield pitting
Has anyone had issues with their windshield pitting easily?
I just picked up my 2022 Stingray Z51 HTC and drove from Arizona to Seattle. I didn't notice anything when I first got it but later that day or the next day I was hit by a little dust devil and also a little dust a truck kicked up once. Later when I cleaned my windshield i noticed how some of the debris was actually stuck to the glass and after cleaning it when driving in the evening with the sun directly ahead I can see 1000s of little pits.
Is the glass that soft on these or do I have something like ClearPlex on it that I cant find an edge too. Does Clearplex pit that easily? Im hoping its not the glass but cant think of a way to fix it. I was sort of thinking trying a hair dryer to see if it will self heal like PPF.
I just picked up my 2022 Stingray Z51 HTC and drove from Arizona to Seattle. I didn't notice anything when I first got it but later that day or the next day I was hit by a little dust devil and also a little dust a truck kicked up once. Later when I cleaned my windshield i noticed how some of the debris was actually stuck to the glass and after cleaning it when driving in the evening with the sun directly ahead I can see 1000s of little pits.
Is the glass that soft on these or do I have something like ClearPlex on it that I cant find an edge too. Does Clearplex pit that easily? Im hoping its not the glass but cant think of a way to fix it. I was sort of thinking trying a hair dryer to see if it will self heal like PPF.
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I have found that the windshield does indeed pit rather easily. Take the car to a trusted local automotive glass shop and see if they have a recommendation for removing some of the pits.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Missouri City, TX
Every car I have owned in the Houston metro area has hundreds of tiny pits after a few years when the sun angle hits it just right. So yes all windshield glass seems to be softer now days compared to decades ago.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Pittsburgh PA
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Unfortunately normal. How low the windshield sits and its steep angle all contribute to what you see when the sun hits it just right.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 13,219
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From: Bluffton SC via Canton Oh
Seems more prevalent on corvette. Try exoshield, it like the tear offs race cars use. Not much can be done to remove pits. Long time ago we had a member on here in the glass business, he said nothing he knew of could remove the pits.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 16,579
Likes: 7,674
From: NJ
Only notice it driving into the sun.
If a car or truck has a lot of highway use it's inevitable.
Don't bother with a film on the windshield. They suck.
Did it on my 19 Z06 what a waste of money. It scratches very easily. Then looks like ****.
Would never do that or ppf again. I've done that several times.
If it's your daily? Ppf a nice car nose? Sure.
Weekend toy? No way.
If a car or truck has a lot of highway use it's inevitable.
Don't bother with a film on the windshield. They suck.
Did it on my 19 Z06 what a waste of money. It scratches very easily. Then looks like ****.
Would never do that or ppf again. I've done that several times.
If it's your daily? Ppf a nice car nose? Sure.
Weekend toy? No way.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,011
Likes: 2,566
From: Del Boca Vista FL
Four years and 22,000 miles later after driving all over the country the windshield has pits. Part of the game. Doesn’t cause distraction while driving. Only notice it when cleaning the glass. Windshield gets damaged it will be replaced. Until then I will tolerate it.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2024
Posts: 142
Likes: 31
Only notice it driving into the sun.
If a car or truck has a lot of highway use it's inevitable.
Don't bother with a film on the windshield. They suck.
Did it on my 19 Z06 what a waste of money. It scratches very easily. Then looks like ****.
Would never do that or ppf again. I've done that several times.
If it's your daily? Ppf a nice car nose? Sure.
Weekend toy? No way.
If a car or truck has a lot of highway use it's inevitable.
Don't bother with a film on the windshield. They suck.
Did it on my 19 Z06 what a waste of money. It scratches very easily. Then looks like ****.
Would never do that or ppf again. I've done that several times.
If it's your daily? Ppf a nice car nose? Sure.
Weekend toy? No way.
about the PPF until you said yes do the front if its a daily. Well I had the front and rockers done before picking it up to drive 2300 miles home and Im glad I did. Zero issue after the dust devil and debris from the truck I was behind. Had the rest of the car ceramic coated before picking it up also.Well that sucks about everyone agreeing the windshield are soft and pit easily. My 1991 Stealth has 250,000 miles and the glass was only replaced 1x many years ago and has no noticeable pits.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,627
Likes: 1,185
From: Lake Worth Beach, Florida
Haven't noticed a problem yet with my C8 but I had two replacement windshields in my C6 due to cracks. They were substantially pitted at the time of replacement. Usually with 60,000 miles on each one.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,275
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From: Redondo Beach, California
Window glass automobile glass, does appear much softer than days of yore.
(1) A scratch on the C6 passenger's side window when my wife brushed the window with her hand's diamond ring.
(2) After ~20 years of driving my 1997 T-Bird, the windshield was annoyingly pitted from airborne sand. There's a lot of sand in the air in So California. I had the windshield replaced. I was surprised how fast this airborne sand pitting reappeared. The replacement glass appears to be much softer than the original.
(1) A scratch on the C6 passenger's side window when my wife brushed the window with her hand's diamond ring.
(2) After ~20 years of driving my 1997 T-Bird, the windshield was annoyingly pitted from airborne sand. There's a lot of sand in the air in So California. I had the windshield replaced. I was surprised how fast this airborne sand pitting reappeared. The replacement glass appears to be much softer than the original.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,490
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From: Arkansas
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '17,'22 thru '25
My 22 C8 was the worst windshield I've had for pitting. After only 6 mo. and 1600 miles it was terrible, it sparkled in the sun! I sold that coupe and bought a 23 HTC and with 3500 miles it doesn't have a fraction of what the other car had. I was careful with the 22 because it had no ppf and I was pretty sure I was going to sell it. I think some windshields are softer that others, all of them will pit but some are way worse for some reason.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,179
Likes: 910
From: Corning NY
I have noticed the same thing on my '21 coupe. There is another thread on this somewhere. I have also noticed it on my '19 Mercedes and our '20 Subaru. Needless to say modern auto glass is prone to pitting. I guess we just have to deal with it. 