Great experience getting my windshield replaced

[road_rascal]

Be happy you avoided Safelite. My experience with them was not good. First windshield ended up leaking water down the interior pillars. Second guy came out, said the first didn't do it right, ordered a new windshield, installed and then the exterior pillars flew off going down the highway. No bueno.

I had Safelite repair the windshield on my old Rav4 years ago and they broke a few pieces of the plastic cowling which I didn't notice until a few weeks later.

 

[nthach]

Doesn’t need to be sunny or warm to cure.

The new urethanes from Sika and DuPont, provided there is no rust on the pinchweld(and it so, it’s repaired per TDS), and the installer takes care to clean and prep the new glass and existing urethane can provide a safe drive-away time in 30-60 minutes.

Safelife was using Sika’s SikaTack Mach 30/60, AFAIK. The only prep needed was to apply their activator onto the glass frit unless specified.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Typical entitled union factory workers. Whiney and slow, like you owe them something. Now I don't like chicoms one bit but it's good to teach some work ethic. Do this and X speed or be fired. No one is forcing you to work. You wanna be lazy, go work at USPS.

I don't believe anyone is making $12hr TBH, maybe if you are from China? And there's probably extra pay back home.

Don't shoot the messenger. Just thru it out there. You're decision if you would like to watch this documentary. I happened to think it was good viewing it. To each their own -)

 

[VWRand]

Don't shoot the messenger. Just thru it out there. You're decision if you would like to watch this documentary. I happened to think it was good viewing it. To each their own -)

That documentary was released 7 years ago. Don't know that it is applicable to what goes on now.

 

[Huskyguy68]

I had Safelite repair the windshield on my old Rav4 years ago and they broke a few pieces of the plastic cowling which I didn't notice until a few weeks later.

As a former auto glass installer, happened with myself and coworkers.
Even to the best, most careful , most experienced techs. These windshield cowls get fragile over time, exposed to the elements.
Especially sunlight, UV rays. Get all brittle and easily crack, fall apart.

Same with all other outside plastic vehicle trim peices.
Sometimes we had to order new peice or locate a used one .
Sometimes even NEW , things break , just thin plastic crap held on with fasteners, often in such a way that it seemed like it was never meant to be removed and reinstalled.
Ugh, how i hated that trade. Pay poorly versus other trades, mostly non Union, stingy with raises, expect you to do the installer tech job and the manager's duties, cashier, janitor. Do in shop work plus mobile, lucky to get a 30 minute lunch break.
I worked at over 10 auto glass shops in 30 years, same crap

I had Safelite repair the windshield on my old Rav4 years ago and they broke a few pieces of the plastic cowling which I didn't notice until a few weeks later.

 

[Arc]

If only there was a glass cleaner that could make a windshield as clear as when it's new. I love getting a new windshield installed.

 

[Lawnman23]

If only there was a glass cleaner that could make a windshield as clear as when it's new. I love getting a new windshield installed.

I’ve had good luck with using Stoner Invisible Glass on the inside glass.

https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Glass-91164-2PK-19-Ounce-Can-Case/dp/B07B4QDZHQ

 

[rszappa1]

I’ve had good luck with using Stoner Invisible Glass on the inside glass.

https://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Glass-91164-2PK-19-Ounce-Can-Case/dp/B07B4QDZHQ

Adams brilliant glaze works great on the inside....gets rid of all the haze...

 

[Lawnman23]

Adams brilliant glaze works great on the inside....gets rid of all the haze...

Ironically, thats how I discovered Invisible Glass, inside glass was getting hazy from off gassing.

 

[4wd]

We live near gravel mines - it’s not if - it’s when …
Have a solid mom & pop shop - competitive, excellent with insurance, and really good at repairs to avoid replacement

 

[MrkofXcellence]

Recently, watched a documentary on Fuyao. They purchased an old GM plant in Michigan awhile back. Combination of Chinese and American workers. CEO said the American workers complain too much, work too slow, and are too worried about safety. UAW tried to Unionize the plant. It was voted down by the employees. They make $12 bucks an hour. American employees got fired if they had a problem with a computer program. Toward the end of the documentary, Fuyao was bringing in more robots to do the work, and pink slipped American employees on the spot. Never saw a Chinese employee get canned in that documentary. It's on Netflix, if anybody wants to watch it.

I saw the same documentary as you. It kept manufacturing in America, but at a heavy cost (not referring to $ cost).

 

[Kira]

I love getting a new windshield installed.

A snow plow heaved a rock into the aged windshield of my '76 E100 van.
The clarity of the new glass was astounding.

I've a windshield to replace now and I've a family shop and a Safelite nearby.

I just might go back to Brooklyn to see if "they're" still in business.
A board nailed on a telephone reading "Windshields $160".....Maybe the price has gone up since?

 

[Owen Lucas]

A snow plow heaved a rock into the aged windshield of my '76 E100 van.
The clarity of the new glass was astounding.

Was it hard findign the windshield for an older vehicle? I figure these are the same ones as an F150 of the era, so maybe not.

Did it come with new chrome molding around the glass?

 

[Kira]

This happened years ago. Though my van was an E100, it read E150 on the side.
I benefited from it being a truck.

Unbeknownst to me, the $160 offer was for clear glass. They sent a guy to fetch one from the warehouse.
He returned with a tinted windshield because they had no plain ones. A $10 premium (the '80's was a different time) was added.
I said "You never asked me"....so they dropped the $10 premium.