Greetings,

I need to get a new windshield on a '95 F-150 in the next few days. I know there are some CHEAP deals out there, but I am wondering if they are cheap/crappy/crack-proned??

Are there any certain brands to look for, or to avoid?

Thanks,
Lee Atkinson

 

PPG always looked wavy to me. I like to use Carlite.

 

Stick with Carlite.

 

Pilkington is a good glass....

-Wes

 

I've got a Pilkington windsheild on my current F150, it was there when I got it. I never heard of them before.

 

I've seen a couple safelites that were wavy

 

I work for one of the big glass companies and its either Carlite (DOT75), Pilkington(DOT177 or DOT15), or a old stock PPG (look for DOT18). PPG was bought by PGW (DOT904) and their glass is just as bad as all the other stuff XYG(DOT563), FG(DOT459), Safelite(DOT65).

Glass gets rebranded as well, the DOT's really tell you where stuff was made.

On these older truck's is real common for the metal clips that hold the chrome moldings to get rusted and loose tension. Might be a good idea to pickup some extras to replace to bad ones. Another things is there are drain holes in the bottom pinch weld area that often get clogged with dirt and will cause water to backup and more quickly expedite the rusting on the bottom of the windshield area, be sure to clear them out and not to get the new glue in them.

 

Excellent information, thank you!

Thanks everyone, for your input.

Lee

 

Any idea where we can find those clips at? I need to pick some up for my '95.

Great info, by the way.

 

UPDATE: Called a local "reputable" company a bit ago. They were going to install a PPG windshield - so I asked if they could get a Carlite or Pilkington. They made some phone calls, and said they would get me a Carlite for the same price, but it would be a 10-15 day wait.

Called a no-name place. They had Pilkington, will install it in the morning, and were $25 cheaper than the first place!

Thanks for the advice fellas!
Lee

 

I want to bump this old post because I am currently seeking info/education on the subject. One BIG thing I notice that always seems to be left out of these posts where people start asking about OEM vs. Aftermarket vs. Replacement glass...
After you decide what (brand) of glass you are going to get...Carlite,Pilkington, PPG or PGW. You need to start trying to figure out WHO IS GOING TO INSTALL IT!
The BEST CARLITE glass is not worth .02 cents if the INSTALLER is some 1/2 a**, Sloppy, Bang it in as fast as he can type of guy!
WHAT adhesive are they going to use?
Are they CERTIFIED by the adhesive manufacture? (Just learned that one a few minutes ago! Something to do with below mentioned AGRSS certification and that if they are AGRSS certified they also have agreements/requirements to be "certified" by the adhesive manufacturer. IE: They are trained in the proper specifications and use of the particular type of adhesive they use to install the (ABC brand glass).
Do they touch the glass with their greasy fingers where the adhesive will be as they install it? (or do they wear gloves as they should)?
Do they properly clean & prime the area of adhesion before they install glass?
Are they "AGRSS Certified" ?
(Guess this is another big one. It seems that if they ARE, They have specialized, up to date training...)
As can be seen....The point I am making here is that PROPER INSTALLATION PROCEDURES are maybe 90% of whether the job is a GOOD one or a BAD one.
There seems to be a LOT of talk about the (BRAND) of glass used. Depending on what web site you get your information from, My interpretation is that just about ALL the glass MUST MEET certain FEDERAL DOT SPECIFICATIONS! There is not "thinner glass" or "glass with less lead content so it's softer..." .
While Carlite (may) be the "brand" that was (originally licensed) to make the "OEM"
glass at the time your vehicle was made. Today a DIFFERENT company (brand) may be the one "licensed" to supply the glass for oh, lets say Ford F Series Trucks.
My understanding is that there are ORIGINAL MOLDS that the big auto manufactures provide the specifications for (length, width, height, curvature...) This is a (trade secret) if you will. But these "shapes" are EASILY reproduced today by REVERSE ENGINEERING by aftermarket glass producers. There are things about just WHO can print certain "brand names" or "LOGOS" on the glass being supplied to the factories & dealerships. This goes back to the licensing deals made between the factory and glass producer, (at the time).
I am CERTAINLY NOT an expert in this industry. I am just repeating (some) of what I have been learning about this subject. BUT again, what seems to get left out and is NO LESS important than who "made" the glass is...
WHO will install it and the quality and education they have as a glass installer!
One thing I am trying to look up and understand is the difference between when the glass is installed at the factory vs. when you have it replaced by (whoever).
It seems as though it's impossible for replacement glass to be installed without there being evidence of the fact that it's been replaced in the form of black adhesive squeeze out being seen. Has anyone had a front windshield replaced and NOT be able to see some evidence of the fact that it's been replaced?
Anyway, I know there are lot's of people with LOTS of different opinions on the subject. Unfortunately, most posts seem to get involved with the "brand name" of the glass manufacturer and leave out what is probably 95% the MOST important aspect of a windshield replacement. The quality of the install job!!!!!!

 

I had Safelite replace the windshield in my son's 95 F150 about a year ago and he told me that Pilkington is what used to be Libby-Owens-Ford (LOF). LOF was OEM for GM back in the day. I had him put in Carlite, but the Pilkington in my 91 F150 is still there and looks great so I think they are OK.

 

I can tell you this, I wouldn't let Saftelite install a piece of glass in ANY one of my vehicle. After working at a body shop I got to see the way correct to install a piece of glass and then there is how Satellite installs glass

 

Diesel Brad:.... Care to specify some of the "correct" procedures involved with installing the glass. I am glad to see people interested in posting to this thread, but would really like some knowledgeable folks to (talk) about proper installation procedures vs. what I guess many consider the inferior, mass commercialized, guys.... Safelite, with their catchy commercial gingle.("Safelite repaire, safelite replace"). I looked up by zip code (on a site I came across) for who was AGRSS (Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standards) certified in my area. I thought a bunch of the local glass shops would come up. NOPE! There are many but they are NOT EVERYONE. And NONE of the big popular names! I guess short of getting some good comprehensive information on this site I will have to start making phone calls to these glass shops and hearing what stories they have to (push/sell). Unfortunately, These days it seems VERY HARD to find people to be honest and give information in an unbiased way. (Never let the truth get in the way of a new customer!). You folks probably know what I mean. Look forward to any NEW/GOOD information about what to look for in an installer and what to look out for. Brad:...Do you suggest I call body shops and ask them who they sub contract out their glass installs to and what they think of the quality of the job? Or are (they) really even going to know the "DETAILS" of a good job vs. a bad one? Except from the uneducated public that comes back with a complaint afterwards. Let's not forget, Short of the most obvious screw ups, Many IMPROPER installs may not be known or visible to the eye OR until much later date or an accident. There may be an argument that "sloppy looking work" might actually be a good installer making sure he put enough adhesive to maybe fill in where a not perfect shaped glass might have left a space that could have leaked or not made contact with the adhesive? Maybe "squeeze out" of adhesive is just the way it is with any replaced windshield? I would REALLY like to know these things BEFORE I have some monkey install my window! DDT

 

I installed glass myself back in the 80s. The Safelite guy did a good job and was very professional and clean. He also had some cool tools that we did not have back in the day. It's been over a year and no problems. YMMV.