I wouldn't be surprised if my '94 has the original windshield still on it. While there aren't cracks in it, it has a lot of superficial scratches and a ton of small pits on it. Is this something that can be buffed out, or is it better to just replace the windshield? There's a bit of road glare while driving at night that's kind of annoying.

 

A new one should be less than $300 installed, before tax. Windshield by itself is $160.

Didn't watch this but: https://www.powernationtv.com/two-mi...hed-auto-glass

 

When I was an automotive mgr years ago at UPS we would routinely replace windshields on the tractors than ran in areas of windy blowing sand. The glass would get tiny pits that made cleaning/seeing difficult sometimes in only a few months.

 

Don't use Safelite.

 

There's nothing better than a fresh new windshield. At night time, at least with me, it's very difficult to see thru a pitted windshield. The cost is worth it....check w/local glass shops and you'll be surprised how cheap they are installed. Not sure why to not use Safelight, though....any details on that?

 

I never thought of that, where I live we have a lot of very windy days and it's dry here so it makes sense sand and small pebbles get kicked up on the windshield a lot.

Yeah, I'm starting to think new windshields are often overlooked unless they have a giant crack running through it, at least that's been my way of thinking. I'm also curious as to why not use Safelite. They have a nation-wide warranty, but then again, I've never had a windshield replaced on any of my vehicles over the years so I have no experience with them or anybody else.

 

Any good Auto Glass guy will tell you to avoid Safelite. Safelite uses a primerless 1k adhesive and it doesn't stick worth a ****. I work in an auto body shop and I used Safelite for about a year and had probably 50% rate of comebacks with Safelite. The windshields would break after a couple weeks to a month. Nothing makes me look worse as a body shop than vehicles that come back. So I started using a local glass guy with about 30 years experience replacing winshields and he explained the entire process in great detail to me, and showed me how the Safelite adhesive just falls right off when he replaced a Safelite comeback windshield. He uses a proper 2k urethane adhesive with a primer to allow the glass to attach properly.

My glass guy explained to me that Safelite uses the primerless adhesive because the primer will etch the glass and it requires some skill to apply. He also said that big arm you see them using in their commercials is a joke between auto glass guys, any skilled glass guy can install a windshield by himself with the standard suction cups. Safelite trains their "technicians" in 3 days, and my glass guy tells me it takes at least a year of on the job training to really know your way around. And even still, he attends continuing education seminars in Detroit with all the OEMs as well as aftermarket suppliers like 3M, Dupont, Dow, and Fusor to review techniques and learn to implement new technology and products.
Which is why Safelite uses the big rediculous arm and the primerless adhesive so they can send undertrained techs out to perform repairs.

I've come to learn there is a lot more to auto glass than there appears. It really is a very skilled trade and not as simple as gluing some glass in. And I've had zero comebacks with my local glass guy.
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That's very interesting, thanks for the in-depth explanation. I'm quite ignorant when it comes to windshields so this helped me understand them a bit better. I'll check around to the local glass shops and hope to find a good deal. Thanks again.

 

My advice is pay extra for Carlite glass.

 

Just looked into Carlite after reading your post. I gather Carlite is OEM glass? My back glass and both 1/4 vent windows are marked Carlite. Both door glasses have the Ford logo on them while the windshield is marked SGC. I looked up SGC and it appears that is a glass Safelite uses. So I'm thinking my windshield was replaced at some point in the vehicle's life, which also might explain why wiper coverage isn't that great if an inferior glass was used that's warped. Is Carlite brand something glass shops carry/can order?

 

I used CarLite when I replaced my '95's windshield due to scratches & pitting. CarLite is factory Ford (as you noticed on the other glass in your cab). Like jas88 said, I found it to be worth the extra money. I've also heard Safelite uses thinner glass layers which is why they are prone to breaking prematurely.

 

A nice fresh windshield beats a pitted one any day. I've heard negative things about Safelite as well. I have one from a reputable local shop and it is fine, but Carlite is prefered.

 

Thanks everybody for the knowledge on windshields. I'll be going with Carlite. Found a local glass shop that that quoted me $175 installed.

 

 

I used Safelite to replace the windshield in my son's '95 about 3 years ago and we have not had any problems with it. I specified Carlite when I called them and that's what they put in. They charged me a little more for the Carlite, but it wasn't crazy, like $30 more. The guy did the job in my shop and did not use the arm you see in the commercials - I told him I had replaced windshields back the 80s when I was a mechanic so he and I placed the windshield on the frame by hand.