windshield replacement

[Azhinoon]

So, replaced glass windshield last year. Two cracks on Coronado trail run last September. Gotten worse . Want to replace with whatever is best. Gary

[Karl Bebout]

Gary, Gary, Gary.....

Get a "polyglass" (polycarbonate) windshield from Cobra Valley and be done with it.

[eschaider]

+1^ on what Carl said.

The glass windshields will just continue to crack for you and the price of a new one (as you already know) will bring tears to your eyes.

Ed

[CJ428CJ]

I just finished installing the Performance Unlimited windshield. It's only been a month or two but I'm very happy with it so far.

Cobra Valley's PolyGlass Hi-Performance Optically Formed Windshields

[Azhinoon]

Negotiating , sort of with insurance Co. Zero deductible so i will prob go with cobra valley if they have in stock.

[Karl Bebout]

Gary, you'd be sorta foolish to not go with the polycarbonate windshield....unless you like changing out the glass ones.
I have over 10K miles on mine and do have some sand pitting but not enough yet to bother me, even with headlights hitting it. I've read up on polishing polycarbonate and it sounds like a do it yourself job that I'll get after when/if I feel the need.

[Azhinoon]

Had the Cobra now for19 years. Two windshields in last two years. Go figure

[MKS427]

You got lucky, mine made it about 2K. Got a Lexan replacement from Fast Freddies. 14K later, lots of pits, no cracks.

[Karl Bebout]

Mark, next time, go for the polycarbonate. MUCH harder material. Clean with about anything and you can even use windshield wipers on it.

[eschaider]

Has anyone tried a polycarbonate (or Lexan) replacement with a silicon dioxide (commercial name ceramic) coating. While I don't believe it will prevent chips from road debris, the exceptionally smooth surface should enhance optical clarity and water shedding if you ever get caught in a rain event (never happens right?). Sort of a more durable Rain-X type treatment.


Ed

[cycleguy55]

Originally Posted by eschaider

Has anyone tried a polycarbonate (or Lexan) replacement with a silicon dioxide (commercial name ceramic) coating. While I don't believe it will prevent chips from road debris, the exceptionally smooth surface should enhance optical clarity and water shedding if you ever get caught in a rain event (never happens right?). Sort of a more durable Rain-X type treatment.


Ed

I don't believe a polycarbonate / Lexan windshield would conform to this requirement, in which case a VI (Vehicle Inspection) here (Saskatchewan, Canada) would take it off the road:

The vehicle shall have a windshield that is of laminated safety glass conforming to ANSI Z26.1, type AS-1 or AS-10 and is so marked.

[BAsque1]

Originally Posted by cycleguy55

I don't believe a polycarbonate / Lexan windshield would conform to this requirement, in which case a VI (Vehicle Inspection) here (Saskatchewan, Canada) would take it off the road:

The vehicle shall have a windshield that is of laminated safety glass conforming to ANSI Z26.1, type AS-1 or AS-10 and is so marked.

Same here in NYS, that would not fly, I had a real hard time with our WCC source to get a windshield a few years ago after a pebble nick it not fun!!~

[Cornercarverfan]

Were you able to get the answers you were after with regards to ceramic coatings on windscreens? I am a detailer and can speak to this if you still have questions.

Justin

Originally Posted by eschaider

Has anyone tried a polycarbonate (or Lexan) replacement with a silicon dioxide (commercial name ceramic) coating. While I don't believe it will prevent chips from road debris, the exceptionally smooth surface should enhance optical clarity and water shedding if you ever get caught in a rain event (never happens right?). Sort of a more durable Rain-X type treatment.


Ed

[eschaider]

Originally Posted by Cornercarverfan

Were you able to get the answers you were after with regards to ceramic coatings on windscreens? I am a detailer and can speak to this if you still have questions.

Justin

I did not get any definitive answers, Justin. I would genuinely appreciate your perspective as a detailer.

Thx for the offer to add clarity, no pun intended.


Ed

[Cornercarverfan]

Good day Ed,

Applying a “ceramic coating” to a painted substrate, the intended use, serves three purposes. First, it levels the paint filling extremely fine blemishes and flaws, allowing for a greater level of gloss. Secondly, the protective properties, help minimize scratching. These products will not always protect, meaning, the product will protect from light scratching from improper washing and drying techniques as well as a slight bump from someone in jeans brushing against your car in a parking lot. Ceramic coatings will not protect from rock chips (more on this later). I regularly apply ceramic coatings to paint, glass and wheels. This helps with overall cleaning, reducing the amount of brake dust that sticks to wheels, and how much garbage sticks to the paint.
Does this work? To an extent, yes. Is it the end all, be all? No.

It is my understanding the poly windscreens for our cars come with an anti-scratch coating already. Without performing firsthand testing, I would guess this would inhibit the proper bond of Ceramic to the windscreen. An alternative to expensive ceramic coatings, a maintenance spray for ceramic coatings would make quick work of dust, dirt, bird droppings, etc, while leaving a super slick surface behind. I can recommend some products if you prefer.

If you are interested in taking an additional step to protect your poly windscreen, I would like to introduce you to a product called ClearPlex. Think of this as paint protection film for your windscreen. This IS designed to prevent scratching, marring and rock chips, as it works to dissipate the energy of the stone across the entire windscreen. Again, if the windscreen manufacturer has the screens coated, this may affect the longevity of the installation overall.

I hope this answers your questions. Feel free to ask away if you have more questions.

Justin

[eschaider]

You're right about the inability to pass a vehicle inspection, Brian. The trade off you have to weigh is the cost of replacement glass windshields that are DOT approved and will pass inspection but repeatedly break vs the polycarbonate which will not break but also will not pass that initial vehicle inspection we all have to go through to register our cars.

Once registered most states do not require follow on vehicle inspections and therefore would not likely be inspected for a DOT compliant / approved windshield. I suppose there could be exceptions but you should be safe for the most part.

The original question however, still remains. Has anybody used the silicon dioxide treatment known as a ceramic coating on their polycarbonate windshield and what are your experiences / opinions after having used the coating?

Ed

[FredG]

I have a lot of experience using Polycarbonate (Lexan) materials for different class projects. It is a very soft material that is malleable and scratches easily. It is bendable and drillable. I know there are a few manufacturer's making windshields out of polycarbonate. Before purchasing one, I would look into what type of coating is put on both sides to prevent the windshield from scratching. The coating is an absolute necessity.

Fred

[eschaider]

If I remember correctly the Cobra Valley folks were saying the polycarbonate was harder than the lexan equivalent. Does that sound correct?


Ed

[FredG]

Hey Ed.

No. Polycarbonate is dense but is very soft and that is why it is impact resistant. It absorbs energy but won't shatter. It's so soft, you can drill it and put in a sheet metal screw. It dents and scratches easily. Windshields made with polycarbonate have to have a scratch resistant material on the front and back just like polycarbonate glasses do. I know there is different levels scratch resistant material. If you wipe a piece of polycarbonate with a dirty rag, it will scratch.

Fred

Originally Posted by eschaider

If I remember correctly the Cobra Valley folks were saying the polycarbonate was harder than the lean equivalent. Does that sound correct?


Ed

[twobjshelbys]

Both Polycarbonate and Lexan are impact resistant but if you use your windshield wipers you'll have scratches. Just like you don't use dish towels on your plastic glasses lenses (which are probably polycarbonate.)