Coyote
Apr 24, 2008, 03:10 PM
hello folks.
well, i just finished another windshield replacement for a local woman. the windshield was recently replaced, but fortunately for her the glass was broken by a rock and needed replaced again.
what you say. why fortunately for her.
well. most people believe a windshield is a windshield. so, go get the cheapest price and you are in business. right? wrong.
there are people here in the mountains that are installing auto glass using less than DOT standards. the biggest and easiest tell tales are when they put that low tac blue tape completely around the parimeter of the windshield.
a new windshield for most vehicles rarely needs this over kill of tape..that is unless you carefully cut the rubber moulding off. the moulding that is supposed to be replaced every time the windshield is replaced. then glue it back on after the new windshield is placed. wow, they just pocketed an extra 15 to 20 bucks.
then, as in the windshield i did today. they can save another 5 bucks by not using dot grade windshield primer, and thier special applicators.
you see. when a windshield is removed. it is almost unavoidable to cause small scratches on the pinchweld that is not visible without some disassembly. if you do not primer these small scratches. you will have a new family of rust making thier home under your glued on used moulding and the glass does not attatch properly. but hey. they have made an extra 25 bucks off you so far. or they have given you a super awesome price right?
now comes to the urethane. this is the glue that holds your windshield in place.
when i went to cut the glass out today. it was a super easy job. why? because it was only attached to the car itself on about 50% of the pinchweld. they had used no primer. the glass literally was just kind of sitting in there. the urethane glue was cheap, and this customer was basically hosed on this job by the people that had installed it. dont get me wrong. it looked great from the outside. but it makes me shudder to think she was driving this car with her children in it.
so when you are getting your a new windshield in your car or truck. ask them if they are going to replace the replaceable moulding. what kind of urethane they are going to use. each box of urethane comes with a stack of pamplets explaining if they are factory standard.
and ask them if the glass and pinchweld will be primered.
the urethane i use is u400 BP. it is the same stuff that was on your car when it rolled off the factory line with zero miles on it. it also runs me about 15 bucks a tube. a usual installation will take 1.5 to 2 tubes. i have heard of some installers using tubes that they get for 2.00 a tube. wow. they just lowerd the price by another 28.00.. or hosed "you" for another 28.00.
sorry for the long windedness. but i just got done dealing with this hack job that had put an entire family in danger. then loaded up and headed for home, only to pass a car coming the other direction with the usual blue tape completely around the windshield. i am sure they got a heck of a deal.
sincerely
Glenn at Hooah Auto Glass
well, i just finished another windshield replacement for a local woman. the windshield was recently replaced, but fortunately for her the glass was broken by a rock and needed replaced again.
what you say. why fortunately for her.
well. most people believe a windshield is a windshield. so, go get the cheapest price and you are in business. right? wrong.
there are people here in the mountains that are installing auto glass using less than DOT standards. the biggest and easiest tell tales are when they put that low tac blue tape completely around the parimeter of the windshield.
a new windshield for most vehicles rarely needs this over kill of tape..that is unless you carefully cut the rubber moulding off. the moulding that is supposed to be replaced every time the windshield is replaced. then glue it back on after the new windshield is placed. wow, they just pocketed an extra 15 to 20 bucks.
then, as in the windshield i did today. they can save another 5 bucks by not using dot grade windshield primer, and thier special applicators.
you see. when a windshield is removed. it is almost unavoidable to cause small scratches on the pinchweld that is not visible without some disassembly. if you do not primer these small scratches. you will have a new family of rust making thier home under your glued on used moulding and the glass does not attatch properly. but hey. they have made an extra 25 bucks off you so far. or they have given you a super awesome price right?
now comes to the urethane. this is the glue that holds your windshield in place.
when i went to cut the glass out today. it was a super easy job. why? because it was only attached to the car itself on about 50% of the pinchweld. they had used no primer. the glass literally was just kind of sitting in there. the urethane glue was cheap, and this customer was basically hosed on this job by the people that had installed it. dont get me wrong. it looked great from the outside. but it makes me shudder to think she was driving this car with her children in it.
so when you are getting your a new windshield in your car or truck. ask them if they are going to replace the replaceable moulding. what kind of urethane they are going to use. each box of urethane comes with a stack of pamplets explaining if they are factory standard.
and ask them if the glass and pinchweld will be primered.
the urethane i use is u400 BP. it is the same stuff that was on your car when it rolled off the factory line with zero miles on it. it also runs me about 15 bucks a tube. a usual installation will take 1.5 to 2 tubes. i have heard of some installers using tubes that they get for 2.00 a tube. wow. they just lowerd the price by another 28.00.. or hosed "you" for another 28.00.
sorry for the long windedness. but i just got done dealing with this hack job that had put an entire family in danger. then loaded up and headed for home, only to pass a car coming the other direction with the usual blue tape completely around the windshield. i am sure they got a heck of a deal.
sincerely
Glenn at Hooah Auto Glass