tomaco1 Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Has anyone ever had their windsheild explode into a million pieces for no reason? I have a 1985 90 and was driving along at 40mph and it just shatered into pieces. It seems to match all the other glass, it all has the XXX marking on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JST Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 its happens quite often in Afghanistan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellow Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Little crack, tension on the frame, and BANG, there goes your screen. The old screens would disintegrate. Newer ones 'just' crack... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomaco1 Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 its happens quite often in Afghanistan Yeah but I definetly didn't get hit by a road side bomb or RPG! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 I'm about to have a new 'screen fitted. The rubber sorround is really in a bad way. I've been told by more than one person, including the glass fitter NOT to buy a new rubber as it will pull the 'screen in and crack it. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBMUD Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 I guess it was a toughened screen rather than a more modern laminated one. The laminated ones often get stone chips and can crack but the toughened ones are heat treated to make them tough and very resistant to damage but one large stone (any concentrated impact like an automatic centrepunch) and they shatter into a zillion pieces. The secret, when this happens, is to punch a hole in the screen so you can see where you are going. Of course, it is too late for advice like that now. Glad you are OK. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest diesel_jim Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 I've been told by more than one person, including the glass fitter NOT to buy a new rubber as it will pull the 'screen in and crack it. mike Hmm.... wonder what they do at the factory then? I just (last month or so) had a new heated/tinted glass fitted by autoglass with a new rubber seal, and all is well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Yes Jim Yes........ Me thinks I'll just get a new rubber. You see I've had this heated front screen longer than I've had the Defender...... mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Bean Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Where can you buy a heated front screen from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suggs Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Has anyone ever had their windsheild explode into a million pieces for no reason? I have a 1985 90 and was driving along at 40mph and it just shatered into pieces. It seems to match all the other glass, it all has the XXX marking on it. yep had it on a hybrid i once owned, one second driving normaly the next the whole screen was a mass of cracks, couldnt see a thing. only thing i could see doing it was someone taking a shot at me with a high power air rifle or some stray shot from a shotgun etc, i was driving through some rural roads at the time. was dam scary... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GL88 Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 The secret, when this happens, is to punch a hole in the screen so you can see where you are going. Of course, it is too late for advice like that now. Glad you are OK.Chris Based on first hand experience my advice is not to punch a hole in the screen (an urban myth of the 1970s). The small squares of glass are sharp and accompanied by lots of small splinters so quite apart from getting a few in your hand the whole screen will just collapse onto you and any passengers. Toughened screens are heat treated not just for strength but to keep an area clearish in front of the driver which quickly crazes over but not so fast as to prevent stopping quickly and fairly safely. But half of the time the whole lot just comes in when it breaks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomaco1 Posted August 11, 2008 Author Share Posted August 11, 2008 This window fell right into the truck as soon as I heard the POP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aragorn Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 i had thaught all windscreens had to be laminated, side windows are usually toughened and break into little squares must just be old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milemarker Type S Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 For a decent glass fitter a new seal is no issue- the one we used took about 3 minutes to do the whole job... easy when you know how... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Windscreens are certainly supposed to be laminated - I have seen one which hit a goose at about 50mph (a big goose!) and though it was half in to the cabin with the sheer force of the impact, it didn't break up and the middle layer held it all together though there was a bit of glass in the cab! Damage to windscreens is a fact of life here with gravel roads, and while side and rear windows go pop and dump lots of little pieces into the cabin, which isn't nice, the front windscreens don't do it and we change dozens if not hundreds at work in a year. My Ranger windscreen has got a crack from side to side at the bottom and right up to the top corner and is in no danger of going pop. I guess some of the cheap non genuine screens are not up to scratch! New Defender seals do not present a problem, some lubrication (Fairy liquid or tyre bead lube) and a length of strimmer cord to go around the seal to pull it in and it doesn't take long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisM_110 Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Fairy liquid or other soapy compound leaves a lot of residue, and can damage rubber [although I've never seen this]. Glass cleaner is very good [i use Mr Muscle] when fitting though, and safe for the rubber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I'm about to have a new 'screen fitted.The rubber sorround is really in a bad way. I've been told by more than one person, including the glass fitter NOT to buy a new rubber as it will pull the 'screen in and crack it. mike Never heard that one before Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I've had several screen go over the years and they have usually gone due to gravel being thrown up from other vehicles. That said it only takes a tiny object hitting the screen at just the right speed / angle for it to cause a chip / crack / or shatter an old screen. You may never see or find the object that caused the breakage. There is an piece in the Tech Archive showing a pro replacing the screen on a previous Defender of mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Never heard that one before Mike. No neither have I. I've fitted a few windscreens in my time including Ford D series.....Never had a problem. One person that said that was a windscreen fitter........ mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Litch Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 You should always fit a new rubber seal as they split & leak after just a few years so it makes sense to fit a new one when you have the chance. I have never had a problem with fitting a new seal whether it is to a new or s/h screen, sounds to me like your windcreen fitter is prone to damaging the screen (the flat 90/110 screens can crack quite easily if you aren't careful) and is just covering his own back with an untruth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 No neither have I. I've fitted a few windscreens in my time including Ford D series.....Never had a problem.One person that said that was a windscreen fitter........ mike I've done a fair few too and if the old seal is poor have never hesitated to fit a new one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Anybody fancy fitting onme for me. I haven't done a screen in ten years...... mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Anybody fancy fitting onme for me. I haven't done a screen in ten years...... mike Pop along to your local windscreen place, they will probably do it for a drink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmgemini Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 Pop along to your local windscreen place, they will probably do it for a drink. I've already tried that £50 mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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