Defects on the windshield are an unpleasant phenomenon. Even if they do not fall into the driver’s active vision, they are still an irritating factor, especially when driving in city twilight, when every extra glare distracts from the road situation. How to stop a spreading crack on your windshield? Is it always worth replacing a windshield with a crack, and if at first a small chip turned into a network of “rays” that went across the windshield, what can be done in such a situation? Is it possible to repair a minor crack in the windshield yourself? We will try to answer these questions based on the experience of the masters.
What the Rules say on this issue
The rules prohibit the operation of a car with such cracks.
So far, the fine for a crack in the windshield in the zone specified by GOST is 500 rubles.
GOST 51709-2001 prohibits the operation of vehicles whose windshield has chips or other similar defects on the driver’s side in the area where the wiper blade operates. That is, with such cracks on the windshield you will not pass the inspection. So far, the fine for a crack in the windshield in the zone specified by GOST is 500 rubles. But, given that the “servants of the people” quarterly “outfuck” the administrative code in order to make money at the expense of motorists (under the guise of concern for our safety), tomorrow this amount may well increase significantly. Is it possible to drive with a crack in the windshield? Probably possible, since thousands of people do it. And how could it be otherwise - don’t replace the glass because of every chip that appears after some scumbag overtook you on the side of the road. The main thing is that there is no significant restriction on the driver’s visibility. But still, it would be more correct when a chip with rays of cracks appears, try to stop their spreading and preserve the glass.
In order not to “lead you by the nose,” we will write the truth about what kind of chips and cracks it makes sense to repair: 1) It makes sense to make cracks up to 10-15 cm, then in 80% of cases it fills well and is practically invisible. It can only be seen with the naked eye from a certain angle. And if you have a crack across the entire windshield, then don’t even waste money and time - it’s like “pounding water in a mortar”, in such cases it’s easier to install a new windshield, especially since our prices are minimal.
2) Chips can be made to almost any size, from the size of a match head to a 5 ruble coin. As a rule, after repairing the windshield, a barely visible small dot remains; of course, this depends on the size of the chip. But please, never expect that your glass will be like new, rather it will be as close to this condition as possible. How are chips and cracks made? The process in all services, and throughout the world, is the same: - First, all dirt and moisture are removed from the chip or crack. — Then they drill through the first layer of glass with a drill (this must be done carefully so that a crack does not appear). — Polymer (liquid glass) is poured under pressure into the drilled hole using an injector and left for 5-7 minutes. — Next, we seal our repair area using polymer and a special film (“seal”). — We place an ultraviolet lamp on top of the “seal” on the windshield and wait a few minutes for the polymer to harden. — After hardening, we take a special safety blade and remove the remaining “seal” and polymer from the glass. “And finally, we polish the repair area with a special compound and a cloth. All is ready!!! How long does it take to repair a windshield? On average, a windshield repair takes 20 to 30 minutes. Of course, if the case is complicated, then a little longer. Recommendations for chips and cracks! Based on personal experience and the experience of our clients, we can say with confidence that as soon as a chip appears, you must immediately go to the workshop, because the chip can “shoot” at any moment. It happens that a person drives for two years with a chip (very rare) and nothing happens, but as a rule, it happens that he caught a stone in the evening, went out to the car in the morning, and there is already a 10 cm crack and it grows as he drives before his eyes. Therefore, it is better to repair chips immediately, so as not to “get” the whole glass later. Another important point: carry regular tape with you in your car. As soon as you notice damage to the windshield, immediately cover it with tape to prevent moisture and dirt from getting into the glass; in this case, the chip and crack can be repaired as well as possible. Prices for windshield repair: - Stopping a crack - 500 rub. — Chip repair – from 500 rub. (depending on size) Is there a warranty for windshield repairs? We do not provide a guarantee for such repairs, but we explain to the client that if the crack is not stopped, then there is a 99% chance that it will go further, and if it is repaired (stopped), then there is a 95% chance that it will not creep further. That is, basically, after proper repair of the glass, nothing will happen to it, but there is a small chance that the crack may spread further, for example, if the body is severely distorted or due to temperature changes. Cracks that come from the bottom of the glass (from under the stove) are especially unfavorable. But it’s still better to repair the glass in a timely manner than to replace it entirely.
How to remove a crack on a windshield?
To repair cracks and chips, a transparent photocuring polymer (photopolymer) is used, which compensates for the lack of glass and changes the refractive index on the edges of the chip. The polymer dries within half an hour. The bottles with the polymer are small - 30 g, and the composition has different viscosities. When choosing a particular polymer, the master is guided by his experience. But a glass repair technician has at hand all the tools and equipment necessary for high-quality repairs. This is what a windshield crack repair kit might look like:
Materials and tools necessary for glass repair
A drill with a diamond drill bit is needed to drill out cracks in the windshield.
(from left to right: a bottle with photopolymer, a bridge with a plunger, a UV lamp, a drill with a diamond drill (a mirror on a suction cup - to control the process from the back side), abrasives for removing traces of repair and polishing the windshield. In order to, in the recess, filled with the composition, there are no air bubbles left, the polymer is introduced under pressure using a plunger, pre-installed using a special bridge, which fixes the tool on the glass exactly opposite the chip. After the work is completed, the tools are removed and the seam is sealed with thermal tape. Next, the repair area is dried with UV lamp for about 20 minutes and remove excess polymer with a special scraper. A drill with a diamond drill is needed to drill cracks in the windshield. This is done in order to relieve stress in the glass in the direction of their propagation. The hole is made a few millimeters from its edge, and then pressed on the glass the crack is "guided" toward the hole.Similarly, in the past, drivers would drill into cracked truck frames and they would stop "tearing" any further.
Step-by-step guide to fixing a crack in your car glass
When everything is ready to go, proceed with the repair:
- Relieve tension from the crack. Find the corner that you think will grow. Back off 1-2 mm and drill a small hole. Bring a crack to it.
- Clean the area and wipe with a lint-free towel. Dry with a hairdryer.
- Install the bridge with the injector. The gander should be above the crack.
- Pump the polymer into the crack. Perform the operation slowly, without jerking. The glue should spread evenly. Make sure there are no bubbles.
- Dry the result with an ultraviolet lamp.
- Polish the glass. If you have polish, treat the car body at the same time. Read how to do this here.
Do-it-yourself windshield crack repair
Result of car windshield crack repair
When done carefully, repairing or removing windshield cracks can be very effective.
If you decide to try to seal the cracks yourself, then, first of all, you will need glue for repairing cracks (one bottle of polymer is enough). If you don’t want the “rays” to spread further, then purchase a diamond drill for glass. The polymer can dry without a UV lamp - the drying time will simply increase. But the very first step you must take is to thoroughly clean the glass and degrease it. You can degrease the inside of the crack with pure alcohol or a special degreasing compound. The recess should be cleaned of dirt particles - with a vacuum cleaner or compressed air. Fill the “gorge” with polymer in several layers to avoid the appearance of a bubble. For better polymer filling and adhesion, lightly press and release the glass. It is advisable to glue the joint with narrow strips of thermal tape - again, to better fill the crack with polymer. After the glue has dried, remove the excess along with the tape using a sharp scraper. Moreover, make movements along the “beam” so as not to accidentally remove the polymer. It would be a good idea to polish the windshield at the repair site. When done carefully, repairing or removing windshield cracks can be very effective. The maximum that will remain of them is thin, slightly thicker than a hair, marks on the repair sites, and the highlights will disappear altogether. To protect the windshield from cracks and scratches, many car enthusiasts cover it with special protective films .
Crack stopping technology
Determine Depth
First of all, it is necessary to find out how deep the split is: does it go through the entire thickness of the glass or has it affected only its top and middle layers. In order to determine this, you need to run a sewing needle along the inside of the interior glass. If the movement of the needle is not hampered in any way and occurs without any obstacles, then one of the layers still remains undamaged.
The next step is to drill small holes in the glass. You need to drill in the places where the crack ends. Such holes are able to interrupt the splitting of the glass surface, which occurs in the direction of the crystal lattice of this material. When performing this procedure, it is important to have an idea of what drill bits can be used and how deep the holes need to be made.
If the crack has managed to reach the edge of the glass, then no tricks will help in such a situation. Gradually, its structure will begin to deteriorate and, in the end, it will be necessary to replace this element. However, if the crack in the car glass stops at least 50 mm from its edge, you can try to stop its spread.
It is not recommended to use rapid drills. They are made of high-speed steel and are not suitable for this type of work. It is better to use drills that have a special carbide tip. However, finding them is quite problematic.
Drill a hole
The most reliable option for drilling the required number of holes is to use a special drill with a diamond coating on the cutting edge. But during the drilling process, it is necessary to supply some liquid to the working area. It can be oil or soap solution; ordinary water is not suitable for these purposes.
If the damage affects only one layer of glass, then the holes must not be drilled all the way through. A through hole must be made when a crack has damaged all layers of the windshield. Quite often, a crack has several rays at once. If this is your case, then holes must be drilled at the end of each beam. This technology will make it possible to interrupt the propagation of cracks in each direction.
Windshield repair
If you need to make a hole of a certain depth, you need to use a special rubber stop that fits onto the drill. It will rest against the glass as soon as the drill reaches the desired depth.
Finally, the last stage is the use of a special polymer glue to fill the holes made. You can purchase it at any auto stores. After the glue has hardened, the pouring areas are sanded and polished. This way you can also repair chips on your windshield. There is a wide range of different pastes for polishing glass surfaces. Therefore, there should be no problems with the selection of this product.
It should be added that the polishing process is very labor-intensive, because the result of this work should be good transparency of the glass. Because of this, polishing can take much more time than the entire drilling procedure.
Little tricks for DIY repairs
The best option is to notice the windshield immediately, but many people prefer to repair the crack themselves. During the work, you need to make holes using an electric drill, then fill the “crack” with a polymer material, and then polish the surface. And in this case, to achieve a good result, the main thing is to choose the optimal type of glue that will eliminate the flaw.
The first thing to focus on is the nature of the problem. And in particular:
- To get rid of a banal chip, a photopolymer is suitable, which will prevent further “creeping”. If you find such damage on your car windshield , it must be treated immediately.
- Liquid polymer material is suitable for working with cracks that are not too deep. It quickly fills the cavity and then hardens.
- The most difficult option is a branched crack, the treatment of which requires both liquid and viscous compounds.
It is worth noting that in all cases, after applying the glue, it is necessary to carefully polish the surface of the glass, getting rid of stains and “haze.” The quality of the result is largely determined by the accuracy of the technology, as well as the reliability of the consumables used.
Why does she appear?
How to stop a crack if your windshield is cracked? Before answering this question, you need to understand how they appear. And why is this phenomenon not static, but spreading. Main reasons 2:
- Arrived stone. Small crushed stones often fly out from under the wheels of oncoming and passing cars. It is strong enough to seriously damage glass. Thus, chips and radial cracks most often form;
- When temperature changes, glass expands or contracts sharply. This also leads to the formation of cracks in the glass. The problem occurs in the cold season, when the air temperature in the cabin is high, if the car drives towards a cold stream. In this case, different layers of glass have different temperatures and are deformed, forming a crack.
These are the main reasons for the appearance of a defect. We are not considering the option of using a neighbor’s hammer, because in this case, the glass cannot be restored. Many people have encountered a situation where the crack that appeared did not increase in size. It's all about the film, which makes up one of the layers of glass. It keeps the damage from spreading further. But, in most cases, it does not hold up, and the crack grows. The increase in damage is associated with constant changes in body geometry. After all, the body is only rigid in theory; in fact, it constantly changes under the influence of external factors. These changes are insignificant and invisible to the naked eye, but the glass senses this difference, and as a result the crack increases.
Some additional information
Initially, ordinary glass was used in the car to protect the driver and passengers from external influences. However, this was dangerous, since the fragments formed when it was damaged threatened to injure everyone in the cabin. To increase strength, they began to use tempered glass, the so-called stalinite, but this did not help solve the problem.
The way out of this difficult situation was the emergence of triplex - a special three-layer glass that turned out to be simply impossible to break. Its design is shown in the figure.
Essentially, these are two ordinary glasses, between which a special polymer film is laid. It is this that prevents fragments from scattering and holds them in place even in the event of a strong impact. Modern cars use only this kind of glass. Additional information about its properties and features can be found here:
