Chronic Windshield Cracking---96 Super Stock Camaro

njk53 · 12-14-2007, 10:44 AM

Sheet metal has some resiliance and can flex and move back to it's original position so as long as you do not pass a theshold where it will begin to bend and stay bent. You may not think so but I'll bet the windshield frame is flexing more than you think.
I had a brand new 2001 Camaro as a rental car in Phoenix (130 miles on the odometer) that sat in the 112 degree heat for most of the day. When I came out to leave the windshield was cracked. A technician from the GM Proving Grounds said that windshield cracking could happen from time to time because it wasn't installed from the factory properly and coupled with the thermal action on the sheet metal made it flex enough to crack it. Make sure the dimensions of the windshield and the widshield frame allow for ample tolerance. Make sure the window frame is free of burrs, nicks, spot weld residue, and old windshield sealant that can pinch the windshield when the body flexes. Also, use a good quality automotive urethane sealer when you install the new windshield.

1slowformula · 12-20-2007, 11:04 PM

rusty is it a hardtop or T-top car? I have seen a lot of guys crack windshield in T-top cars and not show any flex in the sheetmetal, btu I have also seen it the other way around too, dimpled sheetmetal but no cracks, but the dimpled sheetmetal cars all dimpled on the driver side...

SSDiv6 · 12-20-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1slowformula

rusty is it a hardtop or T-top car? I have seen a lot of guys crack windshield in T-top cars and not show any flex in the sheetmetal, btu I have also seen it the other way around too, dimpled sheetmetal but no cracks, but the dimpled sheetmetal cars all dimpled on the driver side...

...and the reason why I welded all the seams while building the car.

Philip Saran · 12-21-2007, 01:18 AM

Back to the rental car....if all the windows were closed tight in 112 degree weather the heat
build up alone can be enough to crack the windshield (supposedly the weak point).
I used to live in Palm Springs (116 degrees in June coming out of class's) YOU left the
windows down a bit.

12-14-2007, 10:44 AM	#1
njk53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: East China, MI Posts: 504 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Chronic Windshield Cracking---96 Super Stock Camaro Sheet metal has some resiliance and can flex and move back to it's original position so as long as you do not pass a theshold where it will begin to bend and stay bent. You may not think so but I'll bet the windshield frame is flexing more than you think. I had a brand new 2001 Camaro as a rental car in Phoenix (130 miles on the odometer) that sat in the 112 degree heat for most of the day. When I came out to leave the windshield was cracked. A technician from the GM Proving Grounds said that windshield cracking could happen from time to time because it wasn't installed from the factory properly and coupled with the thermal action on the sheet metal made it flex enough to crack it. Make sure the dimensions of the windshield and the widshield frame allow for ample tolerance. Make sure the window frame is free of burrs, nicks, spot weld residue, and old windshield sealant that can pinch the windshield when the body flexes. Also, use a good quality automotive urethane sealer when you install the new windshield.

12-20-2007, 11:04 PM	#2
1slowformula Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 8 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Chronic Windshield Cracking---96 Super Stock Camaro rusty is it a hardtop or T-top car? I have seen a lot of guys crack windshield in T-top cars and not show any flex in the sheetmetal, btu I have also seen it the other way around too, dimpled sheetmetal but no cracks, but the dimpled sheetmetal cars all dimpled on the driver side...

12-21-2007, 01:18 AM	#4
Philip Saran Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Parker, CO. Posts: 728 Likes: 165 Liked 14 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Chronic Windshield Cracking---96 Super Stock Camaro Back to the rental car....if all the windows were closed tight in 112 degree weather the heat build up alone can be enough to crack the windshield (supposedly the weak point). I used to live in Palm Springs (116 degrees in June coming out of class's) YOU left the windows down a bit. __________________ Phil Saran Parker, Colorado

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