Glass cracks stem from two primary causes: mechanical stress and sudden temperature shifts. Understanding the difference helps determine the right action and prevents needless repairs.
Clear distinction matters:
A typical thermal crack forms when the glass experiences an abrupt temperature change that the material cannot tolerate. The crack path is often visible only after it appears, revealing stress that travels from the point of weakness across the pane.
In the example shown, the crack begins with a small chip. The windshield is not perfectly rigid, so it can bend slightly under bumps and loads. The crack tends to propagate as long as the damage remains small; early intervention can stop or slow its spread, reducing repair costs and preventing larger replacements.
Is it possible to fix a newly cracked windshield without a trip to the shop in certain cases? The expert Behind the Wheel, Alexey Revin, explains the conditions and best practices for evaluating on the spot.
To apply a temporary stabilization technique, several conditions must be met:
- The glass must remain tight and undistorted on both layers;
- The defect should not be located near the wiper zone on the driver’s side;
- The crack length should not exceed about three centimeters and must stay at least five centimeters from the glass edge.
A tubular diamond drill with a diameter of 4 millimeters is used. Through a guiding plate, the technician works to drill through the top glass layer at the crack terminus to the interlayer adhesive, while the drill operates at low speed to minimize heat buildup.
The resulting hole relieves pressure at the crack tip and helps halt further propagation. Yet temperature swings must be avoided since thermally weakened glass is more prone to sudden changes. In a typical auto service center, this stabilization procedure can cost anywhere from 1,300 to 3,700 rubles depending on the locale and labor, with many experts recommending a complete glass replacement instead for long-term reliability.
For more practical insights on windshield care and repair, updates and tips are shared through the Behind the Wheel channel.
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