Drill a hold to stop a crack in the windshield?

[KMinAF]

It has only been a couple of months since I had the windshield replaced and now I have a rock chip down low near the wiper arm that has a 3" crack developing from it. Could I use a glass/tile bit and drill a small hole to "head it off" and prevent it from getting any longer? I would then fill the hole of course.

 

[p_mori7]

Nope, too late now. it would have been better to have the chip repaired before the crack started to spread. Nothing will stop it now.

 

[rayra]

Nope, too late now. it would have been better to have the chip repaired before the crack started to spread. Nothing will stop it now.

yep most places it's ~$30. And most auto insurers will cover it because it's cheaper than a whole windshield.

 

[D rock]

I know it works on 4 wheeler plastic...glass, not so sure...

 

[sometoyotaguy]

Yes it can work. I've had it work, but it might not work every time.

 

[ard]

They sell a repair kit that works as good as the shops use, IMO.

https://www.rainx.com/product/windshield-repair-kit/rain-x-windshield-repair-kit/#.WTDWyNy1taQ

Sold in lots of places..amazon, walmart, etc. About $11

Comes with a jig that lets you inject cyanoacrylate INTO the crack, you can see if penetrate the fractures- stabilizes it to prevent spreading. Ive watched shops do it, this is basically the same thing- just more disposable and cheaper.



Buy it now, BEFORE you need it. That way when the wife says "A rock hit me" you can deal with it before the sun hits it, or you hit a pothole, spreading it....

 

[like2wheel]

Yes it does work, I've done it several times over the years.

I make a dam with putty so I can fill up to the spot to be drilled with water. This is needed to keep the bit cool. Problem is, it hard to see the exact spot of the end of the crack thru the water. Marking the spot with a sharpie helps a bunch. I use a small diamond point in a dremel.
Go slow, & stop drilling when you hit the plastic center. then fill the hole with any clear sealer, preferably something that won't yellow from the UV rays.

Its not easy, but if you are able to get a clean hole dead center on the end of the crack, it will stop it.

 

[holdover]

Got a stone chip on a week old explorer 2K miles from home in 2002. By the time I got home it was 5" at the very bottom of the windshield on the passenger side out of view. Went with the Safelite crack repair. in 15 years hasn't gotten any bigger

 

[BlackLS2]

I drilled a windshield crack with a Dremel...stopped the crack...even through a nasty winter.

 

[JAPjunky]

Sounds like a job for a professional bro it's possible I've done it but u have to be really carefull