Windshield replacement:

Last week a rock was kind enough to pay my windshield a visit. After reading about some of the horrors of windshield replacements (leaking/safety etc), I made sure to ask a bunch of questions before getting the replacement. I have a friend who bought a used car with rust all around the windshield due to a poor windshield replacement.

If you google "ABC News Windshield", you'll see what I'm talking about...
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video?id=4989095

Michael at X-pert Auto Glass in Mississauga was kind enough to let me take some pictures during the installation process! They do a lot of dealer work in the Toronto area.

This is only a high level overview of the windshield replacement process. I'm sure there are a lot of steps I may have missed as I was in and out during the installation process.

I'll post the pics over several posts.... (since there's a 5 pic max per post)

- Cutting out the windshield
- taping up area around the windshield to reduce chances of scratches
- Sika Urethane (I think I've seen this stuff in a windsheild wholesale shop before - they have a an entire system of products from what I can tell. i.e. Primer/Activator/Urethane) The urethane on the left is for cold weather applications as we get into the winter months here in Toronto.
- Some silicone spray to help with some trim pieces.

... continued.

 

- Windshield out.
- Urethane cut back to approx 1mm thickness
- air compresor used to blow out any leftover debris
- Prime around the urethane (in case there are any scratches)

 

- SAINT-GOBAIN SEKURIT glass (same manufacturer as OE/ no Audi logo)
- Apparantly the glass is made in Shanghai
- glass cleaned
- rain sensor mount
- pic of the activator (for treating the edges of the windshield before install)

 

- suction cups.
- old windshield with the rain sensor membrane (it's like jelly and can't be reused)
- new membrane

 

- new urethane bead
- new windshield... water test!

 

Thanks for sharing - very informative. Obviously the wiper arms have to be removed too. I have a couple small nicks in mine - hoping I won't ever have to go through a replacement and cringe every time I hear the click of a pebble (or whatever) hitting the windshield.

 

Great write-up, thanks for the post and pics!

 

There are a couple of trim pieces to the left and right of the windshield, the wipers and plastic trim under the windshield that has to be removed too. Michael from X-Pert was kind enough to do some maintenance for me and remove some leaves that had gotten trapped under the plastic trim. (There's an air filter on the passenger side)

 

So it's a Chinese glass? Was there a big price difference with original Audi?

I get my windshield sandblasted by the damn dump trucks and never ending work in my 60 mile commute through the capital beltway (DC area)... I'm always dodging trucks and stones but the option of a new glass is always present.

Nice writeup!

 

Didn't know that Shanghai was a country. Thought it was part of China. Apparently they didn't want to have anyone think it was a cheap Chinese product. Just a high quality Shanghai windshield. My friend in the glass business tells me that a lot of the auto glass does come from China.