Windshield Maintenance Advice Needed

[City]

I have been told by the Wizard that replacing a Viper windshield is a difficult process and will likely not yield a OE result.

That being the case, I'm considering some polishing alternative to rid the glass of years of "sandblasting". Curious as to what others have done to thoroughly polish a windshield, both process and products. And of course, does it work to resolve the problem?

Thanks in advance,

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Step One: Crush some diamonds really fine.........


Or: Google info on "Cerium Oxide polish for glass"


Griots and others carry it.


Also: The Generation matters, but I have not had any negative feedback regarding W/S replacements as Chuck noted. [I did one myself in under 45 minutes waaaaay back in G2 ALMS days.....]

[Junkman2008]

You are NEVER going to get your windshield looking the way you want with over the counter junk. What you need requires a level of skill and some professional grade equipment and products. If I were you, I would NOT try and fix it. I would pay a professional to do so.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

The pros will likely be using some derivative of Cerium Oxide.....

[Matt Dillon]

You are NEVER going to get your windshield looking the way you want with over the counter junk. What you need requires a level of skill and some professional grade equipment and products. If I were you, I would NOT try and fix it. I would pay a professional to do so.

^^^This or just Buy A NEW Viper (Gen V) IF you do you Won't EVER Go Back! :)

[Junkman2008]

The pros will likely be using some derivative of Cerium Oxide.....

Actually, this is how the pro's do it. If it looks involved to you, that's because IT IS. If it looks easy to you, that's because the guy is GOOD at it. All this cheap, over the counter garbage is not going to remove anything but extremely light, and I mean EXTREMELY light damage:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bw02U0J8LI

[Bryan Savage]

Actually, this is how the pro's do it. If it looks involved to you, that's because IT IS. If it looks easy to you, that's because the guy is GOOD at it. All this cheap, over the counter garbage is not going to remove anything but extremely light, and I mean EXTREMELY light damage:

It took this dude 4.5 minutes to move his safety glasses from the top of his head to his eyes. lol

I'd be super worried about inhaling glass dust too.

I've got sandblast all over my windshield too, but am likely too lazy to attempt to polish it. I'd rather let a pro.

[City]

An older post came back to life. I took a look at Cerium Oxide, but realized quickly that I had neither the proper equipment or procedure to do it properly.

Interesting that no one suggested a new windshield replacement. Guess that can lead to disaster as Chuck opined.

Hate the sandblasting and chipping. I'll have to search and see about a glass specialist.

[Matt Dillon]

I'm just wondering why it would be that big of a deal replacing a Viper windshield, I would think that whoever replaces it would have to have a warranty on it! I also wonder if Chuck happened to mention What Gen.'s that had this particular issue? I also would think if Anybody would know it would be the Wizard! GL

[Junkman2008]

Me? I would replace the windshield every time. The part that the video didn't talk about in depth is that if you don't buff the glass evenly, it will be like driving while looking through a clown mirror. The headache that you would get would last about 15-minutes before you showed up at a glass replacement shop.

[ChargerMan426]

Me? I would replace the windshield every time. The part that the video didn't talk about in depth is that if you don't buff the glass evenly, it will be like driving while looking through a clown mirror. The headache that you would get would last about 15-minutes before you showed up at a glass replacement shop.

I figured you of all people would be for using a DA and polishing out a windshield. Another way to look at it is give if a shot and if you don’t like it the only thing you lost is the time you spent on the project.

[Viper98]

City, if you want to replace the windshield and IF you can find one let us know so others know where to go.
I’m assuming it is a Gen I/II. If other Gen disregard this post.

[Junkman2008]

No, you cannot use a D.A. to buff glass, you have to use a grinder. Glass would laugh at what a D.A. could do. As for time, some things are not worth the headache. The way I look at is we all have to eat. Even that glass polishing guy. I could do it but the thought of those glass shavings getting INSIDE my body is NOT a chance I want to take.

[SLP]

Here was my process on a windshield with bad water spots, light scuffing/swirls, and a few pits with raised edges that I just did:

1) Prepped the glass
2) 5" Glass polishing pad on the DA
3) Cerium Oxide Fine Grade powder mixed with a little bit of warm water to make my slurry or "compound."
4) First two passed high -> medium pressure high RPM.
5) Third pass medium -> low pressure, high RPM.

This process worked really well for the windshield that I needed to correct. It was my first windshield polish though and I gave it half-effort. I'll have to find a more damaged windshield and compare the results using my orbital vs DA.