If you go by mine, no....in fact my windshield is the only original glass left./wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

If yours seems to be prone to getting cracked, maybe you can rig a stone wire mesh pop up screen for when you're off roading. Good Luck!!/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

 

I guess that if the windshield cracks large on impact there's nothing you can do. I still have my original glass, but I have gone to the glass place twice to get pecks glued and they have never ran. My insurance covered it cause it's a lot cheaper than a new windshield. Cliff

'87 XJ 4.0, auto, 4-door 145,000 mi.
Hesco air tube, GDI three core, Borla header,
MSD Offroad w/8mm wires, 31-9.50 BS Duelers AT
headlamps on relays, Hella 550s,

 

Don't know if this is part of the problem but if there is rust in the channel where the windshield mounts it can crack easier. As the rust builds up it puts pressure on the glass and it takes some sort of force to start it (such as a rock) and that's it. You won't even see any rust around the windshield, it will be out of sight under it. This was pointed out to me when I got my glass replaced after I first bought it, the guy told me some places will just throw your new window in without taking care of the rust because they know you'll be back someday down the road. He was nice enough to take the loose rust off and put a coating of sealer on it.

89 XJ/lots of homemade mods...

 

Just make sure your glass company is not using "FYG" brand glass. It will be labeled somewhere on the bottom. The people in the industry call it "f@#$ YOU GLASS" really crappy stuff from overseas that some shops use to give you the lowest price. I specified PPG glass and still have an intact piece thats taken not only some hits from rocks, but big limbs! Following my friends K5 on some gravel too close showed me how well a good piece of glass works /wwwthreads_images/icons/tongue.gif

If it ain't broke,let me drive it!
http://www.skyboom.com/Robison

 

I agree with Piaa, there is some real cheap glass out there. A rock shouldn't cause a crack, just a chip or ding. If your glass cracked immediately, there was something else that helped it.

If it ain't dirty, you're doin' it wrong/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

 

The points that Piaa & athlonaj bring up are valid. I will be replacing my windshield again this coming Monday as it has cracked for the 4th time since I bought it in 88 (original windshield + 4 = 5 windshields). When I called my insurance co. this week to open a claim I also inquired on the statistics of the XJ windshields. They put me in contact with the vehicle claims statistic manager who told me that because their co. insured 1000s of XJs and had 100s of windshield claims per year they had an engineering study done on this matter. The study determined that the main reason why XJ windshields are vulnerable is due to the way the XJ frame shifts & twists. So if you happen to have cheap glass plus rust bumps which over stresses the glass then you add the frame twists you end up with broken windshields…. A good quality glass will resist the twisting better. That’s why the original glass lasts longer than replacements.

XJ88 4.0L

 

Thanks for the info, but none of it seems to really apply here I guess, except for the frame bending. When I had my windshield replaced about 1.5 years ago because of a bad installation a few years before that, the body shop where I had it done fixed the rust. Also, I asked them today what kind of glass they use, and it is all OEM stuff, direct from the Mopar glass suppliers. I also make sure to use this shop because they usually do quality work, I'm not for one of those "do it while is sits in the parking lot a work," repairs. I think the reason this one cracked is because it hit only about an inch away from the edge of the glass, just under the wiper. But, at least insurance is covering it. Also, all of the impact caused cracks have been from stones while driving on paved roads, not off road. Thanks for all the info everyone. /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif

1987 Cherokee 4.0L
216,000+ miles and still going...

 

Yea the whole unibody thing is nice but IT does cause a lot of twistng and flexin.. My buddy had I think it was a 93 or 94 camero that ate glass like candy would start from drivers sise bottom to top every time he would hit a ggod size bump..GM told him that there was nothing they could do right now till they made a mod re route the stress on the body... But good glass is good glass MY PPG has taken a good lick'n and never even bullseyes or smile carcks.

86 Commanche
If you can't RACE it or take it to BED it ain't worth having.

 

Thanks for the FYI on the FYG, piaa. I still have my stock glass from '88, but I have had to get a chip filled by the glass man. He said they replace crackers for free 'cause the filler is lifetime warantee. I haven't had it crack yet, but I have access to about 20 windshields with the junkyards around me. I'm wondering how many of the XJ's unibodies are just twisted slightly enough to cause the problems of multiple glass.

Tuck and roll, pussy.
'88 MJ SporTruck shortbed
Rebuilt 2.5L: 40 over rings, 10 on crank, 10 on bearings
nearing 400K