Strategies to avoid windshield rock chips

[luca1290]

There's not much you can do.

Up until now I have a rock chip which requires to fix the glass via resin injection once every ten years. Up until now, never had to change a windscreen. As other have said, bad luck tend to come in waves.
You have to live with it, keep a good following distance.... and my experience is that you get far less rock chips on highways than on county roads which tend to be less maintained and you also have oncoming traffic.

Once the fenders, the hood and the bumper have enough rock chips that are taking away the car beauty in your eyes, you repaint them all (by a competent shop) and the problem is solved.

Unless it's as flat as a sandwich or shaped like a banana every car can be repaired as new, it just depends how much money you want to throw at it and the emotional value you have attached to the item.
If it's flat as a sandwich or shaped as a banana and you was in the car then you're dead and the problem is solved anyway .

Enjoy the car, we age too, and there are definitely more things you can do to restore an aged car than yourself.

Sponsored

 

[Mojo9691]

There is no way if it is driven in traffic.

 

[accel]

I'm having a hood bra with wind deflectors that in theory minimize bugs hitting the windshield. Who knows, they also might deflect small stones. At least I'm having some hopes on that.

On practice I do not know. Just replaced my windshield this summer and I do stay away from trucks and change extra lanes to get around them at the max possible distance.

 

[Coosawjack]

https://madico.com/automotive/windshield-protection-film/clearplex

 

[S550HPP]

Only use Ford OE glass for structural integrity and durability .

The OE windshields are relatively cheap especially if you don't have 360. Doesn't make sense to use the windshield protective film.

I find the windshield will get road grit blasted anyway. So far my body PPF has been taking the rock hits penetrating in multiple spots, while I've only needed one chip repair in 40K all season miles with lots of crushed rock and other debris.

If you drive close to front vehicle rocks will torture the front and hood.

If you drive back more 3+ car lengths they will damage your hood, fenders, glass and A-pillars & roof leading edge. Side front debris spray can't be avoided and does most damage. More space is best for safety but full front and QTR panel PPF is a must if want to preserve appearance and paint.

In love new windshields because car feels new, and will get a new one in the spring at 50K miles, along with fresh PPF on headlights, bumper, fenders and maybe the hood.

 

[joe603]

The only thing you can do is try to stay away from road construction and large vehicles. But sometimes it's just going to happen. I just had to replace my windshield on my 23 jeep for a random rock that came flying up.

 

[2019GT]

I had a friggin acorn drop off a tree while I drove past it, left a nice small chip in my windshield.

It's just going to happen if you actually drive the car. My windshield is only a year or two old after having it replaced and it's got small little nicks all over it.

But yeah, giving plenty of room between you and other cars will be the most helpful I bet. Usually doesn't happen to me, but when I hear my car starting to get pelted I immediately slow down to add distance. That'll mostly happen on roads that have some sort of construction going on though.

 

[GTP]

I wish I had added PPF to my windshield when I got the other areas done 5 years ago.

 

[Kabayo]

Reaching out to the Mustang community to get some feedback regarding how you all avoid/reduce the likelihood of receiving windshield rock chips. I've just received my 3rd bad chip encounter in the last 6 weeks after not having any on my prior 2 Mustangs. That said, the 3 I have received were from a 3 laned highway, 2 from pickup trucks and one from a dump truck that suddenly pulled onto the freeway before I could change lanes. Darned dump truck hit a bump and dislodged rocks from between the rear dump door and payload floor (and of course no company identifiers on the rig so no way to call and chew someone out). I always give pickup trucks and dump trucks distance but I'm still getting hammered. I'm thinking about avoiding highway driving now since I don't daily my Mustang and primarily use it for recreation. Anyone been in a similar situation with these rock chips and have an approach that has worked for them? Thank you!

Not much you can do other than keep you distance as others have said from trucks. All the 18 wheelers as much as possible as rocks sitting on top of the trailer can blow off at speed. I recommend you keep a small roll of tape in the car to cover the chip pending the repair. This will keep water and dirt going deep into chip making the repair easier.

 

[Justpassingas]

I have zero deductible on glass so I just replaced the windshield recently after only 2 years and close to 30k…After several road trips it looked liked it was sand blasted with 60 grit and difficult to see when the sun was in your eyes. Good thing I PPFed the nose but the roof where it meets the windshield has some chips.

 

[Bob Lob Law]

Increasing following doesn't always work as ass hats will just jump in the gap and now your close. Just had my wife's windshield replaced last month. We switched to 0 deductible on glass as one of our vehicles seems to need to be replace every year or two and my wife's Enclave windshield was like $500. Steering clear of Oklahoma has greatly reduced my windshield replacements though. LOL

 

[kellyreno]

Reaching out to the Mustang community to get some feedback regarding how you all avoid/reduce the likelihood of receiving windshield rock chips. I've just received my 3rd bad chip encounter in the last 6 weeks after not having any on my prior 2 Mustangs. That said, the 3 I have received were from a 3 laned highway, 2 from pickup trucks and one from a dump truck that suddenly pulled onto the freeway before I could change lanes. Darned dump truck hit a bump and dislodged rocks from between the rear dump door and payload floor (and of course no company identifiers on the rig so no way to call and chew someone out). I always give pickup trucks and dump trucks distance but I'm still getting hammered. I'm thinking about avoiding highway driving now since I don't daily my Mustang and primarily use it for recreation. Anyone been in a similar situation with these rock chips and have an approach that has worked for them? Thank you!

After I did my PPF on the new C8 a new windscreen film came up. Kind of pricey $400. I think I am going to do it,

 

[AZ_Ryan]

Reaching out to the Mustang community to get some feedback regarding how you all avoid/reduce the likelihood of receiving windshield rock chips. I've just received my 3rd bad chip encounter in the last 6 weeks after not having any on my prior 2 Mustangs. That said, the 3 I have received were from a 3 laned highway, 2 from pickup trucks and one from a dump truck that suddenly pulled onto the freeway before I could change lanes. Darned dump truck hit a bump and dislodged rocks from between the rear dump door and payload floor (and of course no company identifiers on the rig so no way to call and chew someone out). I always give pickup trucks and dump trucks distance but I'm still getting hammered. I'm thinking about avoiding highway driving now since I don't daily my Mustang and primarily use it for recreation. Anyone been in a similar situation with these rock chips and have an approach that has worked for them? Thank you!

This is literally what PPF is for.

Edit: sorry I didn't realize you were only talking windshield.

Pro-tip - don't drive in Arizona.

 

[First Stang]

I’ve become very conscious of the vehicles around me after having a rock chip crack my windshield early this year. Be weary of SUV’s, trucks, any gravel haulers, performance SUV’s with sticky tires and any road construction. Nowadays, I either give the above cars more room or I maneuver ahead of them as safely and quickly as possible (customary downshift to indicate intent). I try to drive in the mid and left lanes as they tend to be cleaner. Use the lanes furthest from the construction site if you can. Bumpy roads tend to have lots of debris as well so I drive slower in those conditions.

Sponsored