gnarly windshield gasket + nick in windshield itself - USAA options

hillstrubl

Founding Member
Hello all, my windshield has a pretty dried out and cracking windshield seal, paired with a nick just out of my sightline in the glass itself, I think it might be worth pulling to replace. I'm probably ok with reusing the same glass, but with all that effort I should probably just replace the glass too. I have USAA, anybody go through this and know what the options are BEFORE I call them?

(#D110)
 

Angus

Well-known member
I replaced my windsheild when I bought the truck. The glass is flat, so I went through a local glass shop for the glass and install. I don't recall it being very expensive, so it might not exceed your deductible. I would put new glass in at any rate.
 

MountainD

Technical Excellence Contributor
Heck, I crack windshields all the time. To me it depends on pitting. If it is pitted, replace. If it is just fine, keep it--Not all glass is the same and if it seems to survive, I'd at least suspect that it is one of the better ones...
 

rover4x4

Well-known member
My $.02 on USAA, one of thier clients ran into my Mazda in a parking lot. I believe it was about 8k in damage, USAA let me take it where I wanted for repairs, gave a warranty, paid my lost damage waiver, and a loaner car for over a month. USAA takes care of business.
 

javelinadave

Administrator
Staff member
I paid $50 for NTO windshield locally, $20 for a Shitpart brand gasket and $50 to Safelight Autoglass to install it.
 

Adam

Well-known member
My $.02 on USAA, one of thier clients ran into my Mazda in a parking lot. I believe it was about 8k in damage, USAA let me take it where I wanted for repairs, gave a warranty, paid my lost damage waiver, and a loaner car for over a month. USAA takes care of business.
No car insurance company can tell anyone where to have their car repaired.
 

xplorutah

Well-known member
USAA does this as a service. Essentially they give you some options and places near you, you pick the one you like the best, they set everything up. You have to do nothing. Great insurance company I’ve had them since I was 16, damn, 34 years I have been with them.
 

rocky

NAS-ROW Addict
Let USAA handle it. You pay them good money and will love the experience. They are good.
 

mgreenspan

Founding Member
Also if you don’t have it setup as such with USAA get your auto insurance set to split deductible for collision and comprehensive. I pay zero deductible for comprehensive so windshields are always free of safelite can’t get it fixed or you don’t like how it looks. That allows me to have a higher deductible for collision. I had to replace three windshields in one month and after the second I changed up the policy.
 

hillstrubl

Founding Member
Also if you don’t have it setup as such with USAA get your auto insurance set to split deductible for collision and comprehensive. I pay zero deductible for comprehensive so windshields are always free of safelite can’t get it fixed or you don’t like how it looks. That allows me to have a higher deductible for collision. I had to replace three windshields in one month and after the second I changed up the policy.
Spoke to USAA, my state (PA) doesn't support the ability to "split" the deductibles unfortunately. I drive so little that my $500 deductible isn't worth going through insurance in my situation. - Safelite wants $399 to replace... shopping around now.
 

Parrie

Well-known member
The guys at Safelite in my area didn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling when I replaced mine. Not sure if you have Portland Glass in your neck of the woods but they cut me a new one and installed it for $250.
 

hillstrubl

Founding Member
The guys at Safelite in my area didn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling when I replaced mine. Not sure if you have Portland Glass in your neck of the woods but they cut me a new one and installed it for $250.
unfortunately not, I'm in PA outside of Philly
 

Angus

Well-known member
unfortunately not, I'm in PA outside of Philly
If you are near Philly, try Alderfer Glass. That is who installed mine and did a great job. They ordered the glass as well. They wanted the gasket a couple of days before the install to allow it to relax on the glass.
 

hillstrubl

Founding Member
If you are near Philly, try Alderfer Glass. That is who installed mine and did a great job. They ordered the glass as well. They wanted the gasket a couple of days before the install to allow it to relax on the glass.
I am, I actually called them and got a quote for $269 (including glass) except they couldn't source the gasket, I'd have to get that too. I'll probably go that way, except they have restrictions for how many cars can be in the shop at a time now.
 

Angus

Well-known member
I had the same issue. Ordered the gasket from RN.

Where are you in Philly. There is a cluster of us to the north near Quakertown.
 

hillstrubl

Founding Member
Got a new windshield (in frame) from @WreckITFrank today, ordered the seal from @Z.G - now to make some calls to body shops to swap them.
Thanks everybody. That frame that the windshield is coming out of will be for sale soon if anybody needs one. It appears to have a soft-top retaining rail too.
 
Top