Chasis Flex / Winshield Cracked

Inertia · 01-08-2007, 10:35 AM

This weekend when driving in really high winds my windshield sponeaneously cracked from the top edge. No rocks involved. My big concern here is the windshield creak was getting progressively worse over the last few months and I am really concerned about the rigidity of my car now. Anyone have any experience with this yet? Car has no suspension modification so far but the long term plan is a really extensive build on this body and I am scared its already going soft at 20K. Any experts have any suggestions to fix this or prevent it from getting worse short of seam welding my body?

wizzman · 01-08-2007, 10:48 AM

My guess is the temperature had something to do with this as well.

Inertia · 01-08-2007, 11:21 AM

It was cold but not as cold as it has been many times before and in many other cars.

Fierysun · 01-08-2007, 01:13 PM

Temperature is a factor, because glass and steal expand and contract at a different rate. With that being said. The STI chassis does have flex even in mild climate. I recommend fender braces, lower H-Brace, Front and rear strut bars. That should take care of it, and your car will handle in a more predictable way.

DoctorSTi · 01-11-2007, 08:39 AM

one of those annoying rattles and cracks the STI has. Some complain of this more then others, unless they live in perpetually warm places. Mine cracks like crazy as the temp approaches 40 or below. I have the sti titanium strut bar and it helped only a little tiny bit as it still cracks a bunch. No worries

nonissan · 01-11-2007, 09:34 AM

i thought a stiffer chassis would be more prone to cracking a windshield...?... (see SoG's post on suspension)

short of seam welding though, if you want to stiffen things up, (not sure if our frames will allow this, it's done on other cars a lot though) you could spray insulating foam in the frame rails...

***CGMDan*** · 01-11-2007, 11:17 AM

The chassis does not flex enough to crack the windshield. I can't remember the last time I actually heard of a stock car (non-caged, non-race) cracking a windshield. Hell look at all the domestic convertables with a really flexy chassis, and they don't crack windshields.

I've had a crack thru the middle of my windshield for over a year and have done MANY track days with it, it has NEVER grown because of it.

nonissan · 01-11-2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGMDan

I've had a crack thru the middle of my windshield for over a year and have done MANY track days with it, it has NEVER grown because of it.

they let you on a track with a cracked windshield?

**spazegun2213** · 01-11-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nonissan

they let you on a track with a cracked windshield?

sure do! my race car has a cracked windshield... am I going to fix it...

no

01-08-2007, 10:35 AM	#1
Inertia Senior STI Driver Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: Your Girlfriend Ridin Shotgun Location: Denver, CO Posts: 340 IWSTI Addict since: Jul 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	Chasis Flex / Winshield Cracked This weekend when driving in really high winds my windshield sponeaneously cracked from the top edge. No rocks involved. My big concern here is the windshield creak was getting progressively worse over the last few months and I am really concerned about the rigidity of my car now. Anyone have any experience with this yet? Car has no suspension modification so far but the long term plan is a really extensive build on this body and I am scared its already going soft at 20K. Any experts have any suggestions to fix this or prevent it from getting worse short of seam welding my body? This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

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01-08-2007, 10:48 AM	#2
wizzman Junior STI Driver Car: 05 VF34 WRX Location: Hampton, NH Posts: 172 IWSTI Addict since: Jul 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	My guess is the temperature had something to do with this as well.

01-08-2007, 11:21 AM	#3
Inertia Senior STI Driver Car: 06 STi Fav Mod: Your Girlfriend Ridin Shotgun Location: Denver, CO Posts: 340 IWSTI Addict since: Jul 2006 Trader Rating: (0)	It was cold but not as cold as it has been many times before and in many other cars.

01-08-2007, 01:13 PM	#4
Fierysun Junior STI Driver Car: 2005 STI (White) Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 121 IWSTI Addict since: Dec 2004 Trader Rating: (1)	Temperature is a factor, because glass and steal expand and contract at a different rate. With that being said. The STI chassis does have flex even in mild climate. I recommend fender braces, lower H-Brace, Front and rear strut bars. That should take care of it, and your car will handle in a more predictable way.

01-11-2007, 08:39 AM	#5
DoctorSTi The Next Petter Solberg Car: 05 CGM STI on 57F br Fav Mod: stage 2 Location: Newark, DE Posts: 862 IWSTI Addict since: Jan 2005 Trader Rating: (2)	one of those annoying rattles and cracks the STI has. Some complain of this more then others, unless they live in perpetually warm places. Mine cracks like crazy as the temp approaches 40 or below. I have the sti titanium strut bar and it helped only a little tiny bit as it still cracks a bunch. No worries

01-11-2007, 09:34 AM	#6
nonissan Spec C Club Car: '06 steel grey, son. Fav Mod: learning how to drive stock first Posts: 994 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	i thought a stiffer chassis would be more prone to cracking a windshield...?... (see SoG's post on suspension) short of seam welding though, if you want to stiffen things up, (not sure if our frames will allow this, it's done on other cars a lot though) you could spray insulating foam in the frame rails...

01-11-2007, 11:17 AM	#7
*CGMDan* Platinum Member Car: '05 CGM STi Fav Mod: What's RCE made lately? Location: Beaverton, Or Posts: 1,524 IWSTI Addict since: Nov 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	The chassis does not flex enough to crack the windshield. I can't remember the last time I actually heard of a stock car (non-caged, non-race) cracking a windshield. Hell look at all the domestic convertables with a really flexy chassis, and they don't crack windshields. I've had a crack thru the middle of my windshield for over a year and have done MANY track days with it, it has NEVER grown because of it.