Thread: Mystery shattering rear glass

Originally Posted by superquag

... had a rock take out a tail-light, same cause...

$650 for a rear windscreen ? ouch... what's it made of, - bullet-proof optical glass???

That is what I thought. It's is not like it is curved or anything.

I had one half of the rear sliding window on my 130 dual cab break while the car was parked up overnight. I don't really recall the weather at the time.

I drilled the frame out, took it to my local glazier, who cut and fitted a single pane of 'windscreen' glass for about $50. Riveted the frame back in and no probs since.

Originally Posted by superquag

... had a rock take out a tail-light, same cause...

$650 for a rear windscreen ? ouch... what's it made of, - bullet-proof optical glass???

On a trip up to QLD years ago, I broke both Barn door windows in the Toyo, they wanted well over $1000 to replace both, ended up buying two complete doors for $200.

Originally Posted by Defender Mike

... some say its a liquid with surface tension holding it all together.

Off topic, but....

According to Dr Karl, this is an urban myth. Old glass that is thicker at the bottom was just installed that way, in the days when it was very difficult to get a perfectly flat piece of glass.

I've seen that and I fully undersand all of the science behind why its not so but I always wondered why when you look at some of the really old glass its got "stretch marks" that come away from the top framing where its been clamped and why some panes have been found with a pronounced "ridge" where it was clamped at the bottom. I know about the differences in thicknesses from when plate manufactuing was done by spinnign a bubble to make it flat (its actually really cool to watch if you ever get to go see a glass blowing works show)

I've heard claims of "its erosion, its staining from the wood and paint they used"

Erosion I could buy if it was only on the exposed side

the staining, might fit but Id expect it to be more uniform....

of course it could also be a multitude of factors,

heat from house fires softening the glass which was made from lower grade materials that contained imperfections along with uneven weight distribution within the glass that promoted the glass "wanting" to relax and reform its shape slightly....

I know the science is right, but it just feels wrong.


True the following vid isnt on the exact same subject

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe-f4gokRBs]Mystery of Prince Rupert's Drop at 130,000 fps - Smarter Every Day 86 - YouTube[/ame]
but my thinking is
what if

"the same principle applies, the glass was made and had this effect going on but as the glass is thermal cycled over centuries it flexes itself back to a more natural position"

Originally Posted by Reads90

That is what I thought. It's is not like it is curved or anything.

Cost of Glass + they usually allow a new seal + labour + pofit.

BTW a genuine LR seal for the front windscreen is $200+

Just had my experience of rear window shattering today. Didn't see the thread before posting mine
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/showthread...97#post2079297

All sounds the same though, '09 110 wagon, seems to have initiated in the centre just below the brake light mount

I had the rear window go in the D1 in about 1998. It was a very frosty night and the vehicle was parked outside. In the morning....crazed (shatterproof glass). I think I found a tiny chip from a stone probably while towing although I hadn't been towing anything for some weeks towing and the temperature change probably precipitated the failure.