Driving a car in India is a herculean task in itself. Saving from the cattle, bikers who pounce on the roar from nowhere or driving on the highways. Getting minor dings, scratches and cracks on your windshield. Well, glass is glass and glass brakes. So today, let’s focus on windshield cracks as they are a topic of serious concern.
Before getting any further let’s see what are the types of cracks.
Types of Windshield Cracks
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Bull’s Eye Crack
Bullseye Crack This is one of the most common types of crack that occurs when a small blunt rock hits the windscreen. The impact acquires a circular shape and at times a small piece of glass falls off.
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Star Crack or Ding Crack
Star Crack The other common crack is the Star Crack. As the name suggests, this crack is caused by a sharp rock or object striking the windscreen. The impact develops a star-shaped cavity and a piece of glass chips off. If not taken care, a star crack can escalate very quickly.
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Combination Break
Combination Break A sharp pebble or an object strikes and sometimes the impact develops a combination break. This is the combination of the star crack and the bull’s eye crack.
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Edge Crack
Edge Crack The crack that escalates from within 2″ of the windscreen lining is the edge crack. If not taken care of the crack, it can go from a small crack to a long one. Well, this is something very common on vehicles in India. The length may range anywhere from 10″ to 12″ and sometimes even more.
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Floater Crack
Floater Crack This crack is identical to the edge crack, but unlike the edge, this starts 2″ away from the windscreens lining.
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Half Moon Crack
Half Moon Windscreen Crack Similar to the Bull’s eye crack, a half-moon crack chips off a piece of glass but has a semi-circular shape instead of circular.
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Stress Crack
Stress Windscreen Crack A stress crack is a type of an internal crack that can not be felt by moving our fingers over. To diagnose the crack, this requires moving a ballpoint pen over it. Fun Fact: This is not developed by any impact, instead sudden change of temperature causes a stress crack. For instance, a vehicle buried under the snow should be cleaned using cold water. When poured Hot water, Voila!, the temperature increase causes a stress crack.
With the types of cracks clear, let us take a look at whether the cracks can be repaired or is it a windscreen replacement that is required.
Repair or Replace?
Yes! As the windscreen is made up of laminated glass, it is possible to repair a windscreen. Well, the same is not possible for the other windows of the car. With technology getting more advance with time it is easier to repair cracks. Keep that in mind, to repair a windscreen some conditions apply. The size, depth and the location are the main factors a skilled technician considers before repairing the front glass. Whether it can be repaired not, you should take the vehicle to the nearest workshop.
Larger cracks are difficult to repair, whereas small chips and dings can be easily repaired. Cracks those are near to the edges are fairly hard to fix same goes to the depth of the crack.
When can you repair or replace the windshield
| Can be Repaired | Has to be Replaced |
| the crack is shorter than 12″ | If the crack is longer than 14″ |
| The ding has not penetrated and is only in the outer layer. | Both the layer of the windshield are damaged. |
| The bull’s eye or star is smaller than 1″ | The bull’s eye or star is larger than 3″ |
| The crack or ding is away from the edges | The crack or ding is close to the edges |
| The driver visibility is not hampered | Impairs driver’s visibility |
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Let us know in the comment section if you have any queries related to windshield damage.
Also, Read Does Turbo-Petrol car make sense over Naturally Aspirated?
FAQs
1. What type of windshield cracks are repairable?
Chips, bullseye cracks, star breaks—these can usually be fixed. Small cracks under 6 inches are repairable too, but once the damage spreads to the edge or sits right in the driver’s view, repair won’t hold and replacement is the safer call.
2. What does a windshield stress crack look like?
It usually begins at the edge with no visible impact point. A stress crack looks like a clean single line, often curving or branching out as it grows, and it keeps spreading quietly if ignored.
3. Can windshield cracks be repaired without replacing it?
Yes, small ones can. If the crack is shallow and not in your line of sight, resin repair works well and saves the glass. But once the crack runs deep or wide, replacement is the only option that truly keeps you safe.
4. What is the difference between a stress crack and an impact crack?
Stress cracks happen without a hit, often from heat or pressure changes, and they creep out from the edge. Impact cracks start right where something strikes the glass—you’ll see a chip or bullseye mark at the point of contact.
[…] Types of Windshield Cracks and When Should You Replace One […]
Types of windshield crack, I like this article about Windshield Replacement. Thanks for sharing.
My Mahindra kuv 100 is having a stress crack lining, at first vision it was hardly 3 ” to 4 ” inches but now after 18 months same stress crack line increased up to 10 ” to 12 ” and while moving the fingure over the stress crack lining same couldn’t be even felt.
So please suggest whether the windscreen should be replaced or else same should be repaired and if repaired then how much same would cost.
Hi Suraj
Windshields cannot be repaired. FOr the best results, we recommend replacing the same. You can book a windshield replacement service on the GoMechanic App
Bulls eye Crack on my xuv500. Can it be repaired?
Hi Sreenivas
I am afraid this crack cannot be repaired. You need to replace your windshield for best results
Well-written information to share. This would surely help readers a lot to know more about windshield replacement and how it works. Would love to read another. Thanks for the share.