Friday 19 June 2015

Why It’s Important to Fix That Chip in Your Windshield

That morning the rock from the gravel truck in front of you hit your windshield to leave a little nick in it, you wanted to scream. Your perfect view became a little less clear, and the unsightly blemish made you fume. If you chose to leave that nick unattended, you made a mistake that will affect not only the appearance the car, but the cost of the repair in the long run. Furthermore, while the nick may quickly turn to a full and expensive-to-repair crack, the worst news is that the damage to the windshield may put your life and those of your passengers at serious risk.

Many people allow a nick in their windshield to go without repair. The trouble of making an appointment or the cost seem prohibitive to them, but most nicks might be repaired within an hour and the cost for such a repair will be far less than the necessary expense of replacing an entire cracked or broken windshield.

A lot of people do not realize that the tiniest chip in a windshield can and usually does lead to a very serious crack that might result in a crack that extends from one end of the glass to the other. Such a crack affects the beauty of the vehicle, and many people would have it repaired for just that reason, but most people do not realize how detrimental a crack might be to the safety of everyone in the vehicle and riders they meet along the way.

Visibility is the first danger that a cracked windshield presents. Distracting and obscuring, a crack throughout the glass may affect the driver’s concentration and ability to adequately assess conditions, distances and other factors of the road. The slightest deviation may lead to an accident, and that is one seriously good reason to replace the windshield entirely.

Other dangers may not be so easily recognized by car owners. What many people do not understand is that structural issues depend on the windshield, too. Adding support to the structure of the roof, a seriously damaged windshield may pop out during a collision, collapse to cut the riders, or fail to provide any protection in a rollover accident. This makes windshield maintenance a major concern for anyone driving a car. To learn more about windshield repair in Raleigh, please visit this website.

Tuesday 2 June 2015

Style and Protection with a Hoodshield for your Truck

Like most truck owners, the first thing you want to do when you finally buy that rugged pickup you’ve had your eye on is load it up, take it out, show it off, and test its mettle. Before you head off into the sunset for some quality time, there are a few things you should do to protect your shiny new toy.

One of the first things you’ll want to look at is adding a little extra hood protection. Most people don’t look forward to scraping bug carcasses off the hood of their truck, or buying touch-up paint for the damage a couple of small pebbles can do. Hoodshields – also called deflectors or bug deflectors – are easy to install, come in a variety of styles, colors, and finishes, and offer rugged protection from the agony of suicidal insects and runaway gravel. They’re made from high-quality, shatter and scratch-proof acrylics.

Installation is simple, and can usually be done in the time it takes your kids to find their shoes – possibly even less than that, depending on how dedicated your kids are. Most hoodshields snap or clip on to the lip of your hood. Some use high-grade automotive tape to attach or secure them, while others screw through existing holes on the underside of your hood or require minor drilling. Snap-on types are easy to remove if you like to have unimpeded access while washing or waxing. If the type of installation is important to you, check with the distributor before you buy.

Hoodshields can also add style to your ride. Urban warriors may want to flash some chrome, while camo styles appeal to drivers who prefer their adventures off-road. If you’re trying to remain incognito, a clear deflector keeps it subtle, most also come in black or smoke shades to complement your tint or paint. Most brands offer window deflectors that match for all-over protection.

Fit is an important consideration. Some styles hug the hood for a sleek, low-profile, form-fitting finish, while others stand up and away to deflect a little more wind and debris and allow you to wash and wax around and under them. You can find them in one-piece or three-piece styles, depending on the size and shape of your hood. The best are injection-molded for a perfect fit around the contours of your vehicle.

If you’re ready to deflect bugs and defeat bouncing gravel, click here to find out more about aftermarket customization in San Diego, visit this website.