Protecting Surface Under Bra

docker

New member
I want to protect the nose of my daily driver from chips, etc. I drive about 150 miles daily with about 2/3 of that on back roads (in farm country) so there is a higher likelihood of getting big bad bug splats and rock chips than normal highway driving. I have a bra for the car, but rarely use it anymore as I’m uncertain whether I may damage the surface underneath.



I know I can get one of those 3M Clear Bras, but would rather not spend the extra $ if I don’t have to. And I know I can install a bug deflector, but I’m not real keen on how I imagine this might look.



Question – Is there a product that I should use underneath the bra to give the surface maximum protection? My ideas for winterizing include AIO & multiple coats of SG. Any other product recommendations? I keep the car garaged so I should be able to remove the bra and clean the bra and car each weekend (or at least clean the portion under the bra).



Thanks in advance for your help! Autopia Members Rock!
 
Best advice I can give from looking at other cars that have worn a bra over an extended period of time is go braless! Save your money and go for 3m Scotchcal.
 
I used a bra on my old car for a very short time. I was very unhappy with it. First, I didn't like the look too much. Second, it can really f-up the paint underneath. Every time I would take it off to wash the paint underneath there would be quite a bit of sand and dirt trapped between the bra and the paint. Also, as the bra is vinyl if moisture is trapped between the bra and the paint it can migrate into the paint causing it to fog. This is a major PITA to fix. Mine was mild so I could just use a hair dryer on the paint to heat it up and evaporate the moisture out.
 
Mikeyc said:
I used a bra on my old car for a very short time. I was very unhappy with it. First, I didn't like the look too much. Second, it can really f-up the paint underneath. Every time I would take it off to wash the paint underneath there would be quite a bit of sand and dirt trapped between the bra and the paint. Also, as the bra is vinyl if moisture is trapped between the bra and the paint it can migrate into the paint causing it to fog. This is a major PITA to fix. Mine was mild so I could just use a hair dryer on the paint to heat it up and evaporate the moisture out.



I haven't used mine much lately after I did notice some fogging. For the last couple of months I have tried to take it off if I knew it was going to rain figuring that the moisture caught underneath could no be good for the surface.



However, didn't know if doing a bunch of layers of SG or some other product might lessen the possibility of troubles.



Right now it's looking like I should consider the 3M Scotchcal (which I have not researched yet) or a bug deflector.



If anyone else has any other ideas please chime in...
 
docker said:
I haven't used mine much lately after I did notice some fogging. For the last couple of months I have tried to take it off if I knew it was going to rain figuring that the moisture caught underneath could no be good for the surface.



However, didn't know if doing a bunch of layers of SG or some other product might lessen the possibility of troubles.



Right now it's looking like I should consider the 3M Scotchcal (which I have not researched yet) or a bug deflector.



If anyone else has any other ideas please chime in...



It's been a couple of years since I used the bra, but I believe I had a decent coat of wax on the car.
 
I have 2004 Monte Carlo SS, I got my Bra from GM, I ony use it in the winter, or long trips , I use Klasse SG, and before winter, a lot of S-100 on the front of the car. When I do take it off, the front lookes like ****, but it cleans up nice, I think the S-100 helps. :up
 
Trans am87 said:
I have 2004 Monte Carlo SS, I got my Bra from GM, I ony use it in the winter, or long trips , I use Klasse SG, and before winter, a lot of S-100 on the front of the car. When I do take it off, the front lookes like ****, but it cleans up nice, I think the S-100 helps. :up



Great...thanks for the tip.



Who manufactures S-100? I've seen it referred to all over this board, but I have no idea who manufactures it.
 
Cover the front of your car with glad wrap after polishing and sealing the paint

Klasse, UPP, FMJ etc will do the job well
 
I have a clear bra and it only covers the hood partially like the black vinly bra. There are still chips in the hood where its exposed. So the hood will be need to be repainted. Nothing is perfect I guess.

and some of the chips from stones have cut through the clear bra.

Using the black bra is limited to long trips or when the salt crews go out during snow storms when gravel and sand is everywhere. A real PITA sometimes. But the clear bra is the better investment.
 
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