Close Call!!

[valentinoamoro]

I'm waiting before driving my beast on the freeway till my clear-bra is installed (next week). This is after an experience with my prior car where I got 2 large and long rock chips on the hood (that required a lot of touch up work) two days before my clear-bra installation.

Anyway, its tempting and hard not to resist the urge to pick up the keys and I had just that feeling yesterday morning on my way to work. However, decided against it. Wise decision.

On my way to work a gravel truck enters the freeway in front of me, hits a bump and dumps a ridiculous amount of gravel (large and small pieces) all over the freeway. Most of it bounces and hits the lower bumper (I have a high riding XC90) which is clear-bra'd, but was thanking my stars that I wasnt driving the Stang - it would have been scratched and dented up badly as its much lower. This kind of incident is rare though and has only happened to me once prior - most other times its the random stone.

My TY paint stays pristine yet another day.

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[Endokendal]

whew!
Really glad I got my clear bra too. NM roads are notoriously bad for flying debris.

 

[5LiterBeater]

Close call indeed. I look like a fool when I space myself so far behind bigger tractor trailers merging on the highway, but had a similar experience as you with my M3. Unfortunately the M3 was not so lucky and got some pretty deep scratches/cuts on the front bumper.

 

[valentinoamoro]

Close call indeed. I look like a fool when I space myself so far behind bigger tractor trailers merging on the highway, but had a similar experience as you with my M3. Unfortunately the M3 was not so lucky and got some pretty deep scratches/cuts on the front bumper.

Actually, in general I do keep a massive space as well and that sometimes means driving at the same speed as they do (unless the freeway widens up and I can pass on a far lane safely). I realize it might look weird but its worth the 10 mins of inconvenience to protect our beasts. Overall though I've been lucky - with the clearbra's and careful driving I've avoided any significant damage to the paint on my prior cars (other than those two huge chips back in the day). Now I sound like a salesman for a clear-bra company, LOL!

I'm also doing a vinyl black roof that should look cool but also protect the roof from tree sap and bird poop baking on it in the summer while I am tucked away in a meeting. I've had bad luck with both prior - particularly the latter which can etch the paint after a matter of hours!

 

[Endokendal]

Actually, in general I do keep a massive space as well and that sometimes means driving at the same speed as they do (unless the freeway widens up and I can pass on a far lane safely). I realize it might look weird but its worth the 10 mins of inconvenience to protect our beasts. Overall though I've been lucky - with the clearbra's and careful driving I've avoided any significant damage to the paint on my prior cars (other than those two huge chips back in the day). Now I sound like a salesman for a clear-bra company, LOL!

I'm also doing a vinyl black roof that should look cool but also protect the roof from tree sap and bird poop baking on it in the summer while I am tucked away in a meeting. I've had bad luck with both prior - particularly the latter which can etch the paint after a matter of hours!

We don't have much of a tree sap problem in NM... no trees

 

[steve1107]

Clear bra? Is it spray on? Where did you get it?

 

[Ruckus]

I-5 or 99? I just want to know what kind of roads let finish-killing stone-dropping rigs wreak their particular brand of havoc.

 

[valentinoamoro]

Clear bra? Is it spray on? Where did you get it?

Clear-bra is an enhanced transparent (to UV and visible light) plastic sheet with a clear coat that is applied with glue. I'm getting it installed at NW Accutint along with a tint and some stripes (dropped my car off today!) - a local tint/clearbra installer.

I-5 or 99? I just want to know what kind of roads let finish-killing stone-dropping rigs wreak their particular brand of havoc.

This was the 520 - it's the worst when it comes to this!

 

[Ruckus]

Oh yeah. I should've figured. More road construction mayhem.:doh:

 

[rdnbrbk]

Would some of you who have installed this in your mustang post some pics? Close ups and from a little further back along with what brand/product name that you bought? Thanks in advance.

 

[Blk2015GT]

Unfortunately it was probably all luck. I dont think a chunk of gravel would have been stopped by an 8mil thick piece of plastic getting shot up at highway speeds.

Clear bras may help with sand and very tiny debris, but pieces of gravel and rocks at highway speed? No way a film of plastic stops it from doing damage. Remember, the front bumper behind the film is only plastic. It can still get dented through the clear bra film which may or may not cause the paint to crack in the divot causing the same damage in the end.

I personally don't believe all that much in the clear bra fad that it really helps all that much in terms of real damage like rock chips on the highway. Bugs etc, sure it keeps it off the paint, or you could just take care of the pant properly too. But high speed rock chips the physics just doesnt make sense that it does much good. I guess I see it like laminated glass, it can still break under the laminate film; just like the paint can be damaged through the clear bra, whether or not the clear bra is damaged itself or not.

 

[Endokendal]

Would some of you who have installed this in your mustang post some pics? Close ups and from a little further back along with what brand/product name that you bought? Thanks in advance.

Here's some I took today. I've got Xpel on the front, 18" of hood and fenders, and backs of mirrors. You really can't see it unless you are really looking.

 

[RevvdMedia]

I'll be installing clear bra as well. Unfortunately I probably won't have time day 1 to install it, so I'll take it in for install the morning after.

 

[Ruckus]

Clear Bra may not protect against the heavy stuff, but I think they do deflect a majority of what you may encounter pulling normal street duty. I know I could've used it when I took my car down to the Fabulous Fords Forever meet in Long Beach, CA from Sacramento a few years ago. My finish was fresh from the body shop and it could have used a little shielding from everything I encountered between points A and B. And they ARE invisible, until pointed out. Very wise investment, IMHO. Costly, but only if you're willing to pay someone to make reparations for NOT having applied it. In other words, it's better than having NO protection, and how much of a gambler are you?

 

[MSamuels]

You're waiting to drive your car on the freeway??? Its just a car. Drive it. Please. People are so weird about cars these days.

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