Spieder

I was wondering who out there uses a car bra and what kind you have. I see auctions for the original OEM bras but they are usually tattered up.

I was looking at some aftermarkets, like Wolf, but wanted to know if they are any good?

I was concerned about the headlights and about the lower front brake vents.

gamble302

car bras are bad
unles you take em off often to clean it and the paint under it you end up scratching your paint
and driving an ugly *** car while doing it too

S2-13BT

Yep, ugly things they are.

In my opinion, of course!

Spieder

Ah, but you see, the other problem is the rocks and fluids. I hand sanded my entire car to bare metal, bondo'd her up and then had her painted. Now, less than a year later, my front end is getting chiped away from rocks and some semi's leaky brakes ate a few nice dime spots in my front panel.

So you see, if I never take the bra off, it all looks good .

Besides, who ever said I wash my car. Dirt is natures natural protectant.

Manntis

I've a car bra that snugly fits the front of my '83. It looks OEM (it's actually Le Bra brand), doesn't have those annoying two 'tents' you see on aftermarket ones...

The nose of my SE is just so perfect I can't bring myself to stuff it in a bra, but I'd be willing to sell it.

Spieder

Hmm, I am not sure about the Le Bra and I am just kinda window shopping right now.

I just bought a Grant steering wheel so my play money is used up for a few weeks. I need a better paying job.

Manntis

forgot to mention: it includes 2 tight fitting headlight covers too

851stgen12a

I have the Lebra for my 85. (came with the car when I boiught it) it disent fit right at all. has bunches of places that wont fit around the body work. also it has rubbed my paint down to the primer in a few spots.

gump

In the past I would of never considered a bra for one of my vehicles, but after seeing what 10k miles of driving on highways has done to the front of my SE, I'll definately have one on after I get it sanded and painted. I'll take it off once a week and clean if I have to if it'll keep my front end from getting chipped up.

rac

In my experiance with bras, I had one on a 96 Trans Am, It causes a lot more damage than it prevents.

rotorhead

nah, just spray the front end with 'rhino lining'.... that'll take care of those annoying rock chips!

Smeagol

iTrader: (1)

I've got a bra I'll let go for $30 + shipping. Email if interested. I believe it's the factory one.

Mike

Matt22

iTrader: (10)

i love my cars bra
i have on eon my 88 Rex
and one on my 85 celica
they are dope.
lates Matt22

cjf

iTrader: (1)

I have a COVER CRAFT bra on my 84 gsl-se. Got it off e-bay for 39.00 (just so you know about pricing) .It was brand new, it fit nice but it has plus's and minus's. Plus's are it prevents rock chips, it looks ok, and if you have those two tents the other guy mentioned, that stops 99% of the bugs hitting the windshield. If you have a nice front end, I would use, if you have a lousy front end, I would use it. Now the bad part is , don't let it get wet cause dirt and crud get under it...you will get scratchs. I could not open the hood with out taking it off. Kinda a pain. ( I think the "Le Bra" is better because it tucks under the hood or something) This one goes up on the hood quite a bit. And, you find yourself taking it off, putting it one , taking off, put on...it is a bit of a pain... I am glad I have it to protect my nice front end. It is putting up with the pain in the butt or having rock chips...your choice. For $39.00, it was worth having around...,,,cjf

Traiko

Those car bra's do more harm then good. Dust, dirt, and moisture get trapped between the bra and your paint. When you drive, air gets under the bra and causes the bra to sort of vibrate. You're basically doing a slow form of sandblasting to your front end.

I would recommend getting a "clear bra" They are 9mm die cut vinly made specifically for this purpose. The bra goes on clear (of corse) and is virtually unnoticable. It does not crack, peel, or yellow. When you want to take it off, you can simly take it off with a heatgun.

It isn't very expensive, especially for what you get from it. I'd recommend getting the 3M brand bra. Out of all of the ones i've installed, those seem to work the best. And I've noticed you can easily buff scratches out of the 3M vinly compared to others which dont buff too well. If you're intrested and are in PA, I can install it, otherwise you'd have to check around. I'll see if I can where on the 3M site that it lists installers.

Also, if you go with 3M, you get a 4 year $1,000 warranty. 3M calls the product "The Leading Edge"

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

Cool Can you post some pics?

I was gonna recommend a size 34C Wonderbra myself.

Manntis

I hear those clear bras lift and separate...

etherhuffer

Yeah, but at least you can see what your are getting before you buy. hehehehe. The clear seems the way to go on the front panel. Or, when you paint your car go Imron or some other liquid steel strength paint. The bras can actually adhere to the paint in really hot weather.

Traiko

I totally lost contact with this thread, sorry... I'll take some pics at work this weekend. They don't lift and peel, if applied correctly. And to take them off, simply nail em with a heatgun and peel. There is little to no residue left after they are removed, and if there is any, it can be simply removed with a non-abrasive cloth and some RM 900. (RM 900 = our extra-stregnth goo-be-gone)

I've taken off 2 bra's already. One was for a dealership before they we're going to repaint the whole car, a second was a vehicle who was in a small front-end collision. i had to remove all of the bra so that it could be repainted. Not a problem either time.

Anyway, pics this weekend!

rx7gslse

lots of the high dollar sports car guys us the 3M clear stuff... It works great. the only way you really can tell it's even there is a faint line you see at it's edge.

the bad part is, if you've already got rock chips, it ain't goona hide them.

rx7gslse

http://www.3m.com/us/auto_marine_aer...pf/index.jhtml

youdoitimtired

don't get a bra. What is the point of having the car painted if you are just goin to cover it up.

I recomend that if you are goin to get a bra get the whole car cover and cut out holes for the window.

MyRxBad

I wouldn't use a bra.
When you get your car's repainted tell them to put an extra coat of clear on it and wax the hell out of the car. Just don't follow any construction or heavy equipment vehicles and you should do fine.

851stgen12a

I have the LeBra bra for my car. It worked great, till i I took it off and noticed huge rub spots were the paint was worn down half throught the Primer.

I will never use a bra again, going to cost me to much money.

MACH7

I have an original Mazda OEM bra. It fits extremely well, e.g. no movement and no damage. Maybe the brand Xs do not fit as well? I am not a proponent of keeping it on all the time, but it works great when you are going to be driving where you will get stones thrown your way at high speed, e.g. interstates and back country roads. Some like the looks of a bra and some do not. But it does save the paint from rock/stone chips. I think it is worth having one to use occasionally if you have nice paint, e.g. a lot cheaper than painting the front. And it does give you an occasional change in the look!!!