You're lucky. Here in Michigan we have two road seasons. One season is salt and sand for the winter. The other season is anytime but that when they are trying to fix potholes, resurface roads, etc. Our ever intelligent MDOT has decided the best way to maintain roads in Michigan is to spray down a layer of tar and drop loose gravel on the road. They rely on traffic to matt it down. So when you are on a back road and see Uncle Jessy with Daisy riding shotgun in the center in their lifted F-150 with super swampers, and behind him you see the wake of gravel he is creating since Daisies got her hands between his legs and he's feeling like a NASCAR truck driver, you have three options.

1) Pull into the nearest driveway and get about a 1/8 mile down before he gets close.
2) Pretend your back in that arcade game Asteroids, and try to dodge all of the shrapnel.
3) Be thankful that although it looks goofy as hell, the bra is about to save you from countless chips. Of course you have to pray your windshield doesn't get starred, which happens a lot around here.

 

Water traps the dirt, so the wet-sanding applies to that moreso than when dry.

Don't stop in the rain to take it off, just take it off when you get somewhere and let it dry out.

You can wash them, just without detergent, because it will stop the UV-repellant properties of the bra.

I spray mine down with a pressure sprayer and go over it with a broom. Then pressure spray it again. THat is how mine gets cleaned.

 

If you get the plate numbers off that truck, you can have him pay for the damages. As a driver, you are responsible for anything that comes off of your car (even off of the tires). If the guy has a problem with this, then he needs to take that up with the MDOT. That is so pathetic of them to maintain tie roads like that. They did it the same way in Puerto Rico, and it was a constand repair job because of the uneven work and all the potholes that formed. Totally stupid.

 

if u want a bra why dont u just go with a 3m clear bra i had one on my sti and u couldnt notice it!

 

Two reasons:

1) I don't want a bra all of the time, only on road trips. As 3M is not removable, that poses a problem. I have had the 3M on a bike and a car, and I don't like it. I am far more picky about things than most people are, and I just did not like 3M. All leading edges of the product do collect dirt and wax, it is very noticeable to me, and it deals with compound curves poorly.

2) I got the factory bra for under $100, and quotes from 3M, installed or not, were far more than that.

I will use the bra one day out of the month, maybe, and I am not so vain that I will leave it off to look cool at the expense of paint damage. My car is driven very little, but leaving the bra on can trap debris and etch the paint, hence the removal.

 

I had the clear bra on my sti and it was like 300 for it installed. I rather pay $300 then to put that ugly thing on any car, why would u want to take the clear bra off, the purpose is to prevent chips and scratches. U cannt even tell its on if u get a good kit and installer!

 

You obviously did not read my post, you are wrong, I can tell it's on there regardless of who the installer is, and I do not like the ugly lines that collect wax and dirt if you upkeep the car frequently. I could give a **** about how the bra looks for the few road trips I want the bra for. I would never pay to have the 3M installed on anything I own again, so I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree since I think IT is ugly and overpriced.

 

Regarding the 3m stuff, I notice people are putting it on their mirrors. My car looks like it already has it on the mirrors. Did anyone else notice this on their cars?

 

I just got my Mitsu. evo bra and its not so bad. No fabric bra is going to look as pretty as the stock front end but it gets the job done. It takes about 1 min to remove after a road trip and about 3-5 min to put on. I know the bra saved my front end from looking at what happened to the rest of my car(front end is mint condition, and a couple scratches on the doors and quarter panels). If road trips are maybe 3-5 times a year, then the bra is your best bet. If you need full time protection get the 3m clear bra.

 

That is the way to go... many of my friends have them, great thing is you can't see it unlike that hideous black thing. LOL

Try www.rockblocker.com

Just a tip!

Amber

 

Let's see...

The 3M clear bra stays on all the time. You might not be able to notice it, but it can still be damaged and then you have to replace it.

The OEM car bra is very noticable, but you only use it for long interstate drives. I don't know why people are worried about the looks of the car bra, when they are trying to preserve the looks of the paint underneath. I generally don't try to look cool / pick up girls as I drive down the interstate. In fact, I don't use my car to pick up girls at all...

Oh well, why has this thread went on for this long anyway?

It's mostly personal preference, but each has their good and bad points. I have lost interest in this thread now. I don't even know why I replied this time.

 

If anyone is interested in a clear bra install you can find a dealer/installer near you by ZIP code here

http://www.clear-bra.com/