Front Bra

[2012 WHT PLAT X]

Hi Im new to this forum and new to explorers. I.just bought the 2012 White Platinum XLT 2 weeks ago and I already have a rock chip on my hood and Im furious. Does anyone know where i can buy a bra for my explorer? Thanks

 

[SWEET ST]

The bra is worse if you leave it on all the time paint will not blend evenly and you will see it sooner or later i would put the bug shield that should help !

 

[2012 WHT PLAT X]

I wasn't going to leave it on there all the time. I was only going to put it on during road trips so reduce the risk of rock chips.

 

[JETZ]

3M Venture Shield is what you want.

'Bras' are so 80's, and as mentioned above they do more harm than good, plus they look like crap...like a nice black tampon on the front of your car!

 

[2012 WHT PLAT X]

Does anyone have pictures with the 3M clear bra? I've seen one on a car before and it gets dirty on the edges and it kinda turns yellow after awhile but not sure if they advanced it since. Plus, is it easy to remove if i ever wanted to? Would it leave a glue residue like window tint? So any pics or experiences with this product?

 

[ronninco]

I had the 3M Clear Bra put on my Sterling Gray 11 Exp LTD. I had to have the first install removed due to mfg marks on the film but the second install went well. Against the dark body color of the Explorer, the bra is more noticeable than it was on my white F250. After 8,700 miles the clear bra is holding up well.

 

[Bill #5 Explorer]

Try to avoid rock chips by:

1) Don't tailgate
2) Don't tailgate trucks
3) Stay away from gravel/construction trucks

If a gravel/construction truck goes into my lane, I almost always try to change into a different lane and/or pass the truck. They are the worst offenders.

 

[2012 WHT PLAT X]

Ronnnico, has any dirt accumulated at the edges and does it work well stopping rock chips? Can u post some pics?

 

[JETZ]

I have it on my X, and other cars. Wouldn't leave home without it!

 

[2012 WHT PLAT X]

Nice X.....I like your rims as well. I found a place that would charge $650 for parts/labor. Is that a reasonable price? They are using 3m product.

 

[JETZ]

Thanks!

It all depends on the amount of coverage. It cost me a grand. Make sure it's 'Venture Shield'! Also, anyone can say 'we install', ask to see their work on other customer cars. My installer does mostly high end rollers, and just did a buddie's Maserati, that's how I found him.

I have:

Hood
grill
complete bumper
mirrors
front of roof above WS
rear bumper
head & fog lights

 

[2012 WHT PLAT X]

Since i have a rock chip on my hood, I wonder if that will affect the clear bra? Should I just clear bra the rest of the car except the hood until I get the chip fixed or will the chip not affect the adhesive or looks of the clear bra?

 

[JETZ]

Unless you can putt into it, I wouldn't worry. Buy some touch up paint in a tube, and get it done.

 

[pwscott]

Since i have a rock chip on my hood, I wonder if that will affect the clear bra? Should I just clear bra the rest of the car except the hood until I get the chip fixed or will the chip not affect the adhesive or looks of the clear bra?

Seriously? You're thinking of "...just clear bra the rest of the car except the hood..." ??? Really? What's that going to cost?

 

[JohnnyO]

I have a LeBra for my Sport Trac, also a Bugflector II that is screwed in and on all the time. I have yet to see a Bugflector on any truck I've owned that actually deflects bugs but I look at them more as stone chip protectors. I put the bra on for highway trips. You do not want to leave the bra on when it rains. LeBra is top-notch quality, have one for my son's Mustang also. The LeBra comes with a hood protector piece also but I don't use it because the Bugflector is already there. I'm kinda practiced at it now and can put the bra on in about a minute. You can't really see it in the pic but the bra has a bug screen across the grille also.

In case anyone is wondering, the pic was taken at the Auto Train station in FL. When they are unloading vehicles they call out the number on your door.

 

[2012 WHT PLAT X]

Well if the clear bra was not going to work well with a chip on the hood, i was going to do the rest of the front and do the hood after i fix the chip so the rest of the front doesn't get messed up and i don't end up paying more to repair more chips.

 

[JETZ]

Lets see some good, big pics of this crevice!

...and you should have got it done as soon as you got the car, there's a thought!

 

[2012 WHT PLAT X]

how do i upload pics from my computer?

 

[ld50]

Need elite membership, or link to a photo sharing site of your own choosing, like photobucket, or whatever....

 

[fifthranger]

Try to avoid rock chips by:

1) Don't tailgate
2) Don't tailgate trucks
3) Stay away from gravel/construction trucks

If a gravel/construction truck goes into my lane, I almost always try to change into a different lane and/or pass the truck. They are the worst offenders.

Easier said than done. I had a year old Ranger in 08', and a big construction project was occuring on a local freeway. A dozen or so construction trucks were lined up in a caravan done for the day, and near my exit there was an inch drop in pavement. I didn't want to follow and risk damage, so naturally I went to pass the vehicle. As we were next to each other in parallel lanes, we hit the dip, and a boulder (not rock) flew out of his truck and landed on my windshield and rolled off. Thankfully, it didn't roll down the hood and grill but off the left side of the vehicle. Still, my windshield shattered, and I needed a new one with only 15,000 miles, or so, on my vehicle. Also, thankfully I was O.K.