Is it too late for a clear bra?

ChrisHefner · Jan 21, 2013

I know there have been post on this matter before but I will be honest it took me me 15 minutes to figure out how to post a new thread, so trying to
navigate through old threads was quite a chore for me. (and I initially posted this on the policy forum, sorry guys).

My O6 SRT 10 has just under 7,000 miles on it, however there is some road rash on the bottoms of the front bumper and side skirts. My biggest concern is on the front wheel wells towards the bottom , the tires have kicked up some rocks and has chipped the paint. Do I use touch up paint to fix this before a
clear bra or is it too late for one anyway? :usa:

VYPR BYT 94 · Jan 21, 2013

This is a tricky question because it's like asking what's better , chocolate or vanilla. You'll get different opinions.

I have a clear bra on the car now. I've had some small chips in the bra on the front facia that really drive me nuts when I'm wash/waxing the car. I keep putting it off to replace it because the rest is still pretty good so I'm waiting to get more chips. :dunce:

So now I'm starting to think it might be better to not have the darn thing... by now I'd have had the paint touched up and everything would look great.
So what's better, getting it fixed right away or driving around for years with the protective film looking like crap?
I still don't know what side of the fence I'm on with this subject but I might be getting close to just taking it off and leaving it off.

Bottom line is this... You need to decide for yourself.

So by now you're probably just as confused as me... sorry.

Mike

ZZ SRT · Jan 21, 2013

It's never too late to put a clear bra. The road rash behind the front tire will continue to worsen to the point where you will have to repaint or drive a beat up car.

If the road rash is mostly on the lower side of the rocker panel (behind the front tire), then putting a clear bra on will stop larger chips from continuing to happen higher on the panel. With the amount of sandblasting that occurs on the rockers, you are going to have to replace a clear bra every couple years, so the biggest question is whether you have a good painter to match the original paint and how much they will charge, so this way you can weigh whether it is worth it to use a clear bra or just plan on repaint ever 5 years.

My 2008 has about 4k miles on it, and the road rash is pretty bad on the rockers, but my front bumper is unscathed. Anyways, I will be putting a clear bra on both this winter. I am using Expel Ultimate.

ViperCobra · Jan 21, 2013

It's not too late. I got mine just installed about a week ago. Had my front bumper repainted and a good time to install a clear bra with the new paint

ChrisHefner · Jan 21, 2013

Thanks guys all of this helps , I think I will probably try one, but I agree with you mike I've been on the fence for awhile now.

PeterMJ · Jan 21, 2013

ViperCobra said:
It's not too late. I got mine just installed about a week ago. Had my front bumper repainted and a good time to install a clear bra with the new paint

If you repaint, the paint needs a very long time to fully cure. If you put a clear bra on repainted part that did not fully cure, if you ever have to take it off, you will take it off with the paint. The same goes for anyone who touches up before applying the film. The touch up paint does not contain catalyst and never really cures, unless the touch up paint was specifically mixed for you and you requested it.

Steve-Indy · Jan 21, 2013

Listen to PeterMJ !!!

gb66gth · Jan 21, 2013

Have the car properly wet sanded then clear bra

Leatherman · Jan 22, 2013

Hi, I am in a similar situation with my 05 copperhead but reading the posts I have decided to get one fitted. The only problem is that they are not available as pre cut kits in the UK so can anyone recommend a supplier in the States that I can get one from.

ViperNM · Jan 22, 2013

PeterMJ said:
If you repaint, the paint needs a very long time to fully cure. If you put a clear bra on repainted part that did not fully cure, if you ever have to take it off, you will take it off with the paint. The same goes for anyone who touches up before applying the film. The touch up paint does not contain catalyst and never really cures, unless the touch up paint was specifically mixed for you and you requested it.

That's correct - and my painter says you should wait 60 days after a repaint before applying the clear bra. Just my 2 cents

texas_venom · Jan 24, 2013

I can get you a kit. Just PM me with wht you are looking for.

texas_venom · Jan 24, 2013

30 days is the rule of thumb in the industry. I have been installing film for 11 years now and never had any issues with applying film on repaints. 30 days is what has been known for years regarding curing times for film application. the other thing to remeber is not all films are the same. 3M has a very strong adhesive where as Suntek is a little easier to remove from the paint.

Also the Suntek and Xpel Ultimate films are self healing... so much more durable than some films on the market.

Viper007Bond · Jan 25, 2013

I had a 3M clear wrap put on at about 10,000 miles (bought it at 9200). Tip of the nose all the way up to the back of the first '08 air vent. It's basically invisible. The only place you can barely see it is the edge. If you look really, really, really close, you can see it on the center of the hood near the end of the first air vent:

(click for bigger)

You must be registered for see images attach

I had only a few small chips in the front end so it wasn't a big deal. You can't even see it the clear wrap although there's what is basically an air bubble where the couple chips are (since the paint is indented and the wrap is not). You have to look really close to see them though. They don't wrap under the bumper so the scratches under there don't matter.

The clear wrap basically freezes your paint in time as it is now. So if we're happy with how it is, then wrap it ASAP! If not, paint it then wrap it.

As for waiting 60 days, the wrap guys I talked to said as long as it's baked dry, you don't need to let it vent gasses or anything and can wrap it same-day. Not sure I believe him or not, but waiting can also mean new chips.

I only wrapped the front of my car because my rocker panels behind each front wheel are chipped to hell and I would need to get those repainted if I were to put a wrap there. However with the heat and the fact the wrap itself would just get scuffed, I opted for fender flares instead.

(again, click for huge)

You must be registered for see images attach

You can see the chips in that photo. Pretty bad and I'll probably eventually get them painted but not wrapped.

ACR steve · Jan 25, 2013

3/4 of my car is clear bra............its never to late just touch it up and clear bra it you will not see the touch up at all

Is it too late for a clear bra?

ChrisHefner

Viper Owner

VYPR BYT 94

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ZZ SRT

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ViperCobra

Viper Owner

ChrisHefner

Viper Owner

PeterMJ

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Steve-Indy

VCA Venom Member

gb66gth

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Leatherman

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ViperNM

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texas_venom

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texas_venom

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Viper007Bond

Viper Owner

ACR steve

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