View Poll Results: bra for protection?
Voters: 100. You may not vote on this poll
To bra, or not to bra?
If you are considering a non-transparent bra, I ask “what is the purpose of protecting the appearance of something that will never be seen?” If it is a show car that sees occasional road use, then I could understand occasional use of a bra if it would not damage the finish.
I just plan to have the front of my car repainted when the stone chips bother me too much.
I just plan to have the front of my car repainted when the stone chips bother me too much.
The Colgan bra is very nice. I occasionally use it but only for long, dry car trips and it has not caused any damage and probably spared me from some. If it's gonna rain I do not use it. Dirt will get under it and will scratch the paint if left on for a while or used in rain. It has saved me hours of scraping bugs off the front of the car on my way to some car shows or on the Power Tour. IMO the bra is NOT for everyday use.
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 317
Likes: 0
If you want to protect the front end, just get the clear 3M plastic pait protector. Its completely transparent, so you can't even tell its there unless you look for the edges. Protects just as well as a bra, won't ruin the paint, ant its replaceable when it gets chipped/damaged.
If my bumper wasn't already chipped to hell I would probably invest in that.
If my bumper wasn't already chipped to hell I would probably invest in that.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 1
From: Fredericksburg Va
I have the colgan bra. My car is a d/d car. I have 22,000 with the bra on 24/7. I take it off about every other weekend, just to wash and re-wax the front end, along with cleaning the inside of the bra. I also had a 2002 transam, same color that was a d/d without a bra. All jokes aside, if you like rock chips, then don't get a bra. Can a bra screw up the paint, sure can. Saw it first hand on my son's pontiac gtp (black) Was it a colgan...NO, it was the le bra one that wasn't the tight fit like is made by colgan for our cars. It left the marks from the bra flapping. He still had no marks from sand or dirt, so, as long as you take it off and check it and clean it you shouldn't have problems. Mine was used even during the winter, snow, salt. No scratches, no marks. But I have alot of marks on the bra, none on the front of the hawk.
TECH Resident
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 807
Likes: 1
From: Toronto
I have the 3M clear Bra on my 99 WS6, and its perfect in the way that its hard to tell its on and the front end stays 100%. I have 2 rock chips that went thru the clear and below the paint, but those are the only 2 on the entire front end/entire car, about 30k mi on it. I wouldnt get another car without it.
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I would only consider a bra for road trips myself.
I ran a Covercraft bra when I drove my SS from Wisconsin to California and it really saved my *** driving through Arizona. I was unable to avoid at least 5 huge tumbleweeds on my way through, I can only imagine what they would have done to the paint.
On a side note avoid the Covercraft bras, I heard nothing but good things about them before I got one but my bra didn't really fit all that well.
I ran a Covercraft bra when I drove my SS from Wisconsin to California and it really saved my *** driving through Arizona. I was unable to avoid at least 5 huge tumbleweeds on my way through, I can only imagine what they would have done to the paint.
On a side note avoid the Covercraft bras, I heard nothing but good things about them before I got one but my bra didn't really fit all that well.
On The Tree
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati,Ohio
I have a 3m Clear Paint Protection bra for 98-02 Trans Am's if anyone is interested. Looking to get $175 shipped. They are sweet products, you can't tell they are there unless you look extremely close.
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,458
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From: holding down the couch
Well, thanks for all the feedback people! I do live in an area dominated by gravel trains and the like. I would NOT leave a bra on 24/7, but am thinking it would be good for driving back and forth to work and on road trips. Are the 3M clear ones just stick on?
I say get one.
Put it on when you go to a car show, go on the expressway for a long drive. That is what I do. Once you get to where you want to go, take it off and show off your awsome ride.
Put it on when you go to a car show, go on the expressway for a long drive. That is what I do. Once you get to where you want to go, take it off and show off your awsome ride.
TECH Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 412
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i face the same problem and actually posted about ti a few days ago.... a guy told me to search for a 3m clear bra... i searched google. . and badabing there it was... like a 175$ like someone had stated already a few posts above...... check it out...
TECH Regular
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
From: Greybull, Wy
I have used a Colgan bra since my SS was new. It sure saves my nose paint. I priced a new clear bra and it would be $750 to do all the forward facing parts. I'll keep the Colgan. I don't have any scratches from it either. I take it off every month or so and clean/polish real well underneath.
Last edited by planemech2; Jul 4, 2007 at 03:08 PM.
i got a used but great shape colgan off eBay. i planned on using it for long trips, but havent taken any. the first time i did use it was for autoxing. it TOTALLY protects the front end from any track debris and cones. i already had a nasty swipe i had to buff out from not using it. then i put the bra on (which ALOT of other racers do, including $90k+ porsches), wiped out a cone and didnt have a mark on the nose. if you plan on using it for something like that, make sure you clean the nose completely, ie: wash the whole car. i would wax at least the nose also, just for added protection. as long as you dont keep it on all day, every day, its fine for protection.
