Need opinions on Undercoating and Clear Bra

Shaolin

Shaolin

New member
Awaiting on the arrival of my TRD PRO 4Runner soon and was wondering what is everyones opinion on Undercoating and Clear Bra. Being a detailer I'm not really worried about the clear bra but it would be less area, I would need to take care of. Undercoating? I don't plan on climbing the Rocky Mountains or driving through the Nile River anytime soon. Maybe a little bit of fun here and there but nothing too drastic. So what do you think about the undercoating and clear bra?
 
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IMO....
Undercoating is a waste of money. If you really really really want to protect the frame and suspension then spend some time and paint it with some rustoleum. Undercoating over time will develop cracks and let pockets of crap get between the coating and the frame. No matter what you do you still won't be able to get to areas to coat that will perfectly protect underneath. Some use POR-15 (I think that is the name) and report decent results.

As far as a clear bra? They work but you can always see the line (looks like a scratch to me) and it has a chance to peel. I choose touch up paint but I follow the 10/10 rule: Ten feet on ten mph - if you can't see it in either of these two conditions then it's fine for me.
 
1engineer said:
IMO....
Undercoating is a waste of money. If you really really really want to protect the frame and suspension then spend some time and paint it with some rustoleum. Undercoating over time will develop cracks and let pockets of crap get between the coating and the frame. No matter what you do you still won't be able to get to areas to coat that will perfectly protect underneath. Some use POR-15 (I think that is the name) and report decent results.

As far as a clear bra? They work but you can always see the line (looks like a scratch to me) and it has a chance to peel. I choose touch up paint but I follow the 10/10 rule: Ten feet on ten mph - if you can't see it in either of these two conditions then it's fine for me.
Click to expand...

Agree. More of an eye sore than anything. I still sprayed the frame on my 07 FJ and my 14 limited with rattle can rustoleum BBQ high temp flat black. No issues in rainy Seattle weather thus far. The stuff is easy to work with and great for touch ups.
 
May I add I live in Virginia Beach, VA. So we don't get snow as much as people up north. I really appreciate everyones opinions. Thanks :party:
 
Clear bra

I've been reading everything and anything on how to keep my 4Runner up to snuff.
Somewhere on this site I read the metal is getting so thin on Toyota's the clear bra adds strength to the hood. Insulation under the hood, I assume the stick on kind also adds rigidity according to what I've read, ummmh!
Clear bra does peal after time, that said over time you get additional bug deflection!
 
I undercoated, sorry I did too. Thankfully they only did the underbody and wheel wells, and a pretty clean job at that. No frame or any other parts, albeit some minor over spray. The bad is the crap didn't cure on the factory seems, took it back and had them clean it off. Was a joke, had I known...yep I would have rattle-canned it instead.

I have the clear bra on the bumper and fenders (had the whole hood wrapped). That I like, you can see wax/sealent at the seam but if you clean it off its pretty invisible. Of course a power washer on the seam could peel it up, that seems kinda obvious to me though. The millions of bugs I have slaughtered needlessly, the pepper spray of winter rock salt, the chip and flake roads, the front, knock on wood, still looks new YMMV
 
I didn't do a clear bra, but did the flush AVS hood protector. All that keeps it on is the
3m tape, it looks great, can barely see it. I've had the raised up hood protectors and never really loved them. You can see it, barely, in some of my pics
 
I own an Attitude Black TRD Pro. Four months of ownership and a good amount of offroading, I could no longer stand the paranoia and maintenance associated with this beautiful paint job. I decided to go with Xpel clear bra.
I went with full front bumper, mirrors, 60% hood, front quarter panels, all four doors and both rear quarter panels....about 75% of the truck.
I no longer see any micro swirls, the clear bra self seals/heals abrasions and minor rock blows. 10 year warranty. When you get your Attitude Black, you will understand. I never owned a black vehicle, everybody warned me....this is my solution.
 

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redkat said:
I own an Attitude Black TRD Pro. Four months of ownership and a good amount of offroading, I could no longer stand the paranoia and maintenance associated with this beautiful paint job. I decided to go with Xpel clear bra.
I went with full front bumper, mirrors, 60% hood, front quarter panels, all four doors and both rear quarter panels....about 75% of the truck.
I no longer see any micro swirls, the clear bra self seals/heals abrasions and minor rock blows. 10 year warranty. When you get your Attitude Black, you will understand. I never owned a black vehicle, everybody warned me....this is my solution.
Click to expand...

How much did that cost you!!
 
Shaolin said:
How much did that cost you!!
Click to expand...

I promised the technician that I wouldn't post how much this job was, however I can tell you that it ran a few thousand dollars (p.m. me and I can give you a better approximation if you like.). This was a 3 day job, full time in my garage. The guy stayed at a local hotel 2 nights. I thoroughly researched this tech and he's the absolute best there is on the west coast, he is a perfectionist and takes his time. He had to make custom patterns for the doors and quarter panels. Its important to have an experienced applicator, lest you may have issues with peeling and poorly done seams.

I am extremely satisfied with the product to date. I believe it was worth it, in the long run, due to the fact that the areas I frequently offroad- lots of tight trails with overhanging brush...I no longer need to carry my loppers!
 
Escaper said:
I've been reading everything and anything on how to keep my 4Runner up to snuff.
Somewhere on this site I read the metal is getting so thin on Toyota's the clear bra adds strength to the hood. Insulation under the hood, I assume the stick on kind also adds rigidity according to what I've read, ummmh!
Clear bra does peal after time, that said over time you get additional bug deflection!
Click to expand...

Fiction. The reason the hood insulation works is it takes air at speed away from the underside of hood. Vinyl won't add strength to steel. Lastly I mic'd the hoods of a 4th and a 5th gen and they were the same thickness.
 
With all do respect to the people who don't like clear bras.... I think you are crazy!
Living in Corado with all the rocks on the road, I think a clear bra is an absolute necessity. Every vehicle I buy goes in for a clear bra immediately. I can't stand to watch my pretty new vehicles get destroyed by Colorado rocks. For me, I will stare at a clear bra line all day before looking at rock chips.

And I have never had a clear bra peel off, but I use the same company every time and I am very happy with their work
 
undercoating is a waste.. unless you are actually line-x-ing the wheel wheels of your pick-up truck.

i have a small custom clear bra on the leading 1/4 edge of my hood. this is the first time ive ever done one. i will say, depending on where the suns at, i can sometimes see the line.

clear film serves a purpose, its not meant to ornamental
 
I appreciate everyones opinions and comments. My work is less than 5miles away and occasionally I'll drive on the highway 3-5 hours drives once every 3 months to visit family. No mountains or big rocks around my way. Anyone having issues with the clear bra peeling? How long does it take to start peeling? What about maintaining the clear bra?
 
redkat said:
I promised the technician that I wouldn't post how much this job was, however I can tell you that it ran a few thousand dollars (p.m. me and I can give you a better approximation if you like.). This was a 3 day job, full time in my garage. The guy stayed at a local hotel 2 nights. I thoroughly researched this tech and he's the absolute best there is on the west coast, he is a perfectionist and takes his time. He had to make custom patterns for the doors and quarter panels. Its important to have an experienced applicator, lest you may have issues with peeling and poorly done seams.

I am extremely satisfied with the product to date. I believe it was worth it, in the long run, due to the fact that the areas I frequently offroad- lots of tight trails with overhanging brush...I no longer need to carry my loppers!
Click to expand...

Yeah I kind of figured it would be a couple grand. :banana::banana:
 
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