Front end rock chips
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Front end rock chips
I have a 99 vert and just had the rock chips removed off the front. What options do I have to protect the front from this? I have read about the Speed Lingerie and wonder if there are any other options.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 503
Likes: 1
From: Belchertown Massachusetts
Tailgating isn't a good thing..other than that a nose cover / bra. I've had one on my '87 and now have one for my '99. It's peace of mind when your driving on the highway and someone up front drives close the the shoulder and you see this cloud of sand kick up..
Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
From: Simi Valley CA.
IF you're going to go the "bra" route, then the GM bra is probably the "best for the least".
I bought a GM bra from Fichtner Chevrolet, a CF sponsor, for my 1999 coupe and after 7 years of use, the fit is still very "snug"! The installation and removal of the bra is a "breeze", which makes you "more apt" to use it more often.
The painted surface beneath the bra is still shiny and clear of abrasive scratches, and it has remained on the car for long periods of time, under some pretty severe weather conditions.
In 2004, the wife and I set out on a 8-week, 35 state, 13,000 road trip all across the USA. The bra saw everthing from snow in Yellowstone, and grasshoppers in Montana, to a couple days of torrential down pours in Maine... The bra remained on the car during the entire trip, with the exception of the 3-4 times I washed the car on this trip...
"Parts Bob" from Fichtner Chevrolet will ship one to your door for less than $100.
Good luck.....
I bought a GM bra from Fichtner Chevrolet, a CF sponsor, for my 1999 coupe and after 7 years of use, the fit is still very "snug"! The installation and removal of the bra is a "breeze", which makes you "more apt" to use it more often.
The painted surface beneath the bra is still shiny and clear of abrasive scratches, and it has remained on the car for long periods of time, under some pretty severe weather conditions.
In 2004, the wife and I set out on a 8-week, 35 state, 13,000 road trip all across the USA. The bra saw everthing from snow in Yellowstone, and grasshoppers in Montana, to a couple days of torrential down pours in Maine... The bra remained on the car during the entire trip, with the exception of the 3-4 times I washed the car on this trip...
"Parts Bob" from Fichtner Chevrolet will ship one to your door for less than $100.
Good luck.....
Last edited by Red903L; Feb 28, 2006 at 05:08 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: Columbia MO
I make a run up I-70 from Columbia, MO to Overland Park, KS (136 miles) at least twice a month to see family.
I always wash my car and then put on my GM bra before the trip. It has saved me a ton of front end chips (I can tell be how dirt the bra is after the run).
I'm ordered some mirror bras as well.
I like the GM because it literally takes 30 seconds to remove it once I'm in KC. The less the 3 minutes to reinstall for the trip back.
I always wash my car and then put on my GM bra before the trip. It has saved me a ton of front end chips (I can tell be how dirt the bra is after the run).
I'm ordered some mirror bras as well.
I like the GM because it literally takes 30 seconds to remove it once I'm in KC. The less the 3 minutes to reinstall for the trip back.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,864
Likes: 0
From: Stuck in Paradise
I have the 3m on both my other cars and it looks and works great! In fact on the white car, you really can't see it at all. After having it on there for going on 2 years, I'm ready to have it put on my Vette. Then I'll be selling my never out of the box GM bra 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,059
Likes: 12
From: AKA Harvey Mushman-I know just enough to be dangerous "Those who sacrifice liberty for safety deserve neither"- B. Franklin
Senior Member
Cruise-In V Veteran
Originally Posted by Cruisin'
You're going to have get front-end cover/bra or go with the 3M clear protection film. Sort of those options, I'm really not sure what else you can do other then not drive your car.
amazing stuff. www.xpel.com 
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Fountain hills AZ
Originally Posted by captcruz
Did you have these chips removed by having them buffed out? Repainted? Touch-up paint? 
However, if I were going to do a x-cuontry trip through bug world, I might make the investment in the bra to reduce my clean up time while on the trip.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 58,551
Likes: 95
From: The warm part of Anger Island
St. Jude Donor '09
<------ Likes the idea of a good car bra for cheap. It helps avoid chips and keeps the front bumper from sagging 
Looks like I need to spend some more money.
Looks like I need to spend some more money.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Clear bra is the only way to go, if properly installed it's virtually invisible, you don't have to remove it to clean it, just wash and go.
I had a vinyl bra on a C4 and it damaged the clear coat after I left it on during rain.
More clear bra info: click
I had a vinyl bra on a C4 and it damaged the clear coat after I left it on during rain.
More clear bra info: click
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 2
From: Haymarket VA
CI 7-8 Veteran
I've seen the 3M film and while it is invisible on lighter colored cars, I thought it added a bit of a "fog" to the darker colored cars I've seen it on. Because of this I went with the GM bra. Good protection, easy on the wallet, and it goes on and off in no time.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,725
Likes: 24,678
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
You can get a variety of front end bras for the car - a popular one is the GM bra. Inexpensive (about $80), fits well and does the job protecting the front end. Cleartastic and 3M makes film that you can install also to help keep the rock chips to a minimum.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
From: Manchester ny
Originally Posted by madeouttaglass
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 836
Likes: 0
From: Colorado Springs, Colo., USA
Originally Posted by Cruisin'
You're going to have get front-end cover/bra or go with the 3M clear protection film. Sort of those options, I'm really not sure what else you can do other then not drive your car.
Do it, FAST.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Surprise Az
Originally Posted by TCW
Simply stay about 3 car lengths back from SUVs, pickup trucks, and semi rigs and your front end will look great for years.
Tom
Tom
I was a good 1/8 mile behind a gravel truck and a rock came out of nowhere and smacked my windshield and made a star crack. I'm guessing it came out of one of his tires which threw it up into the air and it bounced down the freeway until it found my windshield.
I think I'm going to buy the GM bra. It'll hide the damage I already have.