Hood bug deflector

[AlienHunter]

Does anyone have any thoughts as to how well this deflector from Broaddict works for deflecting bugs and small stones away from the windscreen? I’m not warm and fuzzy about the looks but if it’s legit then maybe it’s worth a try.

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[Dan-O]

Had the same design different brand. It does seem to help bugs off bottom 2/3rds of windshield so one would have to assume it would help with rocks too. Many Bronco owners on here opt for that design when choosing a deflector though. For me, it made awful wind noise driving at 40 or more was like driving in 100mph winds, took it off. But I’m OCD about rattles and wind noise.

 

[EasternSierra]

Had the same design different brand. It does seem to help bugs off bottom 2/3rds of windshield so one would have to assume it would help with rocks too. Many Bronco owners on here opt for that design when choosing a deflector though. For me, it made awful wind noise driving at 40 or more was like driving in 100mph winds, took it off. But I’m OCD about rattles and wind noise.

Reports of excessive wind noise is why I opted for a smooth hood protector plus Exoshield on the windshield. They just got put on last Friday and we'll see how they work out.

 

[BQuiz]

I just put on that same style.

Pros:
Bugs on the windshield so far seem a whole lot less. The textured plastic matches the front bumper on our OBX pretty well, so it looks alright. (I’ve never been a fan of bug deflectors, but this one is tolerable because it’s low profile and stuck tight to the body.)

Cons:
It whistles on the highway. It’s not horrible, but I’m OCD enough to notice it. It’s rare that I don’t have the radio on though, and it’s rare that I’m not listening to it fairly loud, so whistles and wind and tire noise gets drowned out pretty quick. If I decide to remove it, getting it off will suck, because the 3M tape with alcohol prep and adhesion promoter has that SOB stuck on there like it was welded.

 

[LSW]

It does reduce bugs and redirects rocks to the upper half of the windshield but you will still get chips and bugs. It redirects wind onto the accessory attachment covers above the windshield so you might need to secure them with some kind of tape to prevent rattling. I mostly use the deflector to prevent rock chips in the paint on the front of the hood but I think it also does reduce the overall number of bugs and gravel that hits the windshield. We get a lot of rock chips where a Iive even with good following distance - they often come from the opposite direction traffic on highways without medians.

 

[KABQ]

It works ok for bugs, but it definitely doesn't move enough air to help with any rocks big enough to chip the windshield (unless they directly hit the deflector).

 

[CV428]

Looks very similar to the Aeroskin 2, which I've had for a while now. Honestly, it works great. It cut down on bugsplosions by around 90% if I had to take a wild stab at a number. I leave a country mile between myself and any other vehicle I am behind, so rocks are rarely an issue. If a larger bug (beetles, carpenter bees, etc) is aiming at your windshield, it has a tendency to push it up and explode it on the upper windshield trim with an audible whack, but everything else seems to clear.

My only complaint is that water pooling still occurs on the hood- they should have designed it with a little more pronounced angle to sheet water down towards the sides, but it's really not that big of a deal. Mild annoyance at most.

If you get a horrible whistle after installing, get some closed-cell insulation foam (adhesive backed) and line the hood gap, it'll solve it for $5.

 

[CaliRaptor7201]

This might sound crazy, but I have wondered why they don't offer a front spoiler that screw into the tie down handles on the front right and left side of the hood. Offer something like that from ford Proformance and get it in carbo fiber or paint match. I swear I seen something of that nature on the baja bronco.
maybe I am crazy, I plan on asking around this year at SEMA.

 

[rshames]

Does anyone have any concerns about water and debris getting under the hood deflector through the gaps between the adhesive tape? The way it is shaped, water will pool under it and not drain.

 

[Iceman62]

Does anyone have any concerns about water and debris getting under the hood deflector through the gaps between the adhesive tape? The way it is shaped, water will pool under it and not drain.

Water does get below/inside so I laid a thin bead of black silicone along the hood-side edge. Sealed it all up nicely. Got the sealant at auto part store - make sure it's the Permatex Sensor-Safe:

https://www.permatex.com/products/g...x-ultra-black-rtv-silicone-gasket-maker-5-oz/

 

[rshames]

Water does get below/inside so I laid a thin bead of black silicone along the hood-side edge. Sealed it all up nicely. Got the sealant at auto part store - make sure it's the Permatex Sensor-Safe:

https://www.permatex.com/products/g...x-ultra-black-rtv-silicone-gasket-maker-5-oz/

Awesome, thank you.
Why not put it on the on all sides? I figure water could get on the front edge while driving in the rain, and on the trailing edge while parked in the rain.

 

[23OBX2.7]

I got the Ford one plus the fender corners protection no wind noise and way more durable than PPF plus with fenders and black badge overlays looks kinda aggressive without adding 250 lb in bumpers, bull bar, winch and lights.

 

[AlienHunter]

Does anyone have any concerns about water and debris getting under the hood deflector through the gaps between the adhesive tape? The way it is shaped, water will pool under it and not drain.

If your really concerned with this drawback these hood deflectors have,

Does anyone have any concerns about water and debris getting under the hood deflector through the gaps between the adhesive tape? The way it is shaped, water will pool under it and not drain.

This is what concerns me also because I have one but haven’t put it on yet. If it is bothersome to you, apply protection film to the windshield and leading edges of your Bronco. The only drawback to this approach is that is the cost, unless you apply it yourself.
The money spent for the deflector

 

[Iceman62]

Awesome, thank you.
Why not put it on the on all sides? I figure water could get on the front edge while driving in the rain, and on the trailing edge while parked in the rain.

I figured water getting in from below will simply run out (like waterfall).

 

[rshames]

I figured water getting in from below will simply run out (like waterfall).

Looking at the adhesive tape along the front edge, it looks like it is curved up on the sides and will act as a catch basin that will hold water.

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