Keep It Like New

[Joemama]

my favorite is a ppf front hood protector from Stickerfab. It has saved the hood from so many rock dings. my wife bought a lexus a year later and her car has so many rock chips and mine has none. Stickerfab also has alot of cheap accessories and stickers/decals for the bronco.

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[MilesTeg]

I tried synthetic clay on my Subaru, wasn't happy. I can't remember why as that was about four years ago. But then many people seem to like it as it's still on the market, so I may have done something wrong. It does behave differentlly than a clay bar.

It doesn't work as well as real clay if your paint is neglected and/or heavily contaminated. But, because it's so convenient, you can keep your paint maintained so it doesn't get to that point.

I used to be real hard core with paint stuff. But, that was when I was young and had nothing better to do, hah. Now I prefer getting that 80% result for 20% of the overall effort, hah.

 

[ex_nyer]

New Bronco comes in soon (in theory). I want to keep it pristine for as long as possible.

I had these these Mud Flaps in the back of my Bronco for a while and recently decided to install them, front and back. It clearly helps prevent small stones from kicking up.

Thoughts on the look?

 

[CT203]

My $.02

My $.02

Not going to Instagram or watching a video. Does anyone want to give a summary? Why do things need to be complicated?

 

[aermtr]

Not going to Instagram or watching a video. Does anyone want to give a summary? Why do things need to be complicated?

Yeah it just shows a comparison of two Broncos (one with and one without flaps) on an off-road event in the mountains above Oregon. My social media guy did an Instagram short and I have no idea how to play it otherwise. Here is a video from the trip, although you’d have to go to YouTube to see it, but hey it’s good entertainment.

 

[CT203]

I'm sure it's great, but I'm at work. I can sneak something to read quickly but can't be watching Bronco video's!! I know I know... I'll quit. i shouldn't have a job that prevents watching videos. the just is they are beneficial or... not so much I'm guessing..

 

[CBNash]

I do a lot of hauling stuff in the cargo area in mine. It's scratched up pretty good. I don't know if you can find something to put on the sides and what not. If you haul a lot and want to keep it as showroom as possible, I'd recommend that. As brought up on the forums a lot, the plastic they used in the interior scratches if you just look at it the wrong way.

I'm pretty particular about keeping my vehicles as nice as possible so I get it, but I usually have an auto that I designate as my DD/workhorse. That's currently my bronco. When I make that designation in my mind, caring about scratches and other stuff like that goes out the window. I have protectors on the back of the rear seats, but I didn't bother with anything on the sides (not even sure what to use).

Thanks so much! I wish I had multiple vehicles, but mine has to check all the boxes.
Appreciate the feedback!

 

[CBNash]

Claying paint is literally.. rubbing clay on it. NOT just any old clay, but clay meant for that purpose. Even if you scrub your paint with a wash mitt thoroughly, it will not remove all the dirt because some will bond to the paint and/or embed in the paint.

The clay grabs the dirt and can pull it off/out of the paint.

You can tell if you need to clay by taking a plastic baggie, putting your fingers in it, and running it over the paint. The baggie helps you feel all the little bumps that are the bonded contaminants.

Even a brand new car from the factory can have a bunch of crap already on it as new cars work their way through a lot of industrial environments with lots of crap that likes to stick to the paint.

I highly suggest NOT using real clay. Real clay takes a long time and it's easier to screw up and scratch your paint. If you don't lube the paint well, you'll mar it. If you drop real clay, the clay is ruined. It's expensive and basically one use.

There is "synthetic clay". Synthetic clay is much faster -- you basically wash the car with the clay mitt/pad/whatever after first doing a normal wash. You use lots of soapy/foamy water as the lube. If you drop the synthetic clay, you just rinse it off well and continue. You can reuse synthetic clay many times before it's done. I use this, as needed:

https://www.griotsgarage.com/brilliant-finish-synthetic-clay/

All that said, real clay is still useful for really badly contaminated paint.

So interesting! Thanks so much for your insight!

 

[CBNash]

my favorite is a ppf front hood protector from Stickerfab. It has saved the hood from so many rock dings. my wife bought a lexus a year later and her car has so many rock chips and mine has none. Stickerfab also has alot of cheap accessories and stickers/decals for the bronco.

Awesome! I'll check it out! Thanks so much!

 

[CBNash]

my favorite is a ppf front hood protector from Stickerfab. It has saved the hood from so many rock dings. my wife bought a lexus a year later and her car has so many rock chips and mine has none. Stickerfab also has alot of cheap accessories and stickers/decals for the bronco.

Do you also have an aero protector or bug deflector? Or just the ppf?

 

[aermtr]

I'm sure it's great, but I'm at work. I can sneak something to read quickly but can't be watching Bronco video's!! I know I know... I'll quit. i shouldn't have a job that prevents watching videos. the just is they are beneficial or... not so much I'm guessing..

I suppose “how much they protect” is subjective, but I think it’s a lot. Anyways, I snapped two pics from the video for you so you can see in the pics what the videos show.

 

[Kevin Scarbel]

If the products you use aren't in stores, where do you get them?
I have no idea how to detail a car, so I'd gladly take literally any guidance you have!

Mail-order.

 

[Nc211]

This is amazing information!!! Thank you Azi much!! Shockingly, I have follow up questions....
Exterior -
1. when you say to clay bar detail right away.... you mean like as soon as I get it? Also what is clay bar detailing?? Can you explain like I'm 7? And what is clay bar?
2. When you say bug guard with the bump.... is this like an Aeroskin 2 hood guard?

Interior
1. What are your thoughts on ppf? On high touch areas, not a dash wrap.
2. How about a gorilla glass screen protector on the infotainment system?

Again thank you soooooo much for taking the time to write all of that (I read every word), and being willing to help me out!

I personally wouldn’t mess with PPF on the interior, just take care of it like a normal car is fine. I do have one of those screen protectors on mine, they’re good and do recommend them, but personal choice on that one as I doubt they’ll provide any real protection given the size of that screen in general.

Clay bar: Do this - take a plastic shopping bag, put your hand inside of it and gently rub your fingers on the paint. If you feel any imperfections, the clay bar will remove them and leave the surface glass smooth. YouTube for videos, but it is basically a small bar of clay about the size of a hotel soap that you glide across the plant (wet/lubricated) that will remove all contaminants from the clear coat. Here is how I’ve done it for many cars over the last 30 years, never disappointed.

1) wash the car with bucket and sponge. The ONLY time you can use dish soap!! After washing the car, replace the bucket with another round of soapy dish soap water.

2) take the sponge of clean dish soap water and wipe the hood. Use the soapy water as the lubrication. Take the claybar and wipe the hood with gentle pressure. Don’t grind it down, but use some mild pressure. Rub it across all soapy areas, then rinse it off. Do section at a time and rinse it off when done with the section. You can use it on the rims too.

3) Polish the paint. A lot easier with a basic random orbital machine, don’t need anything fancy. Don’t get it on non painted surfaces (like the fender flairs if not painted).

4) this one is up to you. Wax or Ceramic. If wax, then just wax it. If Ceramic coating, then wipe the car down with a bottle of isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber rag before you use the ceramic of your choosing. I did the ceramic, 4 coats, two years ago, and I still sparkles and beads up water like crazy.

End result - the surface is free of any contaminants from the factory and/or shipping, the surface offers nothing for contaminants to bind with, making it very easy to maintain going forward. I like the ceramic approach because it’s a hard shell and not a soft wax coating.

Bug guard: https://a.co/d/0i44DgJe

See the bump on that guard? It disrupts the air flow a bit, pushing it higher. I’ve seen many times in the snow and with bugs.

Claybar, you can find anywhere, they’re pretty common. Meguires has a very good kit, very popular at the car stores.

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