Rock Chips!!!

[FG2uner]

If this is in the wrong thread, sorry mods, move it....

ok, well i got a nhbp si coupe... i got rock chips allllll over my hood, bumper, and front fenders. idk wy since i dont tailgate at all. i can be driving on a highway all by myself and rocks just hit my car.i had a detail shop touch all of them up with touch up paint when i got my car detailed. i got little bubble lookin things all over the front of my car where they blobbed some paint on the chips. is there a real way to actually make rock chips go away without getting a new paint job? like sanding the touch up paint down and polishing it or something? something to get them on the same level as the rest of the paint if that makes sense. its pretty bad. i will take pics tomorrow. sorry if this has been asked before but i searched and i couldnt find crap. and its reaaly getting on my nerves, i try so hard to keep my car nice. i have had my bumper painted 2 times already due to this.

[FG2uner]

hello?

[thisisdudewhoru]

I have them too. Don't know what to do. My hood looks terrible. My bumper isn't that bad, just little indentions in the paint but no chipping. i have a awful chip on my drivers A pillar tho. I thought about buying a carbon hood or gettin my oem one repainted then putting a clear bra on it. I think that's the only way to avoid it. I have a chip on the very front of my hood that has even started to rust a little.

[John63850]

its all over my hood, fenders, and the side of my car.

[Exeon]

posts like this makes me glad i got the 3M clear bra paint protection from the start...not expensive either

[1sloPR5]

Originally Posted by Exeon

posts like this makes me glad i got the 3M clear bra paint protection from the start...not expensive either

People always are quick to point out my clear bra and have mixed comments, but you know what, at least i can say "well atleast I dont see all the rock chips on my front end"

OP maybe you should consider a clear bra and if thats not for you try a traditional vinal bra...just a thought

[grocreygettersi]

Originally Posted by thisisdudewhoru

I have them too. Don't know what to do. My hood looks terrible. My bumper isn't that bad, just little indentions in the paint but no chipping. i have a awful chip on my drivers A pillar tho. I thought about buying a carbon hood or gettin my oem one repainted then putting a clear bra on it. I think that's the only way to avoid it. I have a chip on the very front of my hood that has even started to rust a little.

ya i have a chip in my hood that is starting to rust too and my car is only 3 months old. i have never had a car that the paint chiped so easy

[RJRacing]

The reason our car are so prone to rock chips is due to the fact that Honda started to use a water-based paint a few years back to be more enviormentaly freindley, as a result the paint is thinner and just doesnt bond to the metal/plastics as well as it use to.

[thisisdudewhoru]

Originally Posted by RJRacing

The reason our car are so prone to rock chips is due to the fact that Honda started to use a water-based paint a few years back to be more enviormentaly freindley, as a result the paint is thinner and just doesnt bond to the metal/plastics as well as it use to.

Thats a good explanation. I haven't heard that one before and it makes sense.

[FG2uner]

id like to get the clear bra, but im not gonna put it over all these chips. i guess ill have to get the car painted....

[John63850]

i just dont understand it because my sister has a 2001 civic and my parents have a 2005accord and their paint is fine.

[thisisdudewhoru]

Originally Posted by FG2uner

id like to get the clear bra, but im not gonna put it over all these chips. i guess ill have to get the car painted....

Exactly my point. I'm not gonna put a clear bra on it at this point but I may paint it in future or go carbon and I'm definitely gonna invest in one tho.

[Johnold]

yes you can sand them down and then polish the paint after the sanding. this takes finess and should be taken seriously when done. alteast you don't have to do the touchups with the paint since they've already been done for you.

[Relentless00]

i have these all over too.. how much does a clearbra cost and where would i aquire one ?

[07mugencivic]

your not the only one buddy

[maiku]

Originally Posted by Relentless00

i have these all over too.. how much does a clearbra cost and where would i aquire one ?

I went with Venture Shield since it has a lifetime warranty against yellowing (which is very common w/ clear bra's)
Go to VentureShield and locate an installer in your area. I recommend a CERTIFIED installer over an authorized installer. Certified installers are usually more skilled and have more happy people that report good installations to venture shield.
Expect to pay about $500-600 for full coverage of the front end.
It's totally worth it. I can't stress it enough for anyone w/ a new car.


As for the OP's problem with the rock chips.. as someone mentioned before. If you take loads of time and "finess" as he said, you can make it look great. You just need to get very fine sand paper and wet sand it out. There are how-to's out there to find, so I won't go into the details. If you brought it to me for the detail I wouldn't just slap some touch up on there, but I'd do it the right way. Unfortunately those guys just don't care enough for their customer to do it that way so you have this problem.
So, it is possible to get those rock chips done up so you won't even notice them from 2' away. It'll save you a repaint and the whole matching issue's and other problems associated w/ repaints. If you can find a good how-to and think you can handle it, then do it. Otherwise look for someone else who can.

[Relentless00]

Originally Posted by maiku

I went with Venture Shield since it has a lifetime warranty against yellowing (which is very common w/ clear bra's)
Go to VentureShield and locate an installer in your area. I recommend a CERTIFIED installer over an authorized installer. Certified installers are usually more skilled and have more happy people that report good installations to venture shield.
Expect to pay about $500-600 for full coverage of the front end.
It's totally worth it. I can't stress it enough for anyone w/ a new car.

wow thats steep... maybe i will just deal with chips as they come in

[definingmoment]

It happens man, sorry to say. Learn to live with them, believe me, I hate them just as much as you.

[User_name:]

Originally Posted by John63850

i just dont understand it because my sister has a 2001 civic and my parents have a 2005accord and their paint is fine.

Look at the RAKE difference in the front of the two cars silly...

[maiku]

Originally Posted by Relentless00

wow thats steep... maybe i will just deal with chips as they come in

Much cheaper than a repaint.

They offer less coverage pieces that'll cost less. Check into it. It's easy to go to the site, find a installer and call for a quote. It'll take you 5 minutes.