For those with a Car bra: installation question

[Jon11582]

Well I got a car bra off ebay for cheap, and its not going to rain for a few days, so I thought Id put it on.

However, Im having a problem installing it. The part that goes on the hood goes on fine, but theres a buckle for the part that I think goes into the wheel well, but theres no buckle inside the wheel well. Theres a flat fastener there, but I dont see any way the buckle can attach to the fastener in the wheel well. How do I put that part on? Do I need another fastener? or am I just missing something?

[trdkamuri51o]

id guess (Since i dont know what bra it is exactly) that you hook it to the fender area. maybe push up the splash guard? or does it have a buckle that IS on the bra or is it missing the buckle on the bra?

[Jon11582]

I think its the OEM one, since it has "solara" embroidered in to the hood piece.

Theres a buckle on the bra, it seems like it fastens into a nipple for lack of a better term, but theres no nipple there.

I think I found it...yea there is a nipple you need to replace the fastener with, but It didnt come with the bra I bought.

Its on the instruction booklet in the following link from the bra that Fenix was trying to sell.

http://www.nt1028.com/sola/car-bra/3.jpg

I emailed the guy askin for the nipple in the fender, but who knows if he'll reply since the transaction is done and he got his money.

I dont think Im gunna find anywhere to buy just the nipples in the fender well tho. No ones got them right? Ill pay like 5 bucks for them if the guy doesnt respond.

I just found two paint chips today while washing the car, so I think I should be drivin around with a bra on.

[onefiend]

Buy the button clip thing for the wheel well at your Toyota dealer, go to service/parts department and they will order it for you, they are cheap. when i purchased the front end bra awhile ago it came with those things. It replaces the plastic screws on the wheel well and allows the bra to hook/clip onto it

[Jon11582]

I figured the would only come with a new bra, and they wouldnt sell it seperately. Ill definitly check out the toyota dealer next chance I get. Thanks for the tip.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

OEM Bra's do come with screws (basically) u remove the wheel well screws and replace them with PROVIDED screws. Then the bra holds on. I know this from my camry, solara and ES (have have same screws). Toyota never changed the screws mid 90's.

[Jon11582]

I got the reply back from the guy. He said he got it from a friend who sold his Solara already. So some guy he sold it to now has buckles on his car but doesnt need them. Not a chance in hell id find em so...

I went to Toyota today, and the guy looked it up in a big book and said they didnt sell it seperately. Id ghetto rig a buckle to it, but it straps on pretty tight and the last thing I need is one to snap and me to have a bra flapping in the wind on the highway. Id rather have the genuine artical, but if I cant, I just might get some crazy tough epoxy and do it anyways.

Are there different kinds of buckles? how will i know what size fits it? Are they one-sized? Ive never shopped for buckles/fasteners before, and would look like a lost soul in a fabric store if I didnt know what I was looking for.

[Paladin06Greg]

My best advice is to never put a bra on your car. If you want to protect the front end and not worry about weather damage or paint fading, do what I did and get the Toyota 3M front end cover kit. Not very expensive and none of problems you have with a leather bra..

[onefiend]

I went to Toyota today, and the guy looked it up in a big book and said they didnt sell it seperately.

thats BS, when I had my Camry awhile back, I was given a used bra by a friend and I didnt have those brackets. I went to northridge toyota service/parts department and they ordered it for me, took like 3 weeks. in the end I decided not to put the bra on the camry, but they did order it.

[onefiend]

try another dealership or go with the 3M clear bra if you get really desperate.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

tell you what, My camry's got those brackets (but i haven't used them since 1998)....TRD KIT! I don't want to sell those brackets..so i'll take them to the dealership and see if they can look up a part number next to next weekend...then i'll PM you. Not having the right brackets will not hold ur bra securily!

[Jon11582]

tell you what, My camry's got those brackets (but i haven't used them since 1998)....TRD KIT! I don't want to sell those brackets..so i'll take them to the dealership and see if they can look up a part number next to next weekend...then i'll PM you. Not having the right brackets will not hold ur bra securily!

Thanks! Your the man! I actually saw the old guy look it up in the parts book so I really didnt think they had it. I really appreciate u doin that for me.

The 3Ms way out of my price range. I just want something I can slap on for long trips. Ill probably only use it a few times a year, if even. its not an every day driving thing at all, since I know dirt and moisture get trapped under with prolonged use.

But when Im driving a couple hundred miles in a day or two, I think its a good thing. I only paid about 15 shipped anyways, but id like to put it to use if I can.

[nYsOlaRaKiD]

You got a real good deal on it especially that it has Solara embroidered on it but aside from what you already know about the dirt and moisture, it can also make ur hood look like its 2 different colors if you keep it on for a while. Thats what happenned on a pearl white maxima that i had.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

Car bra's carry a bad rep! I have on my 1994 Es forever. When it rains i remove it..i clean it every 2 weeks with a scrub brush (underside to make it soft and white and to remove the dirt). And yeah, I always remove teh car bra when washing my babies. Car bra's carry a bad rep from those who misuse them or are lazy. WHen used right, they should not leave more than some scuff marks that can come off with a clay bar!
Jon11582: I'm going on May 8th - if i forget to PM u...pls remind me.