Another stupid question from me, but you're used to it by now

[XXXR]

So in my opinion, those bug guards on the hood look pretty lame. (my opinion is always right : )

BUT... do they work? I could care less about bugs, but rocks are another story. I'm working on 4 cracks now, and if I switch the shield, I want some kind of protection. COMMENTS?

 

[ed97fzj80]

Bug guards work by deflecting the windstream so the bugs are lifted up and over the windshield. Rocks have somewhat different aerodynamic properties.

 

[LX_TREME]

BUT... do they work? COMMENTS?

Now when im on the freeway going about 70 -90mph, i need more aerodynamic

 

[gnx7]

A 6,000lb truck that handles. Go get 'em

 

[NorCalDoug]

They're good for protecting the area they cover...and that's about it, IMO. Not that there's anything wrong with that...you can get a lot of rock chips on the leading edge of the hood.

The 80 series is shaped like a large brick with a smaller brick sitting on top of it. The windshield is very upright in angle...you're gonna get hit by bugs and rocks.


I'd suggest not following too closely to the person in front of you, but, I know this doesn't always work because I've been hit by rocks from cars flung at me from the opposite lane.

 

[photogod]

If you keep it on or put one one make sure it is screwed in tight. The PO of my rig let the screws back out just a bit and it caused a slight bend in the plastic and rubbed the hood paint off in four places. Right to the bare metal. I say loose it and don't look back.

 

[jfz80]

simple opinion....no. Rocks will fall where they will. no amount of airstream (within and 80;s capability) will be able to deflect the weight of that rock. its gonna hit unless it was gonna land on the deflector anyways. and true too that this leading edge collects the majority of small chips, so to that degree yes it will lessen chipping.

 

[taccruiser97]

I think bug deflectors help a little bit with bugs on the windshield, but I always felt they had more value in protecting the leading edge of the hood from rock chips. That is the main reason I have a deflector on my 80.

 

[450 Cruiser]

Yanked mine off the day I got it. I hate those things. They wear paint as mentioned, hard to wash and wax around, catch clothing on them, color never matches, etc. As far as glass chips, most insurance companies fix for free.

 

[gbell210]

It also helps with misty rain, and dry snow if you have it in your area (i see Cali, so maybe not) But from living in MT, it does help with snow and bugs, and all the nicks the hood would get, but not so much on the windshield.

When I first got mine, there were quite a few nicks on the leading edge, so after touching them up I also got a deflector.

So, if you do alot of highway driving and care about your hood, I'd say get it.

 

[Dusty]

compare the rock chips on the front of a non-deflected cruiser with my chip free hood. Its also much easier to clean bugs off the deflector vs the hood

 

[johnny4ever]

Ditched mine today

Mine created some sort of air current that ate paint off the hood and today I noticed it was cracked. Off it came. In the process I noticed it had been installed by an idiot. There are near 15 or so holes drilled to attach it. One line of 5 obviously drilled in error. A total butcher job by whoever installed it. Also, I have three windshield impact craters so it did not help there. I think it may have also created the perfect bug to winshield air assisted trajectory.

Buh Bye

J

 

[landtank]

A bug guard right in front of a hood scoop......priceless

 

[Jiggy]

When I got my 80 it was totally ghettofied:

Tinted bug shield
Tinted window shields
Tinted sunroof shield (covered half the !$%@#% sunroof)
Wanna-be brush guard
Hollow tube steprails (with open ends, I think I had wasp nests in them)
Blue (!@%#$ BLUE?!?!) tint

I mean really, WTF? Who in their right mind would emasculate a perfectly decent vehicle like this? Oh, the humanity!


-Jared

 

[Brian Macgyver]

Bug guards work by deflecting the windstream so the bugs are lifted up and over the windshield. Rocks have somewhat different aerodynamic properties.

Yes. Rocks fly right in and hit. But bugs are fun. I wish I had a pic of the 3" bug splat that I scraped off yesterday. It had shades of yellow and green that I never imagined! I once had a perfect outline on my windshield of the feathers of a dove that wasn't smart enough or fast enough.
I have done large amounts of time on rural highways and found every kind of bug splatter. I drive past Big Bug Creek every other week. They were not kidding when they named that creek! The bugs cannot be avoided no matter how hard I swerve! But screw the bugs anyway. Bugs are just like Frito's. Don't worry, they'll make more! I don't concern myself with deflecting them.

 

[ace10]

my $0.02 says that the damn thing actually directs rocks into the windshield. never had more chips and cracks than when that stupid piece of plastic was on the front of my hood.

 

[jditom]

Yanked mine off the day I got it. I hate those things. They wear paint as mentioned, hard to wash and wax around, catch clothing on them, color never matches, etc. As far as glass chips, most insurance companies fix for free.

Same here! I also had a worthless sunroof deflector that I took off. There was all sorts of crap stuck under it and it was wearing paint off the roof! IMHO they are ugly

 

[XXXR]

GOOD... I wasn't too fond in adding one, but I was open to try anything. Maybe I'll run a 3/4 inch 4x8 with peep holes instead. Thanks for the feedback!