MARYLAND TACOMAS

Paging our detailing gurus..

Is there a good alternative to a clay bar? I used to clay bar my camry before waxing, but I just don't have the patience or desire to do that with my truck. lol I'm planning on washing and waxing it if I can catch a long enough break in the rain this weekend. Haven't waxed since the end of last winter, so I guess it's time again before temperatures plummet.

I've heard people having good results with rubbing compounds, but can't they potentially damage the paint too since it's a micro abrasive? Paint on my tacoma is pretty thin anyways so I don't know how i'd feel about that.

 

clay bar is for impurities in the paint, dirt and grime that is absorbed to the point that soap will not remove it.

rubbing compount is for imperfections in the paint. light scratches, swirl marks, etc. as a side effect, it will also remove some of the deep grime in the paint, but that is not its puropse.

about twice a year, i do a full blown detail where i both clay bar and use a compound. without an electric buffer, proper application of a rubbing compound will actually take about the same amount of time as using a clay bar.

bonus is that it's also a lot harder to mess up with a clay bar. just my $0.02

 

Got some more information from the body shop on my truck. The frame damage was to the driver side right behind the headlight and only moved the frame a few mm. They were able to use a machine that tells them what the new specs are for my vehicle and pull it slightly. Since it was in front of the suspension it shouldn't affect the ride or drivability of my truck. Also a few mm doesn't seem to be enough IMO to really weaken the frame but I'm not qualified to make that call Lol. They said they have very strict standards set by Toyota on what they can safely repair and what must be replaced. Also with USAA any thing they do is covered for as long as I own the vehicle so I guess if it weakens the frame enough to cause issues USAA would have to replace the frame? I have to ask them about that. But all in all I should have my truck back by the end of next week at the latest. I really miss my truck.

 

ask Tom aka 95SLE

I personally just pay someone else to do it.

 

nobody wants to do mine with the dents

say it's too much of a liability becasue they could chip the paint all off around the damaged areas, meaning there's a grant total of two body panels they could detail.

 

Hmm. thanks, didn't really know the difference. I'm mainly just looking to get it as clean as possible prior to waxing. I guess I'll just suck it up and do clay bar! What wax does everyone use? I have a little bit of Meguiar's Carnauba but it's pretty old and I would probably need more than I have anyways.

 

Wow I was just about to post a similar question to our resident detailers finally gave my truck a quick wash and discovered quite a few scratches from this past weekend

 

Hmmm wonder if I'll have the same problem.... Although now I only have half the truck to do lmao

 

i have some exceptionally bad dents.....

 

Im currently using this:

https://www.turtlewax.com/shop/products/turtle-wax-quick-easy-wax-dry-spray-wax-26-fl-oz

Looks pretty damn good and works for me since im an impatient bastard and would FUBAR a proper wax job

 

I want to see rally racing in the US how do we go about bringing the sport here?

 

Damn.... That is the absolute worst place to hit making the slider useless missing the wheel and I see you have protection on the rear corner too. Man I would have been pissed. That's just grade A bad luck.

 

Also to follow up looks like they have Rally Racing in America... http://rally-america.com/events#regional

One right in PA. I'm going to have to make it out to one of the races.

 

I use rubbing compound, i pretty much never claybar

 

Rubbing compound is extremely abrasive and should be used with caution. I do sometimes skip the claybar and go right to a polish after washing. It should only take an hour or so to do your Tacoma with a claybar.

Are you using a machine or doing this by hand? Also where in MD are you located?

 

Last time I used a clay bar it took almost 4 hours lol I'm doing it all by hand. I don't own any machines. Located in Damascus.. Montgomery County right at the corner of Montgomery, Frederick, Howard, and Carroll counties

 

Installed my AT2's and New Basket Rack today! Thoughts??

 

How did you install the basket ? Rails on the cap, by the way I think it looks good

 

Take a few minutes and check out this link.

I usually cut the claybar into thirds, that way if I drop it on the ground the entire bar is not messed up. The Mothers or Megs claybar kits are inexpensive and work well.

 

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