Armourfend / Ventureshield Removal

[pb450]

I'm sure much has been written about this but I'm looking for practical advice. My recently purchaced T350 has the stuff right the way across the nose. It's pretty old now (probably applied soon after the car was first registered) and is way past its best. It's not peeling anywhere but it's very dull compared to the rest of the paintwork which comes up really well.

Hairdryer on a warm day is all I can find on the internet. Maybe that's all there is to find but like others, I'm scared rigid of pulling the paint off. Also, I understand pulling it back (!) parallel to the surface and not at right angles is the way to go. I'm sure it's stuck like poo to a blaket now after so many years but perhaps others braver than me have had some success. If so, please share.

I think it's a job for next summer now, not any time soon in the cold weather.

PS. Why do Americans call it Bra? Just don't google bra removal.... just don't!

[Tyre Smoke]

When I bought my Cerbera it had that horrible stuff on it.

Believe me, hairdryer and go gently and in about 15 minutes it'll all be off. I know you'll find this hard to believe, but the paint is tougher than the Armourfend.

[glow worm]

I had the same issue and peeled mine off the bonnet, left it in the front wings for protection. It does go dull and opaque . I also have a "spare" Tuscan front end .. inspection bonnet, grill and splitters sprayed to match which is actually a cheaper solution

[phazed]

Speak to a detailer.

It may be worth keeping but just need some work on it. I spoke to detailer a couple of weeks ago, a guy doing a neighbours car about the Armourfend (or similar) on my car. It's in perfect condition but I thought I'd ask, he said to treat it like paint.

Yours may just need some work?

[TV8]

Hi Peter (pb450 not phazed) are you going on Sunday?

Re the paint covering, try a bit of T-cut on a small part of it. When I used to have old triumphs, that stuff worked wonders on the rear windows. I am sure their will be a modern equivalent but I am sure you will have some in the garage somewhere.

[pb450]

Hi Graham, how are you? Yep, I may be there on Sunday. I certainly have some T-Cut. I’ll try a small patch, as you say.

[TV8]

All good here thanks Peter. Hopefully see you Sunday and have a nose around the new car.

[phazed]

Where are you off to on Sunday Graham?

[TV8]

phazed said:

Where are you off to on Sunday Graham?

Will give you a call.

[phazed]

Getting back to Armourfend . Mine has been on about 6-7 years. Still nice and shiny! I haven’t polished the car since I bought it about a year ago. Still looking good Hence my thoughts at yours just needs a bit of elbow grease.

[pb450]

Thanks Peter. Mine is probably twice that age and is dull, dull, dull. It was mopped two weeks ago and really doesn’t respond to much now - unless someone knows of a product to rejuvenate it. Otherwise I’ll bite the bullet and remove it next summer. (After trying Graham’s T-Cut suggestion first.)

Hopefully Graham has been in touch with you. A brace of Porkers is always good, over on the dark side.

[pb450]

Also getting back to the Armourfend, I’ve taken Peter’s advice to treat it like paint. I’ve always had good results with Meguires 3 step system. Paint cleaner, polish and wax. So I set to and applied the products carefully and thoroughly to half the nose cone.

The attached picture shows before and after. Pleeease don’t look at all the crap on shelves in my garage, it’s a work in progress. However, I think you’ll agree the results are a massive improvement. I’ll check it out in daylight but if it stays looking as good as this my bra may not need removal.

[roseytvr]

Pete
I have a 12 year old ppf on the front of my sag and it looked awful. Misty, watermarked and dull. Tried many things but by far the best results I got were with these two.


Really pleased with the results and water beads off with no marks. Expensive but good stuff


You really have to get up close to know there’s a film on it
Good luck

[pb450]

Thanks Ian. Looking good sir! I can’t see the line or change in appearance anywhere.
Pretty pleased with the results so far but may be tempted to try the PPF Renew product.

[Mutley00]

When I needed to remove the stuff from the front of my Elise wheel arches - it had gone yellow on white paint, I picked at an edge with my finger nail to get it lifted, then got some WD40 in there progressively which worked fine. My theory being if it can penetrate moving parts by capillary action it would do the same with Armourfend. It didn't damage the paint either. Presume GT85 will work as well which is on offer at Aldi at the moment as I imagine you may need a fair bit.

Good luck.

[pb450]

Mutley00 said:

When I needed to remove the stuff from the front of my Elise wheel arches - it had gone yellow on white paint, I picked at an edge with my finger nail to get it lifted, then got some WD40 in there progressively which worked fine. My theory being if it can penetrate moving parts by capillary action it would do the same with Armourfend. It didn't damage the paint either. Presume GT85 will work as well which is on offer at Aldi at the moment as I imagine you may need a fair bit.

Good luck.

Interesting angle Andrew. So no hair dryer at all then?

[Mutley00]

Sorry matey forgot to include that bit. Yes I used a hairdryer.

[pb450]

Mutley00 said:

Sorry matey forgot to include that bit. Yes I used a hairdryer.

[pb450]

So the advice was “treat it like paint”. Applied the products this morning (too wet for a drive) and the results are impressive, I think you’ll agree.

Before:


After:


Armourfend looks as good as new now.

[phazed]

Good job!