Are water bra's over rated now?

**86mud** · 28th November 2019, 08:01 AM

Hi all

I've watched lots of 4wd action DVD's and you tube clips over the years. In in the early years they use to stop and slap on a tarp or purpose made water bra across the front of the vehicle to stop the surge of water into the engine bay. However over the last few years I have noticed that no one does any precautionary checks on the vehicle or slap on a water bra before attempting a water crossing. I am confused. How do alternators and starter motors withstand being submerged under water for long periods?

I am sure we are not shown behind the scenes where there is a support ute loaded with alternators and starter motors.

I've always stopped and let the car cool while I roll down the cover over the front grill on the Defender (and walked the water crossing - depending on croc numbers)

Am I being pedantic? should I just plow through and splash water everywhere?

**Tote** · 28th November 2019, 08:15 AM

One of the risks used to be that belt driven fans would pull forward into the radiator when they were underwater damaging the fan or the radiator. Maybe the risk is reduced with electric fans and thermo clutches on engine driven ones. I would still use a tarp if doing deep wading.

Regards,
Tote

**loanrangie** · 28th November 2019, 09:34 AM

To me a car bra are those wanky vinyl covers that go over the front to protect the paint work and not for water crossings.

**spie** · 28th November 2019, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by loanrangie

To me a car bra are those wanky vinyl covers that go over the front to protect the paint work and not for water crossings.

That was my first thought also. Was going to reply with "Haven't they always been overrated?"

**PhilipA** · 28th November 2019, 10:49 AM

Well I broke off some fan blades on my RRC on the Tele track when the water was deeper than I thought and had to do a 180 from entry to exit of the creek , which stopped the bow wave.
I was lucky the fan was from a 300TDI on my RRC and the blades are fibre filled so they just flopped around and didn't dig into the radiator.
I didn' t fit the bra I had as I didn't expect it to be so deep. I would use a bra if there again even with a diesel.
Regards PhilipA

**W&KO** · 28th November 2019, 11:15 AM

Car bra are handy while moving, I use when required as I think it helps with reducing the amount of water in and around the engine bay.

If forward momentum is haunted than bra fitted or everything is surrounded my water.

**86mud** · 28th November 2019, 12:57 PM

Sorry guys, I've updated the title, I am definitely not talking the black vinyl covers that adorned the front of cars that owners feared would get stone chips.

I have one of these on my Defender and find it is very effective.

dolium insect screen Landrover defender - Google Search

And Tote you raise another good point about modern day 4wd's with electric fan and how they would go under water. At least a mechanical fan might have some relaxation in it's resistance.

**V8Ian** · 28th November 2019, 01:08 PM

Despite the title change, I've always found bras a bit inconvenient.

**scarry** · 28th November 2019, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Despite the title change, I've always found bras a bit inconvenient.

Umm,yer they do seem to get in the way at times,but the ones with the quick release clips seem the better option.

**Bigbjorn** · 28th November 2019, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Despite the title change, I've always found bras a bit inconvenient.

Well, what is your size, Ian?

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