Is Car Armor Useful?
3 Answers
Car armor is useful as it provides better protection for the vehicle's chassis and offers some sound insulation. Car armor, also known as chassis armor, is technically referred to as automotive chassis anti-collision, anti-rust, and sound insulation coating. It is not actual armor but a high-tech adhesive rubber asphalt coating applied to the car's chassis, typically 2mm to 4mm thick. The functions of chassis armor include: 1. Anti-corrosion: It effectively resists corrosion from sewage, oil stains, and other substances on chassis components, extending their lifespan. 2. Anti-friction: Chassis armor can withstand minor undercarriage scrapes and reduce the impact and friction from small stones and debris kicked up during high-speed driving. 3. Noise reduction: Due to the rubber asphalt coating and its thickness, it can partially isolate noise transmitted from the chassis.
The other day I drove the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and specifically sprayed an undercoating on the chassis. This stuff really works for rust and scratch protection. Those gravel roads in Tibet are especially harsh on the undercarriage, and after applying the coating, you can clearly notice the reduced impact noise from the stones. However, be careful not to buy inferior materials—my friend cheaped out on his undercoating, and it peeled off within six months, wasting 2,000 yuan for nothing. The professional mod shop mechanic said the thickness needs to be at least 3mm to be effective, and you should choose polyurea material for high-temperature resistance, especially since the exhaust pipe area can easily reach 70-80°C.
As an auto repair shop technician, I've seen too many cars with oil pans punctured by road debris. Armor is useful but depends on needs: unnecessary for city commuting, but highly recommended for vehicles frequently driving on construction sites or unpaved roads. Metal engine skid plates cost three times more than resin ones, but can be lifesavers during undercarriage impacts. Reminder: leave maintenance access when installing. Last time, a client installed fully enclosed armor that required two hours of disassembly for every oil change - wasting both money and labor.
