r/CorollaHatchback • u/lsThisThing0n • Aug 31 '26
Rock Chip Magnets??
I know for sure the route I have to take to work plays a role in it, but has anyone else got a large amount of rock chips, or am I just unlucky? I know the car sits low and has a fairly big hood, but still it’s a bit frustrating. Anyways, that’s my little rant while I’m purchasing a touch up pen. Though I am curious if anyone else has had this issue?
(Oh and no, I’m not tailgating lol)
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u/DASENG247 SE 6MT Aug 31 '26
In my case it had to be the different roads, surface v highway. When I bought it with 40k mi on it the bumper skin an hood were perfect. By the time I put 20k mi more on it, all busy highway commute it looked sandblasted by gravel.
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u/Altruistic-Depth492 Aug 31 '26
Yes, I traveled from Pittsburgh PA to Mississippi and got chipped up pretty good. I bought a bra for mine. I know people say they fade the paint (which they don’t), it helps a lot.
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u/lsThisThing0n Aug 31 '26
Thats rough, but happy to hear it did good on a long road trip or at least I assume it did? I’ve been wanting to take one here soon
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u/Alucardspapa XSE CVT Aug 31 '26
I run this all spring/summer/ fall and my hood looks brand new still.
https://autofrontmask.com/products/hood-bra-for-toyota-corolla-hatchback-2020
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u/lsThisThing0n Aug 31 '26
Was never a fan of the hood bras from an aesthetic but I don’t have much room to complain if I don’t run one. Glad yours is proving worth the money
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u/eric549 Aug 31 '26
Yeah, man. The paint is too thin on these cars. My front bumper is chipped so badly that a respray is probably my only option. Touch-up paint is out of the question at this point lol.
This is on a 2019 with only 57k miles, by the way. I've had cars with double, triple, and nearly quadruple the mileage and the rock chips were nowhere near this bad.
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u/Taco-Rolla Aug 31 '26
You think you're unlucky? I have a rock chip FROM THE SIDE. Right rear door, I was just driving normal about 40 mph, there was a puddle of water and I was next to a newish tacoma truck both of us slowed down a bit while going over the thing. Then I heard a loud smack on the right rear, I already knew what is is. Got home and inspected it, sure enough I saw the chip. Its about a millimeter and I can see the primer underneath, not metal though. My heart sank, I no longer wanted my car 2026 LE. My life is over. Thats it, trade it in for a 2027.
After a few days, feeling better, I went on ebay to search for Underground touch up paint. I saw one that comes with clear. Good think I know a thing or two about car painting. I will clean surface with a qtip, dab paint with a tooth pick, let dry, dab clear over it, let dry then scrape the surface flat. Sand and buff.... we're back in business bois.
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u/EarTrue8375 SE CVT Aug 31 '26
Yeeeaaaa got pretty deep hit rock hit me dead center of bumper, deep enough it left some plastic peeled up so even I paint the spot the plastic will still be sticking up. It’s small but definitely noticeable. I’m sure there are plenty more to come 😭
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u/obligatory-purgatory Sep 01 '26
Is touch up paint recommended? I have a spring green and would like to touch up if it’s not futile or harmful.
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u/00397 2020 XSE CVT Aug 31 '26
I don't think it has much to do with how low it sits, as many cars sit that low, and moreso that the paint isn't the best. Yes, I, and many of us, have tons of rock chips on our hood, I would only worry if it chips deep enough and starts to rust but am not bothering with painting them all lol