Repairing a plastic bumper

Instead of the old sheetmetal bumper exteriors, modern cars hide the metal bumper under a plastic fascia in hopes that minor abrasions might pop out more easily. But if your car meets the sharp edge of a 2-foot parking barrier , the semi-flexible plastic can easily rip, ben or break. The first step in repairing a plastic bumper is to clean the woun so to speak.

After you sand the repair area follow these cleaning steps, they are the key in repairing plastic bumpers successfully.

Use a gray or white scuff pad and scrub the repair area of the bumper or plastic panel with the cleaning agent first, a simple wipe is not going to work. It may work sometimes but may fail in others. Cracked bumpers are common on many vehicles that frequent shopping malls drive on rural roads.

Often times a replacement is not warranted due to. There are a variety of ways on how to remove dents on a plastic car bumper. How to Fix Dents on Plastic Car Bumper. Keep in mind that it would be best to remove the whole bumper cover to easily facilitate the repair process. This process might prove tricky as plastic bumpers are held on to the body by the use of screws, nuts, bolts, and fasteners.

A plastic bumper repair is an easy weekend body repair job to help beautify your car by getting rid of deep scratches and cracks. One option for this type of repair job is to use a fiberglass body repair compound such as Bond-O. Cost, weight reduction, and ease of repair are the likely culprits.

Step 14: Mix the repair kit contents.

Plastic bumpers are actually good for us do-it-yourselfers. To repair a plastic bumper , mix the contents in compliance with the instructions provided with the repair kit. Step 15: Tape the cracked surfaces together. On the front side of the repair area, use the tape to pull the opposing edges of cracked surfaces together.

This will add more stability during repair. How To Repair Plastic Bumpers – Plastic Bumper Repair Tips. Use a professional grade auto body heat gun and start by heating the creased area of the bumper in a circular motion, then slowly working your way inwards.

Keep a bucket of water and a rag available so you can cool the bumper as you shape it.

Behind plastic bumper covers is a smaller, lighter bumper bar made of steel or aluminum. Now your repair is finishe it’s time to prime and paint the bumper. You’ll need proper bumper primer and paint that is flexible enough for plastic, otherwise it may crack and flake. You will also need to apply a clearcoat over the finished paint to keep it in good condition and prevent more damage.

These bumpers are damaged only in case of high impact collisions. However, the paint of the plastic bumper is always damaged no matter if there is a minor collision or major collision. If the bumper is being repaired and refinishe you start by repairing the plastic properly. This can involve using plastic repair material, body fillers, or other special repair materials to repair and restore the plastic bumper cover.

While not as severe as a bumper crack or dent, a trip to an auto body repair shop can still cost an average of $5, and they will probably need to keep your car for a few days. You could replace the entire bumper , purchase a suction-style car-dent puller , or you can try one of these quick and easy fixes from home. Here, you will start to refine the repair area and prepare the plastic bumper for flexible filler material. Using a dual action sander with an grade abrasive disc, dish out, or taper, the damaged area to create a slightly lower area in the surface.

Our Civic bumper is made of polypropylene. Stamps of PUR (polyurethane plastic rigid) and TPUR (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer) are plastics that powder when ground or sanded. The type of filler you use to repair the bumper depends on the plastic type, and there are many different manufacturers.

Luckily, textured bumpers can be repaired by the car owner at little cost. To repair a textured plastic bumper , you will first need to seal and reshape the damage, smooth out the front to hide the blemish, and then reapply the texture. This can all be accomplished in a few easy steps, so there is no need to hire a mechanic. Repairing a scraped or scuffed plastic bumper. First clean the bumper with a very mild solution of washing up liquid and water to remove any road deposits.

Rinse off with clean water and allow to dry thoroughly. With a piece of fine sandpaper, sand the area gently until smooth, wipe clean with a damp cloth and allow to dry. Badell’s Collision thus specializes in plastic bumper repair, providing quick, sturdy fixes for all manner of dents and tears.

What types of plastics are used in modern bumpers? Car manufacturers use a variety of plastics to make bumpers. In this article we are going to show you how to repair a scratched urethane plastic or fiberglass bumper cover on your own, in a fraction of the time, at a fraction of the cost.

Factory-matched paint in a spray can. Automotive spray clear coat. Some sheets of coarse and fine sandpaper. Here is simple, easy-to-follow information, including best practices for a full range of plastic and flexible bumper repairs.

You will find step-by-step SOPs for cosmetic bumper repair , two-sided bumper repairs for fixing cracks and tears as well as repairing plastic bumper tabs. Edit: since the plastic of the bumper flexes on impact and the paint and clear are non flexible but bonded to the plastic , worst case is that the clear, paint, and primer are all fractured. Either way, its the same fix. The instruction in this tutorial work on modern cars that have front and rear plastic bumpers. Amounts shown in italicized text are for items listed in currency other than U. Eventually, these plastic components fade and crack, leaving you with the task of replacing it or living with busted parts on your car.

As metal became more expensive and plastic forming technology grew, the automakers quickly grabbed onto plastic as the material of the future.