DIY car bumper repair

No one wants a croaky bumper, but near everyone faces them at some point or another.

A cracked bumper normally means up to $400 in repair bills and a day of not having your auto. On acme of that, y'all might have to pay more than for insurance later you get the claim.

Only luckily, there'due south a solution for you.

You lot can fix a croaky bumper on your own. Aye, yous read that right! Y'all can practise it by yourself!

As a thing of fact, repairing a cracked bumper is way easier and simpler than you recall. Just similar nosotros made fixing a dent on your auto simple for yous, today we'll do the same for cracked bumpers.

There are three DIY approaches that you tin apply to restore your bumper to its former status.

  1. The Zip Tie Method (for a severely damaged bumper).
  2. The Plastic Solvent Method (for a mildly damaged bumper).
  3. The Soldering Iron Method (for small cracks and pocket-sized repairs).

Let's learn virtually all these methods in item.

DISCLAIMER: If yous're non a DIY automobile enthusiast or you lot remember you lot cannot practice this repair by yourself, y'all should consult a professional mechanic. In example you make up one's mind to do it on your ain, be very conscientious. Plastic solvents and soldering irons are dangerous for the skin. So, exercise extreme caution when carrying out the repair.

#ane The Cipher Tie Method: Repairing a Severely Damaged Bumper

If you lot have a bumper that has a large crack, it is not a cosmetic problem anymore.

When going at highway speeds, the broken pieces can disassemble from the body of the automobile and exist a serious road safety hazard for you and other drivers.

This is where the Aught Tie method can help you. Though the result might not exist visually appealing to some, it will make your bumper prophylactic to a great extent.

Besides, if you want to know how to fix a cracked bumper without removing it, this is the method for yous.

Things You'll Need

  • A drilling machine with a 3mm drill bit
  • A bunch of zip ties, depending on the size of the crack you are repairing

The Nothing Tie Method in 4 Steps

i. Align the Cleaved Pieces: Align the cracked pieces so that in that location is no or a minimum gap between them.

two. Mark Points to Drill Holes: Accept a permanent marking and mark points on both sides of the crack. You need to proceed the holes at approximately half an inch distance from each other. Make sure yous are at least an inch from the crack so that the plastic has enough forcefulness to concur the aught ties in place.

3. Drill the Holes: Take a drill auto and advisedly drill holes on all the points yous marked in the last step.

4. Tie the Bumper Down: Thread the zip ties through the holes in such a fashion every bit to have the necktie portion on the dorsum. Accept your time to do it in a nifty manner. You can also get creative and utilise a criss-cross design or a contrasting zip tie color to repair a part of the car'south decor.

That is how to repair a cracked bumper –  an extremely damaged one. For some people, this method won't be ideal, but the bumper will be rubber to bulldoze with until they can get a new ane.

#2 The Plastic Solvent Method: Repairing a Mildly Damaged Bumper

When a bumper is mildly cracked and has sufficient structural force, it tin can easily be restored to its sometime celebrity. You lot can utilise the plastic solvent method to fix a cracked plastic bumper of any kind – and information technology volition be every bit good as new.

Things Yous'll Need

  • Tools to remove the bumper. These will depend on the motorcar yous accept.
  • Plastic solvent kit matching the type of plastic your bumper is made from. You tin can see the backside of the bumper for the plastic specification stamp.
  • 80, 120, 500, and grand dust sandpapers
  • Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
  • Paint filler
  • Paint primer
  • Pigment to lucifer the colour of your car
  • Clear-glaze for the pigment

The Plastic Solvent Method in 10 Steps

1. Remove the Bumper from the Automobile: In order to fix a cracked bumper on a automobile using a plastic solvent, you'll first need to remove it from the automobile. Be careful while doing this. The bumper is attached to the car with plastic tabs, and if yous happen to impairment one, you'll also accept to learn how to set broken bumper tabs.

ii. Set up the Surface: In one case the bumper has been removed from the machine,  employ the lxxx grit sandpaper to sand off the inside of the bumper where it's croaky. Brand certain you get a clean and rough surface, and the edges of the crack are free of any contaminant. Once you have sanded it down, use rubbing alcohol to make clean the whole surface.

3. Apply the Plastic Solvent: Follow the instructions on the plastic solvent kit and prepare the solvent. Once the solvent is fix, double-bank check to make sure the bumper is clean. Apply a generous amount of solvent on the inner side of the bumper. The solvent will dissolve the plastic from both sides and make information technology ane piece. Y'all tin remember of it as welding.

4. Permit the Solvent Cure: Permit the solvent work for the required corporeality of fourth dimension equally per the instructions. Y'all tin use these steps to fix broken bumper clips, too, in instance they are besides damaged. The bumper is set once the solvent has been cured. Later on that, you demand to fix the croaky paint on the bumper. If you lot've seen our post on fixing scratches on your auto's pigment , this volition be easy for yous.

five. Make full the Gap: Once the solvent has cured, prepare the filler and fill the crack from the outside using a scrapper. Let the filler cure for the time specified in the instructions.

vi. Sand the Filler: One time the filler is dry out, use the 120 grit sandpaper to sand off the filler so that information technology is affluent with the bumper'southward profile. Next, utilise the 500 grit paper to shine the filler further.

vii. Sand the Clear Coat: Using 1000 grit sandpaper, sand the area surrounding the fissure and the filler. This will give the new pigment a skilful surface to bond to.

8. Utilise Primer: Spray an even coat of primer on the freshly sanded surface. It'southward by and large recommended to spray from around 10 inches away and go in parallel lines over the surface area. Yet, detailed instructions can be found on the primer can. Let the primer cure earlier yous continue.

9. Paint the Bumper: Utilize an even glaze of paint to the area where you but applied the primer. Allow it dry and utilise another coat.

10.  Apply a Clear Coat:  Apply a sparse coat of the articulate glaze on top of the pigment to finish the task. That's how to fix a croaky bumper.  You did it!

If you have a actually small-scale crevice, and the area does not require much structural forcefulness, you can utilize a soldering fe to prepare it.

#3 The Soldering Iron Method: Fixing a Small Crack In Bumper

Rut melts plastic, and if you melt both sides of the broken bumper and make them solidify together, it can easily fix a pocket-sized crack in the bumper.

Things You'll Need

  • Tools to remove the bumper. These will depend on the auto you have.
  • 400W soldering iron
  • 80, 120, 500, and 1000 grit sandpaper
  • Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
  • Paint fille.
  • Paint primer
  • Paint matching the color of your motorcar
  • Clear-coat for the paint

The Soldering Fe Method in 4 Steps

1. Remove the Bumper: Accept the bumper off the auto. Be conscientious when doing this, do not break the bumper clips or enlarge the scissure.

2. Prepare the Surface: Wash the broken area and sand information technology downward with 80 grit sandpaper to get a good bonding surface.

3. Melt and Join the Bumper: Make sure the soldering iron is sufficiently hot. Information technology will take around five minutes to heat after you plug it in. Become on the inside of the bumper and melt the broken edge from both sides. Press the pieces together while the plastic is still molten. Repeat this until you join the whole cracked surface area.

iv. Paint the Bumper: Once yous take repaired the bumper, use steps 5-x of the previous method to paint the bumper.

 Yous Did it!

These are the easiest methods that you lot tin use to repair a broken or cracked bumper no thing how bad the problem is. If your bumper is in extremely bad shape, zip ties are the all-time option and for lesser damages, you can use a plastic solvent or a soldering iron.

Often Asked Questions

Tin can you fix a cracked bumper on your ain?

Aye, you can repair a croaky bumper on your ain if y'all have the tools and materials required to practice it.

How can a cracked bumper be fixed at dwelling?

A croaky bumper can be fixed at domicile past three methods: Nil Necktie, Plastic Solvent, and Soldering Iron. You can use any of these methods, depending on the extent of the damage.

How much does it cost to repair a cracked bumper?

The cost of repairing a cracked bumper is between $250-350, depending on the brand and model of your car and the extent of impairment to the bumper.

Can you lot fix a cracked bumper without replacing it?

Yes. If the bumper is not totally destroyed, it can be stock-still.

What is the best way to fix a croaky plastic bumper?

The all-time way to repair a cracked plastic bumper is using a plastic solvent. Information technology returns the bumper to its original strength, retains the corrective appearance, and is easy to do.