Minor Bumper Damage

[BillTheONEJedi]

Wondering it there's any good way to fix this bumper damage. Epoxy resin and paint to match bumper? Not willing to duct tape but also not willing to replace bumper - it IS a Truck ... sorta

Welcome any recommendations and product specifics. Thanks.

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[Montana]

It's probably not going to look good. I'm eventually just going to replace my entire bumper as I have one similar to the small one you have on the left and on the other side was a scratch - both from the previous owner. I tried the heat method and it went terribly - about as expected. I've done the heat method before and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. The Mavericks exterior plastic - it didn't. It required way too much heat to try and blend even small scratches.

As for epoxy and blending? You are free to experiment but my guess is that's it's not going to look any better than if you had just left the unsightly damage there. I think you'd have to put a lot of effort into fixing that and blending it anywhere close to the stock plastics and no matter what it looks like it will still not look normal.

I'm the furthest thing from an expert on this stuff though. Where there is a will, there is a way. I know that much.

 

[OrCoaster]

Having done plenty of bodywork in the past I would say that cleaning it up with a Dremel tool first, to get rid of the rough edges and then using some of the bodywork epoxies out there would be your best bet. Paint shops specializing in automotive paint have a huge selection of different epoxies that mix on their way out of a swirl tube and you have XYZ amount of time to form it and apply it.

Lay down some light initial applications and then build it up once it hardens, usually pretty quickly. Then shape it with a rasp, sand it with various grits of sandpaper then paint it. I think it will work out for you.

 

[Swamp ick]

Plastic Welding Machine Car Bumper Repair Kit,6Types 800 Staples Plastic Welding Kit Car Bumper Repair Kit Plastic Welding Repair Flat/Outside Corner/Inside Corner/Wave Staples https://a.co/d/eDAhIXX

You can look up YouTube videos on plastic welding

 

[1buddyc]

No way to repair that without it being VERY noticeable..

 

[Fcnrwy]

Having done plenty of bodywork in the past I would say that cleaning it up with a Dremel tool first, to get rid of the rough edges and then using some of the bodywork epoxies out there would be your best bet. Paint shops specializing in automotive paint have a huge selection of different epoxies that mix on their way out of a swirl tube and you have XYZ amount of time to form it and apply it.

Lay down some light initial applications and then build it up once it hardens, usually pretty quickly. Then shape it with a rasp, sand it with various grits of sandpaper then paint it. I think it will work out for you.

The above suggestion is the best you are going to get.
Once, the plastic is 'Deformed" theres no real repairing to look as "new"..

Jerry

 

[BillTheONEJedi]

Wondering it there's any good way to fix this bumper damage. Epoxy resin and paint to match bumper? Not willing to duct tape but also not willing to replace bumper - it IS a Truck ... sorta

Welcome any recommendations and product specifics. Thanks.

The above suggestion is the best you are going to get.
Once, the plastic is 'Deformed" theres no real repairing to look as "new"..

Jerry

yeah, in the back of my mind I'm wondering if a repair that's less than optimal would bother me just as much. Will give it some thought and research one of the recommendations. The issue is that the damage crosses different surfaces so I suspect it will be really challenging. I do have a quote to replace but it's in the mid-700's.

 

[Bushpilot]

Nobody is going to like this idea, but it is maybe what I would do.

Maybe I would bend a piece of aluminum to fit behind it, and pop rivet it in place, to reinforce it.

Then, depending on how bad that looks, maybe fill the hole with something paintable, and shoot some black spray paint on it.

Or just duct tape it.

 

[Bwicka]

yeah, in the back of my mind I'm wondering if a repair that's less than optimal would bother me just as much. Will give it some thought and research one of the recommendations. The issue is that the damage crosses different surfaces so I suspect it will be really challenging. I do have a quote to replace but it's in the mid-700's.

Plastic lower bumper is about $300 if I remember right and just have to pull front grill / bumper cover combo ,
Place it on a blanket , snap off the old lower plastic piece with a flat blade screwdriver or trim tool and snap new lower plastic back on and reinstall bumper cover/grill combo .
You will spend more time taking wheels off and pulling fender well felt pins out more than anything.

 

[Fcnrwy]

I guess I would have two options..
1) Get the NEW lower bumper/valance part, and replace the damaged one. (Disassembly and reassembly).
2) Do the "bondo-type" of repair. (Trimming/bondoing/finishing.).
Both will require some time.

Edit:
I just did a online search for the part in question... LOWER FRONT BUMPER COVER

$260 for a USED One...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/116083161622?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338722076&customid=&toolid=10050&amdata=enc:AQAJAAAAoHoV3kP08IDx+KZ9MfhVJKmGgVtCmDTqiIW08XVSqPPQHQ68qmYMbJrrHOhfXYNOER0q1yHGyAA5yRj/qJzGq3w+cmWynbyu+VQAGICOaJfSIFJaOdy6ufm+LinLAiSgaItDTGcser82+YhCiUQru5krrv82rN48I7G2DHfYisUlMmK2usdW63RpQdBGCMHFCpwrJOWSc8jbYdnNck1cmh0=

The replacement is a bigger project..
Maybe, the bondo-repair it the easier way to go..


Jerry

 

[Suzukiridr14]

Why don't you just trim off the damaged area, then match the other side so you will have a custom bumper no one else has. Not only will it look OK, it will stop bothering you and cost nothing! Later on replace the bumper when you find one.

 

[BillTheONEJedi]

Why don't you just trim off the damaged area, then match the other side so you will have a custom bumper no one else has. Not only will it look OK, it will stop bothering you and cost nothing! Later on replace the bumper when you find one.

Now that's an idea. I think there's a bracket behind it. I'll have to check.

 

[CurtisB]

Wondering it there's any good way to fix this bumper damage. Epoxy resin and paint to match bumper? Not willing to duct tape but also not willing to replace bumper - it IS a Truck ... sorta

Welcome any recommendations and product specifics. Thanks.

There are bumper repair companies that fix stuff like this all day. Google one for your area.

 

[OrCoaster]

For 260 plus some shipping and a bit of time to do the bumper, I would for sure go for that over the process I described. If that means anything to you. I have installed a set of DD foglights on my Maverick and getting that front bumper off is not hard but... I wonder if leaving it on, getting the truck up on some jack stands, and looking for the attachment points for that lower part is the thing to do. I bet you could do it on the truck!

You may need to drop the under panel like you do when you change oil but that is simple stuff with a battery-powered drill or drill driver.

Almost makes me want to go out, lay in the driveway with a flashlight, and check out the possibility.

 

[BILLNOROVILLE]

Fix it for less than 10.00 is what I would do.

I have fixed my wife's Prius bumper using some mesh screen (like window screen) on the backside and JbWeld Even put a couple of nails behind in the JbWeld for stiffness over large cracks. 5 minute version dries quick and is black in color. You can clean it up on the front side with a dremel tool. Just tape where you don't want dremel tool to hit. You can also put tape over hole on front side and fill from back side. Scratch up the backside then wipe off with Acetone and the mixture/mesh will stick well. Easier to do more than 1 coat of JbWeld. You might have to apply a clamp to align the front on the first spot layer of JbWeld then move the clamp and apply more.

good luck with whatever you do.

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