What Should I Do About a Damaged Bumper?
So you had a minor accident, and now your bumper is damaged. Accidents are never fun, but bumpers are actually designed to be damaged. It may look like a simple band of metal or plastic, but underneath that facade, your bumper is actually a complex, integrated system of shock absorbers and reinforcement bars.
These serve to add both rigidity and flexibility, to ensure that your bumper can flex, bend, and eventually break in order to absorb a large amount of the shock and damage involved in a minor accident.
After the accident, many drivers find themselves confused. If they do not understand the intended function of the bumper, it can seem economically reasonable to avoid repairing or replacing the bumper. Unfortunately, a damaged bumper is unable to absorb shock the way it was designed to.
Drivers with damaged bumpers risk getting into accidents which are more dangerous than they would have been with a working bumper. This also means that the car will be left with far more damage than if the bumper had been replaced. Bumpers are an inexpensive part to maintain, and the cost of leaving them damaged is exceptionally high. There are many kinds of bumper damage. Some require expert repair.
Others can be fixed at home. So, how do you deal with a damaged bumper? Can bumper repair be done at home? Everything depends upon the type and severity of the damage you’re dealing with.
Dents In Bumper
Dents are the sort of thing you can take care of at home with simple equipment that you may have on hand. Raise the vehicle and remove the splash guard. Use a high temperature hair dryer or a heat gun in order to heat the bumper in the dented area.
If you are using a heat gun, be certain to keep it at least 3 feet away from the bumper to avoid melting the paint. When the bumper is warm (about 5 minutes) use a metal tool to press the bumper back into place from the inside.
Broken Bumper Repair
A cracked or broken bumper is something that should be repaired in a shop. While there are many kits available to repair plastic or fiberglass, a professional repair job is the only way to ensure a return to the structural integrity required to prevent injury and damage during an accident.
Taking the car to a licensed repair shop is the best way to insure that your insurance company does not deem you liable for repairs in the event of another accident. Repairing a broken bumper will require a new paint job.
To keep things simple, make sure you choose a shop that can paint your car perfectly. The right shop will ensure that no one can ever tell there was any damage to your car.
These serve to add both rigidity and flexibility, to ensure that your bumper can flex, bend, and eventually break in order to absorb a large amount of the shock and damage involved in a minor accident.
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