How to Fix Cracked Bumper!

[Silver_VS_II]

hey i bought my car with this damage on the front end, i wanna fix it rather then buying a whole new bumper, what should i use for it.



Attachment 61415


the part im points to are just small scratches, they dont bother me nor are they anything serious, just small chips ill repaint, dont even need to fill.

[maldotcom2]

I asked a similar question on another forum and was advised to "plastic weld" it. I took a 50W soldering iron and removed the normal tip, and replaced it with the head of a flat screw driver. Then used this device as a "hot knife" to melt and drag the plastic across the crack in a stitching fashion. If you're interested i can describe in more detail.

Ofcourse this won't give you a smooth finish, so you'll have to sand it back afterwards and fill as normal. This process makes sure the repair is strong, if you just fill it, it will just crack again.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

You can use fibreglass, it will never crack again unless you hit it.

[Troy711]

I asked a similar question on another forum and was advised to "plastic weld" it. I took a 50W soldering iron and removed the normal tip, and replaced it with the head of a flat screw driver. Then used this device as a "hot knife" to melt and drag the plastic across the crack in a stitching fashion. If you're interested i can describe in more detail.

Ofcourse this won't give you a smooth finish, so you'll have to sand it back afterwards and fill as normal. This process makes sure the repair is strong, if you just fill it, it will just crack again.

I've heard something similar except also using black cable ties to melt in for extra material.

[VL Berlina 5speed]

you plastic weld a split or crack throught the bar

using a plastic welding gun is the proper way and welding in new plastic as you would butt weld with a oxy torch

you need to check the bars plastic type and get the correct/same type to weld it

so the zip tie way as troy metion wont work as majority off bars are PP (polypropehalene)
zip ties arnt,


you are reckomended to tack weld it together before you weld the bar, just like maldotcom2 said using a soldering ion to do it
just simple don it at 1cm interviels and it should be enough to hold while you weld it



takes a bit of practic to do it and getting the gun on the right angle the pool flowing weld and making both sides of the slit weld into the pool not actually just melt over it

plastic is forgiving i love plastic repairing bars and plastic welding, you should never have to put any plastic filler in a bar! they are that easy to work

[PhantomVE]

You should be able to just use a $25 fibreglass repair kit from supacheap for this job. The fiberglass resin will get right in that crack and the fibre will give it plenty of strenth. File, sand, then wet-sand it back until nice and flush, simply repaint over that. (bottle of repair paint is all you will need). Take you time and it will look schmicko!

By all means, melting plastic and stitching it up will give you additional strength but the above method should be fine for a crack this size. Cost effective, quick, and easy. =D

Good luck with it!

[Silver_VS_II]

all sound very knowledgeble, thanks for advise, i think ill do that stitching sort of thing then get that fibreglass repair pack and coverit up, give some added strengthm i gotta replace the front guard so i may as well use the paint from that to repaint it, cheers guys all awsome helpfull answers

[Troy711]

When it comes to painting just remember that the final result will only be as good as the prep work.

[the collector]

even if you get it repaired how will you paint it at home and get it looking at least half decent?
imo you have three options .scuff it up with 80 grit,drown it in super glue,and bog it up,then paint at home somehow or
get it plastic welded properly,preped and painted properly or
price a very good second hand bar from this forum and just get that painted,being a front bar it will prolly have stone chips etc.
sometimes doing things yourself at home to save money and time doesnt always work out faster and cheaper unless you have the correct skills
no disrepsect but if youre asking how, maybe this job isnt for you and most people like their cars to look the best they can be
good luck
cheers

[maldotcom2]

Agreed, i decided it would be a good idea to respray my front bar at home. After a month of prep work, a spray that went on dry, and $300 in materials i decided to get it done properly for $250. Pretty expensive all up.

[skruba]

but in trying it all out and maybe spendn a cupple dollars can give u experience to make bigger jobs cheaper

[gareth89]

i had my vr repaired and he welded the rear bar and it looks shit and cracked soon after, so i think buy another 1 for little money or while your fixing it customize it a bit uno smooth it etc.