How To Fix Cracked Bumper

How to Fix Cracked Bumper? When you are dealing with a crack, dent or issue on a standard plastic bumper, nothing can be more frustrating. It is so easy to accidentally run into something, or have something run into you while you’re in your vehicle and have even the smallest impact leave a dent or crack behind.

Taking your cracked bumper to an auto repair or body shop is one solution to fixing the issue, but this can often come with a hefty price tag. If you are looking for a way to repair your cracked bumper without making a trip to the auto shop, the good news is, there are a few approaches to fixing the issue that you can do right at home.

The best part is, you don’t have to be an automotive expert in order to do these repairs yourself. While it will involve a little work, a few supplies and some elbow grease, it can ultimately help save you money, and these home repairs may end up being less than your deductible.

Here is how you can Fix Cracked Bumper right at home.

Getting Started With Your Cracked Bumper Repair

Before you get started fixing a crack in your bumper, you will need to make sure you have all of the right tools and supplies. You will also need to have the right repair kit, either a plastic or fiberglass repair kit, based on the type of bumper that you have. Most automobile owners won’t have these items sitting around, so you will need to go to your local automotive supply shop.

Here is everything you will need in order to repair a cracked bumper.

• ¼ inch burrowing tool and drill
• Air compressor for air-powered tools (if necessary)
• Body filler
• Angle grinder
• Dust mask
• Jack and jack stands
• Newspaper
• Paint brush
• Paint prep cleaner
• Grease cleaner
• Plastic or fiberglass bumper repair kit
• Putty knife
• 180 grit sandpaper
• 80 grit sandpaper
• 60 grit sandpaper
• Scissors
• Tape

Determining the Type of Bumper You Have

Before you get started, you need to know what type of bumper you are working with, this can actually be a little more difficult than it seems in some situations. Take a look at your crack in the bumper. If you notice long, white hairs coming from your crack, then this means you are dealing with a fiberglass bumper. You can also take your car to a body shop or talk with your auto dealer for more information on your bumper.

Prepping the Area for Repairs

1. Put on your dust mask first. This is especially important when dealing with fiberglass as you may accidentally breathe in harmful and toxic particles.
2. Lift up your vehicle on a jack and secure it in place with your jack stands.
3. Carefully remove the bumper from your car. You will likely need your drill.
4. Thoroughly clean away dirt, grease and grime from the front and rear section of the area impacted by the crack.
5. There may be excess plastic or fiberglass around your bumper. Take your angle grinder and move jagged pieces of plastic, or fiberglass hairs in the area.
6. Take the angle grinder to flatten and straighten out any rigid edges in this area. You may need to use your burrowing tool to get into smaller areas.
7. Take your 60 grit sandpaper and sand the damaged area. For fiberglass, you should sand 3-4 inches around the repair area, for plastic, you should sand 1-1 ½ inches around the repair area.
8. Wipe off any dust with a rag or blow it off with your air compressor.
9. With a clean surface in front of you clean the area with a thin layer of paint prep and allow it to dry.
10. Remove the contents of your bumper repair kit and prepare to either fix a fiberglass bumper or a plastic bumper.

Did you ever wonder how you can fix a cracked windshield?

How to Fix a Fiberglass Bumper

Once you have successfully prepped the area surrounding your crack, using the aforementioned instructions, it is time to fix your bumper. The following directions are meant for a fiberglass bumper.

1. Take the items from your fiberglass bumper repair kit and lay them in front of you so you can see everything.
2. Take a pair of scissors and cut 4-6 pieces of the fiberglass sheets in the bumper kit. They should be about 1-2 inches larger than the area that has the crack.
3. Mix in the catalyst bottle with the resin bottle. There will be specific instructions in your bumper kit. When they have been mixed together correctly, they will change colors.
4. Take your paintbrush and apply a thin layer of resin to the repair area. The entire area should be saturated and wet.
5. Apply a layer of the fiberglass sheet. Then put a layer of resin on top of it. Apply another layer of fiberglass. Then apply another layer of resin and keep sandwiching until you have 4-5 layers of fiberglass sheets.
6. Push out any air bubbles with your paint brush so you are working with a smooth surface.
7. Apply a resin layer to the front side of the repaired area, coating the entire area you have been working on, not just the fiberglass. Allow this coat to dry for 30-60 minutes.
8. Take your 80 grit sandpaper and start sanding the front of the repaired area. There may be lumps from the resin. Make sure to sand them down so they look camouflaged with the bumper.
9. Clean the area with your grease cleaner.
10. Mix together the body filler according to the package in the bumper repair kit. Use your putty knife to spread a thin layer of filler on top of the impacted areas. Carefully work in the filler to fit with the shape of your bumper.
11. Let the bumper dry.
12. Sand the surface with your 80 grit sandpaper. Then wipe it clean
13. Sand again with you 180 grit sandpaper to get the bumper ready for priming.
14. Clean the area with your paint prep and take the surfaces surrounding the repair area with masking tape and newspaper so they stay protected.
15. Apply at least 3 layers of primer to your impacted area, allowing each layer to dry in between coats.

Once the repair is done, your bumper is ready for a paint job and will look as good as new.

How to Fix a Plastic Bumper

Once you have prepped your bumper, it is time to get started with the repairs. These instructions are meant for plastic car bumpers.

1. Lay out everything in your kit so you can see what supplies you have.
2. Mix together the contents of the repair kit, there are detailed instructions that come with the kit that will tell you how to mix together all of the items.
3. Using your tape, pull together the edges of the cracked surface so they are as aligned as possible. Tape them together to the best of your ability. The closer they are, the more stability you will have with your repair.
4. Use your putty knife to apply the plastic repair product through the crack. It should extend out about an inch beyond the crack.
5. Let the product dry for several hours.
6. Mix together the body filler according to the package in the bumper repair kit. Use your putty knife to spread a thin layer of filler on top of the impacted areas. Carefully work in the filler to fit with the shape of your bumper.
7. Let the bumper dry.
8. Sand the surface with your 80 grit sandpaper. Then wipe it clean
9. Sand again with you 180 grit sandpaper to get the bumper ready for priming.
10. Clean the area with your paint prep and take the surfaces surrounding the repair area with masking tape and newspaper so they stay protected.
11. Apply at least 3 layers of primer to your impacted area, allowing each layer to dry in between coats.

When you are done, your bumper will be ready for a new paint job and will look as good as new.