The Subaru SVX World Network   SVX Network Forums
Live Chat!
SVX or Subaru Links
Old Lockers
Photo Post
How-To Documents
Message Archive
SVX Shop Search
IRC users:

Go Back   The Subaru SVX World Network > SVX Main Forums > Not Exactly SVX

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 12-17-2009, 12:18 PM
WestCoastSVX's Avatar
WestCoastSVX WestCoastSVX is offline
Was MacGyver
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: West Coast
Posts: 3,677
Registered SVX
Bodywork question - hard plastic bumpers

I know there's a few on here that know a thing or two on bodywork so I thought I'd throw this out there.

My buddy has a 2007 Jeep Wrangler with the hard black plastic bumpers.

Someone hit it in a parking lot (didn't leave a note) and now the rear bumper has a large dent right on the corner. It's like the plastic is just inverted there, but it is such a hard material there is no give to try to pop it back out.

He has heard rumors from various people (who supposedly have heard from bodyshops, etc) that with plastic bumpers all you have to do is heat it up with a heat gun, and the bumper will pop right back out due to its "memory".

Anyone have experience with this?
__________________
Troy

1992 SVX LSL "Serenity" 250,000 miles!

I don't care, I'm still free, You can't take the sky from me...
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-17-2009, 01:02 PM
MadMaxSvx's Avatar
MadMaxSvx MadMaxSvx is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Paraguay
Posts: 455
Registered SVX
Re: Bodywork question - hard plastic bumpers

Sometimes in "thin" plastic bumpers (1997 Ford Festiva, 1998 Honda Accord as examples of that kind of bumpers) heating the zone (sometimes leaving the car in direct sunlight in a hot day can do the trick) causes the bumpers to pop out due of their "memory" but the sign of damage will never dissapear, in other cases if the bumper is too thick it will not pop out without taking the bumper out.
__________________
95´ Subaru SVX EURO
85' Mercedes 190 2.3-16
86' Mercedes 190E
70' Olds Toronado
98' Renault Chamade
82' Honda Prelude
79' Honda Accord awaiting restomod.
69' Mustang Hardtop
67' Jeep Ford Willys awaiting restoration.
67' IKA Torino Coupe
74' Renault Torino Coupe
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-17-2009, 01:19 PM
Thursday23 Thursday23 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Posts: 11
Registered SVX
Re: Bodywork question - hard plastic bumpers

You certainly can use a heat gun to soften the material of a plastic bumper cover then 'massage' it back into a closer approximation of its original shape. I say closer because inevitably part of the bumper will be stretched and distorted from the inital impact and just won't go 100% back to original. I have generally used my long pry bar (2ft) by holding the shaft and using the handle to re-shape the bumper sinnce the handle is rounded and won't leave a divit and I can keep my hand far enough away from the heat source. Take your time and work it slowly from the outside inward and likley you'll end up with something close enough to the original shape.

However, since you did say it was a Jeep, if a little scar is left over it might not seem so out of place. (" a Jeep thing" we're not supposed to understand? - whatever)

Of course, I suspect if you priced out the end cap cover you'd find since it's a common body shop part and there would be a good supply, and likely it would even be under $50.00 for a new one.

Good luck to you, but certainly have your buddy check the replacement price first, may not even be worth the effort to try repairing versus replacing.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:01 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2001-2015 SVX World Network
(208)-906-1122