Plastic bumper repair help.

[Dom]

This GT bumper for my AX is in a bit of a mess.
Has anyone got any tips for fixing it? If at all possible.





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I've taken off the bar and bolts which don't hold it together anyway.
It takes quite a bit of force to hold the bits together.

I've thought about putty and stuff on the inside, or breaking it and sticking it back together, or just keeping the lower part and adding it to the stock bumper but not great.

Or do I just say F it and do a rat look? ;D

Thanks.

[will]

Drill holes then zip tie or more hardcore, lockwire FTW

[Nathan]

Its gonna be hard on this bumper as its got a rough feel so the usual wadding on the rear with a skim of filler on the top wont work.

[Dom]

Thanks.
Doesn't matter about the rough feel. I need to fill a lot of scratches anyway and I'll probs use some paint to rough it up again.

[dude]

zipties ftw.

For a more serious approach, a small piece of alloy sheet beat into shape and glued to place with windscreen glue. Then body filler and paint as usual.

Edit: glued to the backside of the bumper obviously ;D

[steveo3002]

are these same as normal plastic bumpers ? i seem to recall they're a bit like fibre glass?

anyway...id rough up the back , open up the crack a bit and as above shape a small plate to suit the inside , big dollop of fibre glass filler and clamp the plate on

once its dry...V out the front on the crack and another smear of fibre glass

could try to countersink a few rivets too...but i think that will hold it well

[robg2]

Jan 2, 2010 17:46:31 GMT steveo3002 said:

are these same as normal plastic bumpers ? I seem to recall they're a bit like fibre glass?

This doesn't look like the fibreglass type - I think there are generically two types of material used for plastic bumpers and this is the 'unfilled' type which might well be plastic-weldable.


The bumper should be fixable but you'll have to paint it afterwards (use plastic bumper primer) and you won't be able to match the surface finish.

Think yourself lucky that you aren't into Mk 2 Mondeos. From what I see driving about on the roads, about 99% of them have rear bumpers in tatters - typical Ford penny pinching...

Ps - AX GT =

[Dom]

I'm liking the alloy plate tips.

No fibreglass here. Pure old school plastic. Pretty heavy actually.
I think the mark II AX has fibreglass, the bumpers are painted and smooth.

You mean the mondeos with the big bumper holes like eggshell, with foam showing?

Anyway thanks for the help.

[1430MK1]

Zipties!

[Dom]

I do quite like that actually. Proper scar and stitches.

[racerjames]

i work in a body shop where i do most of our plastic repairs as i have the most training.

basically when working with plastic you have to make sure oyu have very good adhesion being as an oil based product this is always an issue.

to repair that i would use a small grinder and V the crack out to enable a larger area for the adhesive to grab. i would also drill a series of holes between 10 and 20 mm either side of the crack. with the small grinder again rough up the surrounding area around 50mm outwards of the crack either side of the bumper.

these areas would then be sprayed with an adhesion promoter spray and allowed to dry. while this dries cut a section of plastic repair mesh to add some strength back int the bumper. also cut a piece of plastic sheeting for the top side of the repair. cover the mesh in liberal amounts of a 2 pack plastic adhesive (i use the 3M products) and press onto the under side of the repair allowing the excess to push through the crack and the drilled holes then place the plastic sheet onto the top side of the repair and try to smooth the adhesive over the repair to save time snading down after.

once this adhesive has totally cured (usually around 1-2 hours, do not try working the adhesive before it has cured or it will not stick properly) then remove the plastic sheeting and use a 36 grit roloc disk on a grinder to quickly remove the excess glue. then switch to an 80 grit strip on a block and shape the glue before applying a flexible plastic filler over the area to finish the repair.

this can then be plastic primed, high build primed and blocked and flatted before applying a texture coating and final grey/black colour coat (these are avaliable in aerosols)

[Dom]

Wow right.
Thanks a lot for that! I'll start researching products to try that.

[steveo3002]

be cheaper to get a used bumper than buy all that plastic repair gear though...

[Dom]

This IS the used bumper unfortunately. Only one I could find/afford at the moment.
If I can't do it cheap I'll just ziptie.

[racerjames]

i can send you some offcuts of the plastic sheeting and mesh if it helps, i may also be able to get an adhesive but you will need to find a way of getting it out of the tube as i cant supply my gun/applicator

the rest should be availiable at the likes of halfords or a motortrade suppliers such as hex holdings

cheers

james

[Dom]

Really nice of you to offer but I'm in France so wouldn't want to bother you with that. Should be able to find what I need.
Cheers though.

[benouzzz]

salut le frenchy ;D

essaie de faire fondre derreire avec un decapeur,afin de ressouder le plastic

[robg2]

Good post Mr RacerJames!

[Dom]

Jan 3, 2010 19:50:24 GMT benouzzz said:

salut le frenchy ;D

essaie de faire fondre derreire avec un decapeur,afin de ressouder le plastic

I'm English actually, but been over here for 17 years, since I was 6.

I may try that too. There's a weed killer gas torch at my folk's house that would do the trick...

[Dom]

Oh wait you didn't actually mean a torch just a hot blower.