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Im fixing my cracked bumpers this weekend, need some help...

M

millertime86

CEG'er
Joined
May 19, 2006
Messages
383
Location
lancaster, pa
Im finally fixing up what the previous owner(s) did to my car. My friend is helping me, he says he knows what he is doing. I just wanted to make sure everything will turn out right.

Im fixing stock svt bumpers. which kind of bondo do i need?:
bondo2bz1.jpg

Im pretty sure its the resin (green), right? but is it just "fiberglass resin" (bottom) or should i get "fiberglass resin JELLY"(top shelf, very left)???

Heres the three cracks im fixing, first 2 are in the front bumper, last is in the back bumper:
bondo1se2.jpg

bondo3un2.jpg

bondo4rq5.jpg

(were also going to cover up the 3 holes where the front license plate would go)

so i just need to know which resin to get, and also ANY tips or tricks that anyone has picked up would be great, any short instructions on how to do it or what i should be looking for to make sure my friend knows what hes doing.

i love this car and wanna make sure we do it right, i will take ANY and ALL useful info i can get before this saturday.

thanks in advance!
 
You'll want to fix those with fiberglass. Only bondo should be used to fill in the pits and air bubbles that fiberglass leaves behind after sanding.

You'll have to take an exacto knife and cut down the crack into a "V" groove so that the fiberglass has a crevice to adhere too. If you do decide to go through with it and need more help as to how to prep the surface and what not, just let me know. :)
 
hotdimmes said:
Can you fix a flexible plastic bumper with bondo/fiberglass? I just bought me some of this stuff to fix my bumper:

http://www.paintscratch.com/cgi-bin/show_products.cgi?ShowItem=36
Click to expand...
ive never seen that before, can you or someone elaborate on what how it works and where to get it?
beyondloadedSE said:
You'll want to fix those with fiberglass. Only bondo should be used to fill in the pits and air bubbles that fiberglass leaves behind after sanding.

You'll have to take an exacto knife and cut down the crack into a "V" groove so that the fiberglass has a crevice to adhere too. If you do decide to go through with it and need more help as to how to prep the surface and what not, just let me know. :)
Click to expand...

thanks for the help. do you mean then cut like a "V" shaped peice of fiberglass to put in the groove? why wouldnt just resin work to fix/fill in the crack?
 
No. You actually have to cut a seam into the crack. If you just butt the crack together the way it is now, fiberglass over the top of it, and sand it back down, you'll be left with what you've started with. You'll sand off all the fiberglass or at least most of it. You basically have to turn the crack into a 'gash' so to speak.

This might explain it more clearly. Once you butt the crack together its going to look like this. You'll see the 'hairline' crack but thats about it. Obviously not something fiberglass is going to adhere to once its sanded.

-----|-----

You want this so the fiberglass has a nice big pocket to hold onto.
-----\_/------

Apply fiberglass
---^^^---

Sand back down and your left with a flat surface.
-----------

Make sure before you apply the fiberglass, you sand down in that "V" really well with some course sandpaper. (120 grit should do). Also, sand on the backside of the fascia where its cracked and apply fiberglass to this spot as well to give structural support.
 
why not just get some duraglass from your local paint place, a real paint place and sand a good area around and smooth it out, and use a puddy spredder to push some into the cracks....

basically my whole body kit on my pgt is molded with duraglass and i've have zero problems, i even molded the door caps which everybody said would crack. and they haven't. if you prep correctly it'll hold amazingly good.

just an idea
 
Go to a body shop supply place and get some flexible bumper epoxy. Use it to seal the back (inside) of the two cracks that are low on the front bumper. You need to keep water from getting in the back of the crack. Use it on the rear bumper if you are removing the bumper. If you're not removing it, don't worry too much. It's high enough you should be OK.

If you have a high output (over 30 watts) soldering iron with a wide tip, you can use it to melt the edges of the cracks together for added durability. Just make sure you don't leave any high spots. If you need to fill any gaps in the plastic, use a bit of zip tie and melt it in where you need it.
 
beyondloadedSE said:
You'll want to fix those with fiberglass. Only bondo should be used to fill in the pits and air bubbles that fiberglass leaves behind after sanding.

You'll have to take an exacto knife and cut down the crack into a "V" groove so that the fiberglass has a crevice to adhere too. If you do decide to go through with it and need more help as to how to prep the surface and what not, just let me know. :)
Click to expand...

i saw this today and thought id grab it. did i get the right stuff??
70665235bu1.jpg

70589513nd2.jpg
 
I always thought the problem with fiberglass is it doesn't have any flex to it like your bumper does. So when you hit something with it, the fg will crack just as easily. Hence the need for flexible bumper filler.
 
hotdimmes said:
I always thought the problem with fiberglass is it doesn't have any flex to it like your bumper does. So when you hit something with it, the fg will crack just as easily. Hence the need for flexible bumper filler.
Click to expand...

i just dont know what a flexable bumper filler is? ive been looking, couldnt find any at any auto parts stores. can i get like a brand name or a website or an example or something?
 
This is the stuff you need if you decide to go with it.

Its 3M Automix 5895A and 5895B. Its a two part mix.

Personally, I would just go with fiberglass or duraglass. Yes, the above is made for flexible polyeurathane fascias, but even if you hit something, its going crack regardless. Not to mention, its much harder to work with. You really have to prep the surface well in order to get it to work right. Might as well get the cheaper stuff and get fiberglass or duraglass.
 
Update: i went with just using fiberglass and resin on the back bumper and it feels great, looks like crap but will look great after i paint it.

as for the front bumper, i havnt even tried to fix those 2 cracks yet. I bought the autozone brand/version of what hotdimes suggested ( http://www.paintscratch.com/cgi-bin/show_products.cgi?ShowItem=36 ) and i think im going to use that, and then finish it off with somemore fiberglass/resin.

any tips/suggestions would be super. just need to do that, then just figure out where the bolts are so i can take off my bumpers, and then paint them!! haha
 
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