There are a few ways that bumper dents can happen. Maybe you were backing out of your driveway and scraped against the garage door. Maybe your car was hit by a shopping cart in a parking lot. Or maybe you were involved in a minor fender bender. Regardless of how the bumper dent happened, we’re here to help you fix it!
In a light collision, the plastics inside the bumper may prevent any serious damage from occurring. Even so, a glancing blow can scrape the paint, crack the plastic, or leave a layer of the other car’s paint on your bumper. More severe impacts will cause the bumper to split open, dent, or crumple inward.
An impact can also damage the hooks that attach the bumper to your car. In this situation, one end of the bumper may sag awkwardly or drag along the ground. If both hooks break, your entire bumper assembly may simply fall off.
You might be wondering if you can remove a bumper dent yourself. Replacement bumper covers can be expensive, so it’s understandable that you would want to try to fix the dent before replacing the entire bumper. The good news is that with the right tools and some patience, you can remove a bumper dent yourself! Keep reading for a step-by-step guide on how to remove a bumper dent.
Before we get into the steps for removing a bumper dent, there are a few cases where you should not try to remove the dent yourself. If the dent is larger than a fist or if the paint is cracked or broken, it’s best to take your car to a professional. Also, if the dent is in a difficult-to-reach spot, it’s probably best to leave it to the professionals. Trying to remove a dent yourself in these cases could end up making the damage worse.
Now that you know when not to remove a bumper dent, let’s talk about how to remove one. This process will require some patience, but we promise it’s not as difficult as it may seem!
The first step is to take a look at the damage and decide if you think you can fix it yourself. If the dent is small and the paint is intact, you’re in luck! If the damage is more significant, you might want to take your car to a professional.
For this project, you’ll need a few supplies. First, you’ll need a plunger. A regular toilet plunger will work fine, but you can also use a cup plunger if you have one. You’ll also need a bucket of hot water and a spray bottle filled with cold water.
Start by wetting the area around the dent with the hot water from the bucket. Then, place the plunger over the top of the dent and push and pull the plunger up and down. Be sure to apply even pressure so that the plunger doesn’t slip off.
After a few minutes of plunging, you should start to see the dent popping out. If it’s not coming out as much as you’d like, you can repeat the process. Just make sure to let the area cool down for a few minutes before wetting it again and applying the plunger.
Once the dent is popped out, you’ll want to apply the cold water from the spray bottle to help fix any remaining damage. The cold water will help to firm up the area around the dent and prevent any further damage.
Now that you know how to do it, you can fix any future bumper dents that might occur. Just remember to take your time and be patient, and you’ll be able to fix the problem in no time.
If you think your damage goes beyond the bumper, give Scott’s Auto a call. We would be happy to assess the situation and give you an estimate for repairs. We specialize in all aspects of auto body repair, so we can help you get your car back to looking like new again. Give us a call today!
