Bumper Repair

FIGURE 1:

Repairing Gouges

1. Clean repair area with a wax and grease remover such as Ditzler DX-330 or Dupont Prep-Sol.

2. Scuff sand damaged area by hand with 80 grit sandpaper.

3. Mix equal parts of 3M 5900 Flexible Parts Repair Material and apply material to damaged area (Fig. 1). Allow repair material to cure before proceeding.
4. Shape repair material to bumper contour with 80 grit sandpaper. Then sand the repair area with 180 grit sandpaper.

5. Feather edge paint around repair area with 180 grit sandpaper and finish sand with 400 grit paper.

6. Reclean area with wax and grease remover.

7. Prime the repair area with Ditzler DPX-844/DTR-895 Elastomeric Primer or 3M 05905 primer.

NOTE: Fill minor imperfections with 3M 05903 putty or equivalent if necessary and reprime.

8. Refinish repair area as outlined in Bumper Refinishing section.

FIGURE 2:

Repairing Tears-Cracks

NOTE: Tears or cracks that extend through an outer edge of the bumper (Fig. 2) must be reinforced with fiberglass mat to maintain structural strength.
1. Clean both sides of damaged area with a wax and grease remover such as Ditzler DX-330 or Dupont Prep-Sol.

2. Taper (V-shape) the edges on both sides of the crack or tear. Then remove paint for a distance of 2-3 inches from around the repair area with 80 grit sandpaper.

3. Align the damaged edges and apply aluminum auto body tape over the exterior (front side) edges to hold them in position. Do not apply any tape over the edges on the backside of the bumper.

FIGURE 1:

FIGURE 3:

4. Mix equal parts of the 3M 5900 repair material (Fig. 1) and apply a level coat to the damaged area on the backside of the bumper. Then place a fiberglass mat patch over the damaged area (and repair material) and cover the patch with additional repair material (Fig. 3). Allow repair material to cure before repairing front side of bumper.

5. Remove tape from front side of bumper and apply 3M repair material to damaged area. Allow repair material to cure then shape to bumper contour with 80 grit sandpaper and sand with 180 grit paper.

6. Feather edge paint around repair area on front side of bumper with 180 grit sandpaper and finish sand with 400 grit paper.

7. Reclean area with wax and grease remover.

8. Prime repair area with Ditzler DPX-844/DTX-895 Elastomeric primer or 3M 05905 primer.

NOTE: Fill minor surface imperfections with 3M 05903 body putty or equivalent if necessary and reprime repair area.

9. Refinish bumper as outlined in Bumper Refinishing section.

FIGURE 4:

Repairing Holes

1. Taper the front and rear edges of the hole with a round or cone shaped bit mounted in a die grinder (Fig. 4).

FIGURE 5:

2. Remove paint from area around hole with 80 grit sandpaper.

3. Scuff sand backside of repair area and apply strip of aluminum auto body tape over hole. Tape will act as backup support for repair material.

NOTE: Do not press tape tightly over hole. Allow room for repair material to flow through hole and onto backside of repair area (Fig. 5). This promotes strongest bond.

FIGURE 1:

FIGURE 5:

4. Mix equal parts of repair material (Fig. 1) and fill hole with repair material using a putty knife. Be sure repair material flows through hole and onto backside of bumper (Fig. 5).

5. After repair material has cured, shape repair material to bumper contour with 80 grit sandpaper. Then sand with 180 grit paper.

6. Feather edge paint around repair area with 180 grit sandpaper then finish sand repair area with 400 grit paper.

7. Reclean area with wax and grease remover.

8. Prime repair area with Ditzler DPX-844/DTX-895 Elastomeric Primer or 3M 05905 primer.

NOTE: Fill minor imperfections with 3M 05903 body putty or equivalent if necessary and reprime.

9. Refinish repair area as outlined in Bumper Refinishing section.