Bumper Repair Versus Replacing
Posted by on Jul 26, 2019 in Blog
In the world of driving, bumper repair from fender-benders are a common. Bumper damage can come in all shapes and sizes. From minor dents to scrapes to more noticeable cracks. Most people believe there is no need to worry about repairs unless their bumper is hanging from their vehicle. Vehicles should be inspected even though a lot of bumper damage may seem cosmetic. This ensures that this vital structure is structurally sound enough to do its job.
What is a Bumper?
A bumper is a structure attached to or integrated with the front and rear end of the vehicle. Bumpers are designed to absorb impact from minor collisions. Bumpers help to minimize damage and repair costs. Pedestrians are more protected from injury if struck by a vehicle.
Bumpers work by dissipating the kinetic energy created by impact. Kinetic energy is the energy of an object due to its motion. When a car collides with another object the energy of the impact is transferred to the vehicle. Bumpers takes energy and spreads it along the front of the vehicle to prevent damage to the body and interior.
The bumper is also important in more severe accidents that may cause the airbags to deploy. A bumper is the first part of the car to make contact during a front end impact. While it is displacing kinetic energy, it is also giving an airbag system sufficient time to deploy.
In most countries, like Canada, bumpers are required by law. They must be structurally sound in order to pass a motor vehicle inspection.
Dealing with Bumper Damage
Any damage to a bumper can compromise its structural integrity. A bumper is not capable of providing you the protection it is designed to provide even from a simple crack.
A bumper can help to protect vehicle passengers. Apart from allowing time for the airbags to deploy, it is crucial in preventing physical damage to the front and rear of the vehicle in low-speed crashes. Ignoring what seems like a small issue on your bumper may create larger problems if another impact occurs.
No matter the damage to your bumper, it should be remedied. A bumper can be repaired or replaced depending on the severity of the damage.
Bumper Repair Techniques
Bumpers can be fixed by simply applying repair techniques to minor damages such as small scratches or dents.
An auto body technician can fill, sand and paint any reparable small scratches. In the case of dents, depending on the size, it may be possible to push the dent out.
Repairs are appropriate for any minor cosmetic damage. This does not affect the bumper’s protective structure and are relatively inexpensive. However, the cost of repair may increase if the repair is difficult and time consuming. In that case, it may be recommended that you replace the bumper instead.
Replacing the Bumper
If the bumper requires multiple repairs, it may be more financially beneficial to replace the entire bumper. Any deep scratches, cracks or larger dents that cannot be pushed out will require a bumper replacement.
If any damage has occurred to the clips or tabs that hold the bumper onto the impact bar of the vehicle can be a factor in repair versus replacement. It is recommended to have the bumper replaced if these pieces are damaged or broken. Simply gluing these pieces back into place is not sufficient against wet and cold weather and puts you at risk of having your bumper falling off while you are driving.
An auto body technician will need to remove the existing bumper in order to install a new one. If needed it can be been painted to match the vehicle color. The price of replacing a new bumper will vary depending on the model of the vehicle.
Bumper Removal
Full removal of the bumper may be needed to repair the damage. Bumper removal should be done by a licensed and trained auto body technician. Since many of today’s modern vehicle components are integrated into the bumper.
For example, many newer vehicles feature decorative trim on the bumpers that needs to be removed before taking the bumper off. Other modern features, such as warning systems (back-up sensors, cameras, warning sensors), airbag sensors and air intakes (some vehicles have cold-air intakes mounted on the front bumper), may be joined to the bumper and could be damaged when the bumper is removed.
a licensed or expert auto body technician should perform the removal to avoid any additional damages to any of your vehicle’s systems that are integrated into the bumper.
Need Bumper Repair? We Can Help
Our friendly staff will be more than happy to provide you with a detailed estimate conducted by a trained estimator. From there we can help you secure insurance approval if necessary before beginning the repair or replacement of your bumper.
Don’t wait until minor damage to bumpers becomes a major problem. Contact us today!
