Technical Plastic bumper repairs

Currently reading:
Technical Plastic bumper repairs

DaveMcT

Distinguished member
Joined
Sep 14, 2009
Messages
19,492
Points
3,294
I'm using a standard Panda bumper until a decent 100HP bumper turns up.

The bumper I have needs paint so while I'm at it, plan to fill and smooth over the rubbing strake grooves on each side.

Has anyone used the new carbon fibre filled fillers. Does it cope with the natural movement of the plastic? I dont want it cracking away in a few week's time.
 
Do you mean removing the rubber insert either side, on the standard bumper?
If so, that's an awful lot of filler you'll be using if you're after smooth contours.

I've used a heat gun and plastic strips to weld splits before now, and a German flexifiller for grazes and nicks, but never filled large indented surfaces before.
Be very interested to see how you eventually do it.
 
Last edited:
The bumper is grooved each side with a large hole at each end to take the black "rubber" but the in-between strip is not hugely indented. Apart from the holes it wont need tons of filler.

Something like the old Isopon P40 but with the necessary flexibility for plastic. P40 is too hard.
 
Last edited:
Just get some filler specifically for bumpers. Its reasonably cheap.
I have used some in the past and it was ok on some body coloured mudflaps I resprayed.
 
Just get some filler specifically for bumpers. Its reasonably cheap.
I have used some in the past and it was ok on some body coloured mudflaps I resprayed.

I have some, but would like some fibre reinforced stuff just to be sure it doesn't crack and fall out. I'll see what my local car finishing factors have to offer.
 
I have some, but would like some fibre reinforced stuff just to be sure it doesn't crack and fall out. I'll see what my local car finishing factors have to offer.

drill the bumper so the filler goes through the holes and it wont fall out easily!
 
Hi,
My son’s both have Panda’s, which was my reason for joining, I have gained some valuable hints and tips! The eldest has a ? hp and slightly bumped the car in fronts tow bar, forcing the ends of the strengthener behind outwards, as the middle pushed inwards. This holed either side of the bumper as the ends pushed through it. I managed to repair it by multi-tooling grooves on either side of the splits, on the inside of the bumper and laying in thick copper wire strands, held in with Isopon Glass fibre. This was overlaid with a further layer and the facing side filled with standard Isopon filler. After sanding and filling and priming, I painted it with some matched rattle cans and clear coat. I am very happy with the overall finish, you really cannot tell...honest and there has been no signs of cracking, two months on, which was my original concern.
 
My flexible filler is looking off colour. The car paint/finishing factors said all fibre reinforced fillers are hard and not suitable for bumpers. I've bought some flexible body filler, but the job will have to wait until the weather improves. It may be a while.
 
Back
Top