Dent in bumper

This dent was already there when I got the Liberty, I finally got around to taking it to maaco for an estimate. The guy said I need a whole new front bumper. Think that's true or is he just full of shit?

To make it look perfect .. probably. But I bet if you got the plastic nice and warm and pushed from the back side you could correct the shape. Then .. the finish would be another story, you will probably be left with light colored creases where the deformations were. Then LINE-X it!

Cheers,

Take the bumper off, and try to "pop" it out...might leave a lighter spot, but then maybe bedline it, or just use some Back to Black to blend it in....

What they said....

Side note, if it really bothers you, you might be able to find a used bumper cover from someone here or on LOST. Some folks upgrade to ARB bumpers.

For the cost of a new bumper cover, mine was $560 after the deer accident, i would pop that sucker out. If you got a heat gun apply some gentle heat and get the plastic soft like the other guys mentioned and then pop it out. Yeah your going to have some lighter gray creases around the spot but its not going to be horrible... You could line-x or paint the bumper, or just live with the light marks that are left, would still look better than the dent!

kb0nly said:

For the cost of a new bumper cover, mine was $560 after the deer accident, i would pop that sucker out. If you got a heat gun apply some gentle heat and get the plastic soft like the other guys mentioned and then pop it out. Yeah your going to have some lighter gray creases around the spot but its not going to be horrible... You could line-x or paint the bumper, or just live with the light marks that are left, would still look better than the dent!

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$560? This guy only wants $250 for the bumper and labor. Its not an oem bumper cover but i don't care. Guess its a good idea after all

Try and fix it...couldn't get any worse...

Is it made to OEM specs? I'd worry about it fading, and cracking quick...

Rob said:

$560? This guy only wants $250 for the bumper and labor. Its not an oem bumper cover but i don't care. Guess its a good idea after all

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The aftermarket ones are crap.... I looked at them after the accident they are thinner plastic, and surely not going to last or stand up as long. I would say if the aftermarket one took a hard enough bump to dent the OEM one you would have a chunk missing instead.

There is also a black plastic piece behind the bumper cover, its two pieces that had to be replaced, the total for the two parts was $560. I would imagine the OEM bumper cover is less if you don't replace that other piece behind it.

As long as insurance was paying for it i wanted all OEM parts back on it.

Hoosierjeeper said:

Try and fix it...couldn't get any worse...

Is it made to OEM specs? I'd worry about it fading, and cracking quick...

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ive had very good luck with aftermarket bumper covers, but then again we always paint them, but in this situation i would totally use a heat gun to pop it out.

moral of story.....dont let fat chicks sit on your bumper

Ok, I'll see what I can do myself first. But yeah they said it is made to oem specs. And no more fat chicks will ever be allowed to sit on the jeep again

Rob said:

Ok, I'll see what I can do myself first. But yeah they said it is made to oem specs. And no more fat chicks will ever be allowed to sit on the jeep again

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It's not terrible, and its actually easier than an 05', well in my opinion as there is less fasteners to deal with looking at the instructions.

Somewhere on here there was a how-to or a link to one for removing the 02-04 bumper cover. If nobody can find it i will dig through the 03' FSM tonight when i can and find the info there.

Found It!

http://jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25620&highlight=remove+bumper

kb0nly said:

Found It!

http://jeepkj.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25620&highlight=remove+bumper

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perfect, thanks

I would pop off the bumper skin then heat the dented area with a heat gun until the plastic is softened up and then push the dent out with my hand in an oven mit.
If there is some discolouration, I would then reheat the plastic until the colour returns.
Might not be perfect, but at least it is a repair you can do inexpensively by yourself.

Here's mine. Weekend project. Only damn thing I've hit in like 10 years, and this is the 2nd vehicle I hit it with.

Dah.

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-Blu

Hairdryer + stick. All of 10 minutes.

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Ryan09 said:

I would pop off the bumper skin then heat the dented area with a heat gun until the plastic is softened up and then push the dent out with my hand in an oven mit.
If there is some discolouration, I would then reheat the plastic until the colour returns.
Might not be perfect, but at least it is a repair you can do inexpensively by yourself.

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Might as well paint the ugly gray bumper with a liner.

do they sell this substance in a spray can? bedliner or something similar?