Can I replace my own bumper?

A rusty or dented bumper can drag down the whole appearance of a car that is otherwise in good shape. Having a front bumper replacement or rear bumper replacement done by a pro is an option, but if you are in need to get the job done yourself, you can! It only takes a few hours. Read on to find out how you can replace your bumper, and if you need extra help, reach out to FitParts for all of your bumper needs.

The DIY Front Bumper Replacement Process

Get the right tools

Replacing bumpers is an easy task that does not require special tools. On a typical car, you’ll need a flat blade, Phillips screwdrivers, a set of metric sockets, and conventional wrenches. You should raise the front bumper of the car to access the fasteners underneath the bumper. A sturdy set of lift ramps is the safest way to accomplish this. Once the car is up on the ramps, remove the plastic push-button fasteners at the top of the grille and bumper. Then, remove the bolts inside the fender walls and all of the fasteners underneath the bumper. Once you remove all of the fasteners, the bumper will pop off of the car with an easy tug.

If you order from FitParts, we will always do an excellent job of packing your bumper, whether it’s for a rear bumper replacement or front. It’s important to note that depending on your shipping method, your bumper may arrive in a significantly smaller box than a full-sized bumper. By cautiously folding your bumper in a more minimal size we reduce the use of shipping materials, making it eligible for ground shipping and thus saving you almost 70% in shipping costs.

Remove the Grille

The next step to replacing your bumper is to remove the grille and all of the fasteners from the old bumper. The original fasteners must be fit to the new bumper unless you buy some new hardware. The front bumper replacement process will go more smoothly if you swap the fasteners directly from the old bumper to the new bumper. This tactic reduces the chances of misplacing any fasteners.

Mount the Bumper Cover

Once the grille and fasteners have been swapped over and before fitting the bumper skin- you will need to mount the original bumper foam onto the car. Having a buddy on hand to assist in positioning the bumper is a huge help. One person should hold the bumper in place as the other one installs the fasteners, starting at the top and working down for the greatest ease.

Again, this is for a typical small car- so the entire process of replacing the bumper will only take about an hour- but nevertheless, the results are satisfying.

Need a DIY Bumper Dent Repair Method?

While these options may be a temporary fix, any time you have bumper damage, you should really replace the bumper. Driving with a damaged bumper means that your car, and its passengers will not be fully protected in case of an accident.

Here are some quick fixes:

Use a Plunger

This tool can be extremely useful not only for unclogging toilets but also for removing small dents! All you have to do is get the plunger and the dent wet, and then apply pressure repeatedly until the dent pops out. If the dent is not too deep, this should not take more than a few tries.

Use boiling water

If the bumper dent repair is on the plastic bumper (or another area of the car made of plastic), applying boiling water to the area should take the dent right out. Boil a pot of water and pour it on the area with the dent, and then reach out behind the bumper and push until the dent pops out. You can then pour cold water over the spot to cool and set the plastic.

Use a hairdryer

Another common household item that has a purpose other than its obvious use is using a hairdryer. This is another tip that may work if you have a dent in your plastic bumper dent repair. Simply blow-dry the impacted area with a hairdryer for three minutes straight, making sure to use sweeping motions to cover the entire surface. We recommend wearing gloves when pushing the dent out from the inside so as to not burn your hands. It is also important to be mindful of the paint blistering on your vehicle.

Use a hairdryer and dry ice (and tinfoil)

If the dented area is on a metal surface, we have a slightly more complicated tip that is effective. First, we recommend acquiring a piece of tinfoil that is larger than the dented area. You will apply this to the dent as soon as you are done heating it. Heat the affected area the same way you would have in the previous tip, holding it about 6 inches or so from the dent for three minutes. When finished, cover the surface with the tinfoil and start applying a handful of dry ice to the surface covered by the foil. Make sure you are wearing gloves for this step. After a few minutes, the dent should pop out on its own. It is possible you may have to repeat the process.

Create a suction

If the dent is in an area that can’t be reached from the inside or is not on the plastic bumper, you can fashion a cool suction contraption out of a pot or bucket and vacuum cleaner. There are even more household items that have lots of fun alternative uses. Make sure that there is a hole in the bottom of your bucket/pot, and then use tape to attach said bucket or pot to the dented area on your vehicle. Position the vacuum cleaner over the hole, and it should suck the dent out of your car in no time.

When trying these tricks for your bumper dent repair,  the most important tip we can recommend is safety. It is so important to keep the safety of your vehicle and yourself in mind when attempting to rid your life of these blemishes.

Even though you do a front bumper replacement yourself, acknowledge the severity of whatever imperfection you are trying to fix on your front bumper replacement. If you know it is not a small fix and you’ve tried all of these methods, it is probably time to take your car to the shop. Sometimes the damage is so severe that it would make more sense to fully replace the bumper instead of spending time trying to repair the damaged bumper. If you’re looking for a front bumper replacement or rear bumper replacement, head over to our website to find exactly what you are looking for. Replacing a bumper doesn’t need to be extremely expensive. We offer a lot of quality options for great prices, which helps you get back on the road. To find out more about our products, send us a message through our website.