Mike Frye

Andy that sucks!

Yesterday I was on a local 2 lane when I saw something in the road up ahead. I came to an almost complete stop before I was able to change lanes to avoid 2 HUGE branches that must have fallen off a landscaper's truck. I thought I was going to get rear-ended, but I wasn't going to go over that. If there had been anybody in front of me I never would have seen it in time.

That backerboard is tough stuff too. Hope it works out for you.

dr bob

Andy--

Painting PU bumpers is pretty common task these days, good products available to make it work. Critical point will be getting ALL the old finish off the shell before they start their repair work. Media blasting with something like walnut hulls is what I've heard as best. That pretty much guarantees that the shell will be off the car. Quiz the body shop guys, and plan to visit their work at intermediate stages. Get a schedule from them so they know you will be there and when. Make sure you get new welting, and you probably broke the foglights so be sure to get new ones.

Have them weld up the license plate bracket holes and smooth them before painting. I'll send you a few pics and instructions for making a no-holes easily removable front bracket. Home Depot aluminum strips, some sawing and drilling, bend it in a vise with a hammer. You can sometimes get good lemonade from sacrificial lemons.

Bill51sdr

Let me be the first to say...

This thread is worthless without pictures!

Oh, and, that'll buff out! (once they're posted)

Bob's comments sound familiar Andy?

devilinblack

Are you sure it wasn't some damn dirty hippies throwing stuff at your smokey, over-tinted car trying to get it off the road for a while and you onto some public transportation?

Road debris sucks. I hit a mudflap once that hammered the front bumper and hood and even left the phone number of the truck manufacturer imprinted on the hood.

Follow the previous advice and it will be better than new.

Mongo

Well guys the car is going in tonight for its nose job. Got any tips on what I should tell the body guys about removing and reinstalling the bumper? Not to mention if I should use a flex agent paint or not? I have heard that this dulls gloss in the paint. My bumpers are REALLY GLOSSY.

Bill51sdr

You will soon regret it if they DON'T use a flex agent. If they can't make it look right, go somewhere else.

Mongo

I'll tell them to use it. I wonder if they shot a clear over my bumpers after they first repainted mine to make it as glossy as the rest of the car.

JHowell37

Who tells people this bull****? Tell them you want new beading for the bumper. It's cheap. Yes, you should use a flex additive. If they completely strip it, they'll have to use an adhesion promoter as well. Flex additive doesn't dull the paint.

Mongo

Good news. They will be completely stripping the paint off and repainting it with flex agent. They are also going to fill any rockchips in the process so my bumper will be smooth as glass!

Oh So Happy!!!