Any ideas on how I can get this dent out (photo, before/after)

[aolm]

Does anyone have removal instructions for a rear bumper? My body shop says he can heat it up and pop it out.
((I should have warned about the graphic nature on this photo. I know this is hard to look at.))


[attachmentid=5930]

[jdenenberg]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aolm @ Dec 16 2006, 09:47 PM) [snapback]363277[/snapback]</div>

Does anyone have removal instructions for a rear bumper? My body shop says he can heat it up and pop it out.
((I should have warned about the graphic nature on this photo. I know this is hard to look at.))
[/b]

Your body shop man is correct. Heating the bumper (Using a hot air gun from the back to avoid blistering the paint) will allow you to push out the dent. You will still have scuff marks on the paint.

JeffD

[aolm]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jdenenberg @ Dec 16 2006, 10:04 PM) [snapback]363281[/snapback]</div>

Your body shop man is correct. Heating the bumper (Using a hot air gun from the back to avoid blistering the paint) will allow you to push out the dent. You will still have scuff marks on the paint.

JeffD
[/b]

Do you have bumper removal info...I might try to do this myself...

[Tideland Prius]

Well, the bumper is plastic... sorta like putting a dented ping pong ball in hot water or pushing out a dent in a plastic water bottle. Of course, it's not going to be as easy as the examples above.

[Godiva]

I've got something like this smaller and lower down. I was thinking of just filling it in with some kind of putty. Do they make something like that that will stick to the plastic bumper? I'm pretty good with drywall and think I could do it and then paint it so it's at least not so noticeable.

How much did your bumper guy estimate it would cost to remove the bumper, heat it up, pop it out and put the bumper back on?

[Charles Suitt]

OUCH!! I know that hurts.

As for the Backup Camera, the view through its FISHEYE lens is somewhat distorted preventing much in the way of judging distances. It can show the presence of objects but you'd still need to use your rearview mirrors and "swivel neck" to check surroundings. From the position of your dent, the camera may not have helped a great deal. In backing out of my garage, the rearview camera shows my garage cans [big ones on wheels that Dallas uses] but by the time the rear bumper corner could collide with one, it would have just vanished from the rearview camera display but still show in the exterior rearview mirrors.

[aolm]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Dec 19 2006, 12:53 PM) [snapback]364203[/snapback]</div>

I've got something like this smaller and lower down. I was thinking of just filling it in with some kind of putty. Do they make something like that that will stick to the plastic bumper? I'm pretty good with drywall and think I could do it and then paint it so it's at least not so noticeable.

How much did your bumper guy estimate it would cost to remove the bumper, heat it up, pop it out and put the bumper back on?
[/b]

100 bucks...no appointment..."just drop it off in the morning."

[tumbleweed]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aolm @ Dec 19 2006, 01:08 PM) [snapback]364294[/snapback]</div>

100 bucks...no appointment..."just drop it off in the morning."
[/b]

That sounds like a real bargain.

Godiva I think that stuff is for very small dents and areas that need to be smoothed out a little after they are pounded out. If it's in the plastic part why not try heat being careful not to blister the paint?

[Godiva]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tumbleweed @ Dec 19 2006, 04:31 PM) [snapback]364303[/snapback]</div>

Godiva I think that stuff is for very small dents and areas that need to be smoothed out a little after they are pounded out. If it's in the plastic part why not try heat being careful not to blister the paint?
[/b]

I can't get behind it to bang it out. I don't think applying heat to the outside will do anything. I'm not sure I could remove the bumper myself and even if I could, I'm pretty sure I'd never get it back on. If I could get someone to remove it, heat, pop and reinstall, I could take care of any remaining small dings and paint myself. I don't need show quality. Just less noticeable.

And I don't want to replace all of my bumperstickers and HOV stickers.

[aolm]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Dec 19 2006, 05:23 PM) [snapback]364318[/snapback]</div>

I can't get behind it to bang it out. I don't think applying heat to the outside will do anything. I'm not sure I could remove the bumper myself and even if I could, I'm pretty sure I'd never get it back on. If I could get someone to remove it, heat, pop and reinstall, I could take care of any remaining small dings and paint myself. I don't need show quality. Just less noticeable.

And I don't want to replace all of my bumperstickers and HOV stickers.
[/b]

see attached after photo...satisfactory result.