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Front lip protection?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by Sporin, Jun 7, 2011.

  1. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    As I've noted in other threads, the terrible roads (many of them dirt) and deep snow of my area gave the bottom edge of my lovely blue Prius's front lip a real beating this winter.

    Lots of scraps that extend about an inch up, and 2 good cracks about an inch tall and 3" apart on one corner where I misjudged the snow at the end of my driveway (it wasn't powder) :embarassed:

    So what I wondered is if anyone had developed any sort of front lip protection. I'm not talking about the bumper itself, but the lower edge (and up about 2") ??

    I've considered using body-kit glue to repair my cracks, then do a neat strip of Herculiner or something like it along the entire bottom of the front lip and up about 2". Visually it will "disappear" and will offer some added strength (??) to the lip itself.

    I'll try to get a pic in the daylight tomorrow.

    Thoughts? THANKS!

    And to head off the rabble... a sarcastic "Drive more carefully" isn't what I'm looking for here. :censored: I've owned dozens of cars and am a careful driver, but I've never torn up a front lip like this before, and it's only been 6 months.
     
    #1 Sporin, Jun 7, 2011
    CLUBGUY likes this.
  2. phoenixgreg

    phoenixgreg Senior member

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    I feel your pain and have also inadvertently dinged my "lower lip" too. It was more difficult than I imagined to get behind it and put reverse pressure on the ding to get it flat again, but I managed. I went over it (about the size of a dime) with dealership touch up paint, and because it's dark blue like yours, you can hardly see it. A lighter color might not be so forgiving.

    Good luck on your repairs and include some pics of the Herculiner after it's on.
     
    #2 phoenixgreg, Jun 8, 2011
  3. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    :D

    [​IMG]
     
    #3 usbseawolf2000, Jun 8, 2011
  4. dkelly

    dkelly Member

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    I roughed up mine pretty well last winter in an unlit parking lot. This was less than two weeks after getting the front bumper replaced due to hitting a deer. Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions too. The black plastic really shows through Blizzard Pearl!
     
    #4 dkelly, Jun 8, 2011
  5. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

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    My Ruby Sue hates chapped lips. Why not try some cheap saran wrap plastic and see how it goes. I don't worry about anything cosmetic that I have to see from my hands and knees.
     
    #5 twittel, Jun 8, 2011
  6. snead_c

    snead_c Jam Ma's Car

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    Hey great idea and UV protection as well ! ;)
     
    #6 snead_c, Jun 8, 2011
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    D.O.

    I think every car we've had ended up with chewed up underside of front bumper. If you can't see, or barely see it, no fault.

    Gotta say, I miss proper bumpers. What's described as a bumper these days is really just a (fragile) fairing. Even with these fairings I think manufacturers could make more efforts: using sacrificial wear strips in plain black rubber, easily and cheaply replaceable.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Jun 8, 2011
  8. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    Saran Wrap? :confused:

    Just to be clear, I'm not talking about keeping bugs off the large parts of the front bumper, I'm talking about scraping up and cracking the lowest portion of the front bumper.

    I agree that it's relatively out of sight, but if I can add something that will take the inevitable beating better then I'm all for it.
     
    #8 Sporin, Jun 8, 2011
  9. Troyroy

    Troyroy Member

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    I think what you are asking for could be done. But it's going to require a modification.

    take a large or medium shower grab bar (Stainless steel). take it to a good welding shop.. tell them to come up with a nice, neat way to mount this stainless steel bar so that it is protruded out just in front of your present lowest point. Have it mounted securly to the frame or someother firm area up front of the Prius.

    Now hit the stainless steel bar instead of your flimsy plastic , problem solved. !!
     
    #9 Troyroy, Jun 9, 2011
  10. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

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    Aahhh...now I understand. With that said, here is a link for a spray on plastic (polyuerothane) coating that might work on your lower piece of bumper. Styrocoat® Plastic Coating Product Information | Smooth-On
     
    #10 twittel, Jun 9, 2011
  11. tomlouie

    tomlouie Member

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    Actually, that would make things worse. Instead of merely causing cosmetic damage to the plastic lip, now any impact to the steel bar will transmit the force directly to the structural frame of your car.

    Fixing structural damage costs >> ignoring cosmetic damage to car.
     
    #11 tomlouie, Jun 9, 2011
  12. mainemanx

    mainemanx Member

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    #12 mainemanx, Jun 9, 2011
  13. Sporin

    Sporin Prius Noob

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    tittel,
    Interesting, but Herculiner would be better I think.

    mainemanx,
    Not bad, but it makes the already-low front even lower. Sacrificial though, so it's heading in the right direction.

    troyroy,
    :) yeah, I don't think that would actually work that well.
     
    #13 Sporin, Jun 9, 2011
  14. Ecobill

    Ecobill Junior Member

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    My passenger side is getting scraped and I have no idea how. So careful in parking lots too.
     
    #14 Ecobill, Sep 1, 2014
  15. CLUBGUY

    CLUBGUY Member

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    Rear Bumper Protector for 2010-2014 Toyota Prius - OEM - PriusChat Shop
    Read somewhere on the forum where a rear bumper protector was mounted upside down on the front bumper...
     
    #15 CLUBGUY, Sep 1, 2014
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2014
  16. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Bumper protector? The bumper used to be the protector... :confused:
     
    #16 Mendel Leisk, Sep 1, 2014
    chrisj428 likes this.
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