How to get dent out of jeep wrangler bumper

Joined Aug 16, 2012

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4 Posts

Discussion Starter · #1 · Jan 13, 2014

Hi all, was backing out and put a dent on the rear passenger side corner, had no idea they dent so easily.
Was any of you able to fix without taking them to the shop?

How to get dent out of jeep wrangler bumper
How to get dent out of jeep wrangler bumper

How to get dent out of jeep wrangler bumper

Joined Sep 27, 2010

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73 Posts

I would pull the bumper off and try and punch it out.

How to get dent out of jeep wrangler bumper

Joined Sep 9, 2011

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428 Posts

You can take the bumper of easily. It's mostly plastic and weighs next to nothing. You can punch a hole through the back and push the dents out with an awl or screw driver, then just use some rubber stoppers to plug up the hole. The whole process will take no more than 10-15 minutes.

Or...

The amount of cash you'll spend on a shop will easily buy you an OEM take off from craigslist.

How to get dent out of jeep wrangler bumper

Joined May 25, 2009

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23,323 Posts

Actually it's entirely plastic. Nothing more than hollow plastic. Once you see how flimsy it is, you will want to replace it.

How to get dent out of jeep wrangler bumper

Joined Apr 6, 2013

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1,249 Posts

Use a heat gun. Do not leave the heat gen in one spot keep moving it around starting at the edges and work your way in.

As you heat it push it out from the back. Once you get it out cool the bumper with a wet rag.

You just want to heat it enough to get it pliable.

The only metal in those stock JK bumpers is the mount that attaches the bumper to the frame

Joined Aug 16, 2012

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4 Posts

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 14, 2014

Thank you all for the swift replays, I'll will try your suggestions.

How to get dent out of jeep wrangler bumper

Joined Apr 23, 2013

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18 Posts

Buy/sell or craigslist is the best bet.

How to get dent out of jeep wrangler bumper

Joined Aug 17, 2013

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922 Posts

I just sold mine on kijiji for 80 bucks, and that took a while. If I were you, I'd just buy another one. The swap takes no time at all.

Joined Aug 16, 2012

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4 Posts

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 23, 2014

Done, roughly 1.5 hrs start to finish, also considering it was -15 Celsius so it took a while to heat up. I would say its 99% back to original state.

How to get dent out of jeep wrangler bumper

Joined Nov 17, 2013

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496 Posts

Rather nice how easy the stock plastic is to fix. Sure steel are heavy duty, but when something dings steel it takes a lot to fix. You're more likely to exact revenge whilst the perpetrator striketh your steel bumpers too

In 2007, Jeep won an award from Plastics Technology Magazine for its groundbreaking use of blow-molding on Jeep Wrangler bumpers. This process is similar to the process used to make a soda bottle. Though innovative, blow-molded bumpers are thought by some to be impossible to repair, due to the fact that dents cannot be reached from the back. However, we have a repair technique that can remove the dents, eliminating the need to spend a small fortune on brand new Jeep Wrangler bumpers.

Always wear proper safety gear while working!

Let us know your thoughts on this video by leaving a comment on YouTube!
Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek2byczmbso

Products Used:

Note: This is a list of the Polyvance products that can be used to make this repair. This list does not include sanders, grinders, or other common tools you will need. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call technical support at 800-633-3047.

  • Plastic Magic Adhesion Promoter (several options available)
  • Waterborne Primer Surfacer (several options available)
  • Aluminum Body Tape (several options available)
  • 6125 Tapered Burr
  • Nitrogen Plastic Welder (several options available)
  • Polypropylene welding rods
    Note: We used polypropylene here because of the identification symbol. Choose the rod that matches the plastic you need for your repair.

Video Notes:

  • English Closed Captions have been provided for this video. Click on the CC button to turn them on or off.
  • The length of this video is in no way representative of the actual time required to perform a complete repair and therefore should not be used for estimating purposes.

English Transcript:

In 2007, Jeep won an award from Plastics Technology Magazine for its groundbreaking use of blow-molding on Jeep Wrangler Bumpers. Though innovative, blow-molded bumpers are thought by some to be impossible to repair, due to the fact that dents cannot be reached from the back. Thanks to Polyvance’s master technician, John Wilburn, we’ve discovered a simple repair technique that can alleviate the need to spend a small fortune on brand new Jeep Wrangler bumpers.

STEP ONE: Using a paint marker, draw a square on the backside of the bumper, relative to the dent on the front. Notch out and remove the square. From here, we can clearly see and access the dent for the repair.

STEP TWO: Using a heat gun, like Polyvance’s 6500 VT, heat the dent, as well as the area four to six inches around it. This heat will release the pressure in the dent, allowing us to manipulate it later. You only want to heat the plastic, so be sure to keep the heat gun in a constant, circular motion to prevent anything from melting. You’ll want the plastic to be just hot enough for you to be able to touch for about two to three seconds.

STEP THREE: Once the plastic has been heated, access the dent through the hole in the back of the bumper. Using a wooden stick, or other blunt object, carefully push the dent forward until it releases. You may still have high or low spots. If that is the case, repeat the process of heating and manipulating the plastic until you are completely satisfied with the general shape of the repair area. It does not have to be perfect yet. You may need to push up and down simultaneously, as you can see us doing here, if you have high and low spots side by side.

STEP FOUR: Once the bumper cools, sand the damaged area with 80-grit sandpaper. Once this is done, you’ll be able to definitively see the remaining high and low spots. Repeat the process of heating and pushing until the finer points of the dent have been removed.

STEP FIVE: Sand your repair area again with 80-grit sandpaper, more thoroughly than before. You may continue to discover spots, as we did, that need additional attention. If that is the case, repeat the process of heating and pushing before you move on.

STEP SIX: Now, using 180-grit sandpaper, remove the fuzz left over from the 80-grit. Then, using 180-grit paper again, roughly sand six to eight inches around the repair area by hand so that any paint overspray will stick to the bumper.

STEP SEVEN: Apply Polyvance’s 1050-A Plastic Magic Adhesion Promoter, following the instructions on the label.

STEP EIGHT: Apply primer, allow to dry, and block sand using 320-grit sandpaper. Repeat this process until you reach the desired appearance; as many as three or four times.

STEP NINE: Finally, it’s time to plug the hole that was cut out in step one. If necessary, shave the sides of the plug so that it can easily fit back into the hole. Apply Polyvance’s aluminum tape to the inside of the bumper, and then place the plug on top.

STEP TEN: Grind off the paint and etch the surface of the plastic to prepare for welding. Using an airless plastic welder, tack-weld at random points along the perimeter of the plug.

STEP ELEVEN: Using a 6125 Tapered Burr, v-Groove along the perimeter of the plug. Then, using one of Polyvance’s nitrogen plastic welders, weld a pass of plastic, most likely polypropylene, as shown here, into the v-Groove. Finally, flatten the welded area using a combination of the nitrogen and airless plastic welders. Since this part of the repair will be unseen, it does not have to look flawless.

As you can see, this repair technique provides a quality repair that can eliminate the need to buy expensive replacement Jeep bumpers.

Look to Polyvance for all of your plastic repair products and training needs. We offer I-CAR Industry Training Alliance Courses as well as other hands-on classes in addition to the video resources you can find on our website and on our YouTube channel.

Can you pull a dent out of a bumper?

If they are small in size and confined to one area, these dents can usually be repaired. It's important that the dent did not result in damage to other portions of the bumper. Auto shops that offer dent repair in Salt Lake City can pull out the dent and repair any paint damage.

Can you fix a dent in a bumper without replacing it?

You can have a bumper fixed if it only experienced cosmetic issues. Professionals can reshape minor dents that remain on the surface so that the entire car part doesn't need repairs. Similarly, they can refinish and patch up tiny holes, cracks, and tears.