29 April 2018
 Categories: , Blog

Many drivers are mystified by the amount of damage their bumper receives in even a low-speed collision. Partial detachment and massive dents are common, even in minor parking lot fender benders. The truth is that your bumper is doing exactly what it was designed to do — it forms the first layer of protection in vehicle collisions and is designed to absorb force and divert it away from any critical components in your vehicle. Cars have a lot of momentum even in low-speed collisions, and your bumper takes the entire brunt of that force.

Now that you know why bumpers are so easily damaged in a collision, you know why it's important to repair and replace your bumper at an auto body repair shop as soon as possible. Driving around with a dented or partially detached bumper is dangerous. There's no buffer zone to absorb force in a collision — with a damaged or missing bumper, all of the force will ripple through your car. Even low-speed collisions can cause engine damage or knock your axles out of alignment, necessitating expensive repairs. Repairing your bumper keeps both you and your car safe.

Inspect The Level of Damage Done to Your Bumper

The first step is to examine your bumper and determine the extent of the damage. If the bumper is still structurally sound, it can be repaired instead of replaced. Since a car's bumper is very pliable, any dents in the bumper can easily be knocked out and smoothed over to restore its appearance. Bumpers also contain a strong foam material inside that spreads force evenly over the bumper when your car gets into the collision. This foam is always damaged after a collision, but it can be replaced.

However, serious damage requires a full replacement of your bumper. If the bumper is bent, it will never fit correctly on your car. When your bumper doesn't fit correctly, it won't be able to perform its job of absorbing force in a collision.

Remove the Bumper From Your Vehicle and Repair or Replace It

Whether your bumper requires repair or full replacement, it will be removed from your vehicle. This is an involved process — bumpers in modern cars are full of electronics, such as wires that control your turn signals and headlights and airbag sensors that tell your car when it's in a serious collision and needs to deploy its airbags. All of these wires and sensors must be carefully disconnected before repairs can begin.

If your bumper only requires minor repairs such as foam replacement and dent removal, this will be carried out, and then your bumper will be reattached, with the auto body technician taking care to rewire all the electronic connections correctly. If your bumper needs to be fully replaced, the auto body shop will order a bumper that matches your vehicle and install it.

Repaint Your Bumper to Color Match It With Your Hood and Side Panels

If the paint on your bumper was scratched in the collision or your bumper needed to be fully replaced, the auto body technician will repaint the bumper so that it matches your vehicle. The paint will be lightly blended into the paint on your hood and side panels, ensuring that your repaired or replaced bumper matches the color of your car exactly.

Since your bumpers are such an important part of keeping you safe and your car undamaged, it's unwise to drive around with a broken or missing bumper. If you've been delaying repairing or replacing your bumper, contact a collision repair service and schedule an appointment to have your bumper damage examined.