Rear bumpers collision is, unfortunately, a common occurrence. Sadly, in the era of smart phone’s, text messaging, and inexperienced drivers; chances are you’ve been at the receiving end of a rear bumper dent, which is an all too common reality. Damage to your vehicles rear bumper can cost you upwards of $350 to fix, so learning how to do it yourself can save you time and money. Fixing your cars rear bumper is easy and with the correct tools and a little bit of fortitude, I’ll teach you how to change a rear bumper. Whether you’re replacing an SUV rear bumper, truck rear bumpers, or a classic vehicle rear bumper you’ll have the confidence to get the job done. Below is a list of all the tools needed to get started in repairing your rear bumper:
Tools
- New bumper
- Wrench
- Flathead screwdriver
- Friendly Assistant
Starts in the Trunk
The first step in repairing your bumper begins with how to remove a rear bumper and this starts in the trunk. Open up the trunk and use your flat headed screwdriver to pry the plastic covers from the bolts that keep the bumper fastened to the trunk. Be gentle during this step because we don’t want to cause any damage to the covers because we’ll need to put them back on at a later time. After taking the covers off, just grab your wrench and carefully remove the four bolts holding the bumper in place. This step may require a bit of elbow grease because car manufacturers also want to make sure that their bumpers are attached securely so don’t expect them to go without a fight.
Under the Car
The next step requires you to unscrew the bolts fastening your bumper to the tire well in the rear. There should be about two to four screws in each well so make sure you’re aware of the amount as this will come in handy if anything gets misplaced. Next, slide under the car and use your flat headed screwdriver to gently remove the plastic rivets holding the bumper in place from underneath. Once this is done, it should be fairly easy to remove the bumper with a slight but firm tug, so make sure to apply enough pressure to remove the bumper but not break it. Be sure to securely store all the rivets and bolts that you removed in a safe place, we’ll need them later so that we can attach the new bumper.
Helping Hand
When it comes to your choice of which bumpers to use, that depends on your personal preference. There are steel rear bumpers, rear bumper in chrome, and plastic rear bumpers guaranteed to get the job done and give you the desired look that you’re seeking. When you’ve made your choice it’s time to call your assistant and have them hold the new bumper in place while you attach it back to the rear of the car. Be aware that this part is a little tricky and somewhat time-consuming because you have to display a bit of patience and dexterity in aligning the holes just right so that it can be easier to screw everything in. Once the holes are aligned simply reattach the plastic trim and screw everything into place for a nice firm fit.
Finishing Touches
Now it’s time to make your way around the bumper and reattach all the screws that were removed from the tire well. Make sure that the screws are attached tightly to ensure that the bumper is firmly connected. Finally, gather up all the plastic rivets and use them to fasten the bumper under the car to keep it in place so that there is absolutely no movement. A tight and firm fit for the bumper is absolutely essential, so double check that all screws and plastic rivets are tightened to perfection. To make sure the bumper is held securely, make your way around the rear of the car applying a little force to each side just to make sure that the bumper is attached securely and it’s sturdy to the touch. As an extra measure of precaution, you can apply rear bumper applique, which is a nearly invisible high-grade urethane film that helps protect your bumper from harmful UV light and unsightly scrapes and scratches that could ruin your hard work.
With the removal of the damaged bumper and installation of the new one, we’ve managed to save ourselves some well-deserved cash that can be spent toward a rear bumper cover or even a rear bumper guard to save some money in bumper dent repair and any future headaches that may just bump into us.
If you need to order parts for your next project contact us or call our customer service department.
*Use at your own discretion, this content is for educational purposes only.