Whenever it comes to protecting your car and its most sensitive components, a bumper lip proves to be an important accessory.
There are plenty of reasons for that.
Bumper lips are purpose-built for protecting your car’s bumper by absorbing shock and impact. At the same time, these handy little fixtures also work towards improving your vehicle’s performance by reducing air drag. But that’s not all that bumper lips do, since they also work towards giving your vehicle a more modern and so-called “racing car” look.
It is due to these reasons that bumper lips remain such a sought after addition to regular and high end cars alike. But there are times when a bumper lip gets damaged itself, and compromises the protection of your car.
If you have never dealt with bumper lip damage before, then the situation can become quite daunting. Thankfully, fixing a damaged bumper lip is actually not that difficult. As long as you keep a few basic points in mind, you are able to resolve bumper lip issues in a quick and painless way.
Why Does a Bumper Lip Get Damaged?
Before learning how to fix a bumper lip, it is essential to know why and how the bumper lip gets damaged in the first place. Understanding this information gives you an insight into this component and its safety.
A bumper lip can get damaged due to a number of reasons, which include but are not limited to: impact with the road, contact with a stray object, or hits against the curbside.
Sometimes, bumper lip breakage stems out of gradual contact or overtime usage. In other instances, sudden yet strong hits can also result in abrupt harm to this sleek car accessory. In either case, noticeable damage to your bumper lip renders it unusable. Even when the bumper lip remains attached to your car, it does not provide your vehicle with the protection that it’s supposed to bring to the table.
In order to protect your car in an optimal manner, it is essential that you either fix or replace your bumper lip immediately.
How to Tell If Your Bumper Lip is Damaged?
Since a bumper lip is a prominent part of your car, it is easy to spot any damage in its material.
Usually, a bumper lip that is damaged can show signs including but not limited to scratches, dents, cracks, corrosion, and breakage. With over time or sudden damage, your bumper lip can also detach from your car.
These signs of damage on a bumper lip are evident and can be assessed easily. But most of the time, they go unnoticed if you are not actively looking for them.
How to Check for Bumper Lip Damage
If you are checking your bumper lip in broad daylight, then you don’t need anything but your regular vision. However, if you are checking your bumper lip under the shade or in the night, then using a flashlight does the trick.
With that being said, it doesn’t mean that you just stand by the hood of your car and throw a fleeting glance at your bumper lip. You should take your time to examine the bumper lip closely, and check for signs of damage in a careful manner.
Immediately Check for Damage After Impact
It is recommended that whenever your car has a significant impact against the road, the curbside, or an object, you check your bumper lip for any signs of damage.
This allows you to be on top of bumper lip damage issues without the problem getting bigger over time.
Make Regular Inspections a Part of Your Schedule
In other cases, you should do regular inspections on your bumper lip to make sure that they are in ideal shape.
These checks don’t ask much from you. You only need to take out a couple of minutes of your schedule every week to simply take a look at your bumper lip. It’s as simple as that.
How to Fix Bumper Lip Damage?
If you find any damage on your bumper lip, it is essential to address it adequately - according to the extent of the problem.
Scratches
Minor scratches on a bumper lip are a usual occurrence, especially if you are making your way through uneven roads or various pavements. If you find the scratches too unsightly, then you may go ahead with using some fresh paint on the bumper lip. This would take care of the issue for you.
However, it’s important to follow this minor repair job with preventative measures such as careful driving and keeping an eye out for curbsides.
Dents
This is a more pressing problem that can turn into a larger issue overtime. Before you go the do it yourself (DIY) route, make sure that you have sufficient experience and adequate equipment to take dents out of a vehicle’s body. Otherwise, calling a professional is your best bet.
It’s because auto body experts cannot only fix the dents in your bumper lip, but also perform other restoration processes to make your car good as new again.
Cracks
As one of the most worrisome types of auto body damage, cracks can literally tear apart even the most effective bumper lips. It is essential that you have this issue fixed immediately, either through your own experience or via a professional.
Cracks in plastic-based bumper lips can often be resolved through epoxies and bonding materials such as Bondo; whereas, cracks in metal-based bumper lips can be solved through welding.
In either case, you need extensive experience to repair the damage. Otherwise, you need to replace your bumper lip for optimal protection.
Corrosion
If your bumper lip is made out of older material, then it might be susceptible to corrosion.
This can sometimes be fixed through a combination of processes, such as grinding and painting. But corrosion often weakens your metal bumper lip to the point where it becomes highly fragile.
This is why it is important that you have your bumper lip checked by a professional to determine whether it’s strong enough to be usable or not.
Detachment
Sometimes, the bumper lip can receive gradual or sudden hits to the extent where it partially or completely detaches from your car.
In such a scenario, it is important to determine whether the bumper lip detached due to impact or an underlying issue.
By assessing the type of damage, preferably through a professional, you can know if it is better to simply reattach the bumper lip to your car, or if it’s beneficial to get a new one altogether.
How to Prevent Bumper Lip Damage?
In order to make sure that you are steering clear of unnecessary bumper lip damage, it is essential to keep a few tips in mind.
Use Sturdy Material
The best way to prevent damage on your bumper lip is to choose components made out of sturdy material. This ensures that you are getting the most out of your investment, while also keeping your car safe in the long run.
Thanks to the growing emphasis on using stronger bumper lips, you can now find these accessories in the following material.
- Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. This is a sturdy plastic that’s highly resistant to impact. It is easily available through most vendors.
- Fiberglass. This is another type of reinforced or strong plastic material that is strengthened using glass fibers. It is a step up from usual material.
- Carbon fiber. This material is made from carbon atoms and known for its strength. It can stand its own against high intensity usage for a long time.
- Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber. This durable rubber material is able to attach to the bottom of your bumper. It’s excellent in absorbing shock, and it’s mostly safe from breakage.
You can also find bumper lips that are made out of cheaper and less durable plastic. However, they are typically not used by high end mechanics and vendors and only remain limited to cheaper providers. While such solutions may seem more affordable, they are also unreliable and pose plenty of repair costs, which is why it’s better to avoid them whenever you can.
Use Protective Coatings
If your bumper lip is not made out of sturdy materials, then you can add some strength to it yourself through protective coatings. These coatings come in the form of adhesive carbon fiber material. They can attach to your car’s bumper lip and help you keep it safe from abrasion and impact.
Use Paint Protection Film
Using a paint protection film (PPF) against your bumper lip can help you steer clear of minor scratches and scrapes. This is purely done for aesthetics, but it’s worth it if you want your car to look its finest at all times.
Keep Your Eye on the Road
This is a very basic yet effective way to prevent bumper lip damage. By consciously looking to steer away from curbsides and driving carefully, you can avoid larger damage to your bumper lip.
A Bumper Lip is a Great Addition to Your Car, But It Needs Some Additional Care
Bumper lips are a great way to protect your bumper and give your car an impressive style of its own. But they do need some extra care in order to function optimally. Being mindful of these tips ensures that you can make your way through bumper lip damage with ease, and have your car protected through this accessory in an ideal manner.
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