OEM Urethane Rear Bumper Question
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 683
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From: Ogden, Utah
OEM Urethane Rear Bumper Question
Is it possible to take waves or a sag out of the OEM urethane rear bumper using a heat source and then allowing it to cool in a restrained condition promoting a flatter condition?
Last edited by JohnnieUtah; Mar 8, 2017 at 05:49 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I had a rubber like (AMC called it "Krayton") bumper corner on my 81 AMC eagle that had been bent out of shape for years. I used a heat gun to try to straighten it out. After a minor improvement I ended up cutting out and shaping a mirror image of the warped area out of wood. I pressed the bumper corner against the mirror image wood piece, heated it with the heat gun and let it cool more times than I cared to count. It improved a great deal but still wasn't perfect.
I think a lot will depend on the size of the warp you're trying to address. The area I was working on was perhaps 6 or 7 inches long. If its really big I don't think you're going to be able to manipulate it as needed. Also, if you use too much heat you could ruin the piece. I painted my bumper corner after the work, so if you're not planning on doing that I'd be pretty hesitant to try it.
I think a lot will depend on the size of the warp you're trying to address. The area I was working on was perhaps 6 or 7 inches long. If its really big I don't think you're going to be able to manipulate it as needed. Also, if you use too much heat you could ruin the piece. I painted my bumper corner after the work, so if you're not planning on doing that I'd be pretty hesitant to try it.
Last edited by Priya; Mar 8, 2017 at 07:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 683
Likes: 62
From: Ogden, Utah
I had a rubber like (AMC called it "Krayton") bumper corner on my 81 AMC eagle that had been bent out of shape for years. I used a heat gun to try to straighten it out. After a minor improvement I ended up cutting out and shaping a mirror image of the warped area out of wood. I pressed the bumper corner against the mirror image wood piece, heated it with the heat gun and let it cool more times than I cared to count. It improved a great deal but still wasn't perfect.
I think a lot will depend on the size of the warp you're trying to address. The area I was working on was perhaps 6 or 7 inches long. If its really big I don't think you're going to be able to manipulate it as needed. Also, if you use too much heat you could ruin the piece. I painted my bumper corner after the work, so if you're not planning on doing that I'd be pretty hesitant to try it.
I think a lot will depend on the size of the warp you're trying to address. The area I was working on was perhaps 6 or 7 inches long. If its really big I don't think you're going to be able to manipulate it as needed. Also, if you use too much heat you could ruin the piece. I painted my bumper corner after the work, so if you're not planning on doing that I'd be pretty hesitant to try it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 631
From: perth western australia
with out a pic or even a description of what's actually happening its hard to say something useful .
Is all the crash bar and bumperette(not 74) pieces still bolted on the car ?, the cover follows there shape very closely .
I have seen a 77 with what was described as "eyebrows" they were a wave above each light hole . the cure for that was to loosen the fittings and retighten without forcing anything together . I think the bumper was put back on starting at one end and tightening each bolt as they went which was wrong way in that case. They redid it by putting all bolts on and tightening in sequence like putting a cylinder head on a motor.
Anyway hope that helps , new paint is always exciting !!
Is all the crash bar and bumperette(not 74) pieces still bolted on the car ?, the cover follows there shape very closely .
I have seen a 77 with what was described as "eyebrows" they were a wave above each light hole . the cure for that was to loosen the fittings and retighten without forcing anything together . I think the bumper was put back on starting at one end and tightening each bolt as they went which was wrong way in that case. They redid it by putting all bolts on and tightening in sequence like putting a cylinder head on a motor.
Anyway hope that helps , new paint is always exciting !!
