If you’ve been in a fender bender, you might be thinking about leaving your dents alone. Dragging your vehicle to an auto repair shop takes time, effort, and money – and those three always seem to be short in supply. Besides, what kind of problems could a tiny ding in the bumper or fender possibly cause, right?
Wrong. Even if you were only in a minor collision, it is critical that you have your bumpers repaired as soon as possible. Generally speaking, it is best not to drive your vehicle with any damage to the bumper because they maintain and reinforce the structural integrity of your vehicle. If ignored completely or even for any amount of time, it could lead to serious repercussions.
Furthermore, a damaged bumper can lower your car’s resale value.. As a result, it makes perfect sense to have it repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Remember, bumpers are installed for your own safety, so it only makes sense to keep them in good working condition at all times.
How Do Bumpers Work And Why Are They Important?
A bumper is a structure attached to the front and rear ends of your vehicle that absorbs impact in a minor collision, ideally reducing repair costs and overall damage. A car’s bumper is actually a system that works in tandem with the vehicle’s structural design to ensure the maximum amount of safety.
There are two kinds of bumpers:
One system includes a rigid bumper bar, as an emphasis to reinforcement. Metal is used to make the bar to help fortify the entire structure. The other system contains what is called a bumper absorber, which usually consists of foam or plastic sandwiched between the bumper cover and the metal bumper. The impact force is directed in all directions by the absorber, thus minimizing or eliminating minor collision damages.
It may be surprising to think, but a good amount of people are mistaken about the true purpose of a car’s bumper. For the lay people, they are thought to be solely for the purpose of preventing damage and injuries. However, its true purpose is to protect the car’s internal components and reduce damage during low-speed collisions. It must, in essence, absorb enough shock to protect the body of your car in collisions equivalent to a 5 mph collision with a parked vehicle of similar weight.
Regardless, maintaining a car’s overall integrity – bumpers included – is a safety measure in and of itself. It is, undoubtedly, an essential and significant facet of good car maintenance.
Bumpers also have a significant impact on insurance costs. Many claims are for relatively minor (under $1,500) damage to the car’s rear or front end. The damage would be more severe if it wasn’t for the bumper!
Why Should You Repair Or Replace Your Bumper?
A damaged bumper can worsen the severity of a future car accident.
One of the primary reasons for repairing or replacing a damaged bumper is that by not doing so, you only worsen the danger of a future car accident. The bumper absorbs some of the impact if you are hit from behind, or if you collide something in front of you. If it is damaged, it will not be able to properly cushion the impact, resulting in additional damage if you are hit. Repairing or replacing the bumper restores its functionality, thus providing you better protection in the event of the worst.
Bumper repair and bumper replacement allows repair shops to look for additional damage.
Another reason is that it allows a repair technician to look under the bumper for additional damage. In the event of a minor accident, it can be difficult to determine how much damage was done to your vehicle. What appears to be a minor ding may actually conceal more serious damage.
Bumpers are more well-engineered than they appear to be. Underneath the bumper is a foam-like material that can be damaged and pushed in if affected by a considerable amount of force. Unfortunately, because it is hidden, no one may be aware that it is damaged. Removing the bumper to repair or replace it allows a technician to get a good look at it and determine if your vehicle requires additional repairs that would have gone undetected otherwise.
A damaged bumper reduces the value of your vehicle.
The final reason you should repair or replace a bumper after a car accident is that the damage can lower the value of your vehicle. The condition of your vehicle has a significant impact on how much money you can get for it. If you intend to sell or trade in your car in the near future, this can be a deciding factor on whether or not you would get the best deal out there.
What Is The Difference Between Bumper Repair And Bumper Replacement?
As previously mentioned, any form of bumper damage can compromise the structural integrity of the bumper, potentially leading to more dangerous accidents in the future. As a result, you should always seek out a bumper repair expert as soon as possible and have them assess the damage. It’s not just a matter of vanity to have it that looks brand new; it’s also a matter of safety.
Although many types of bumper damage can be repaired, you may need to replace it entirely to restore your vehicle’s full structural integrity in certain events and situations. Bumper replacements have vast differences and prerequisites in comparison to bumper repair. Let’s talk about when one case is preferable to the other.
Bumper repair is sufficient and effective in the event of minor damage.
Minor bumper damage, such as small scratches or dents, can be repaired simply by applying repair techniques to the bumper. Small scratches can be filled, sanded, and painted by an auto body technician. While dents, depending on their size can be carefully pushed out and restored aesthetically.
These kinds of repairs are appropriate for minor cosmetic damage that does not affect the protective structure of the bumper and are relatively inexpensive. However, if the repair is difficult and time consuming, the cost of repair may rise. In that case, it is possible that you should replace the bumper instead.
If the bumper has too much structural damage, it should be replaced.
If your bumper requires multiple repairs, replacing it entirely may be more cost effective. Conversely, any deep scratches, cracks, or larger dents that cannot be pushed out will necessitate the replacement even further.
Another factor to consider is whether or not the clips or tabs that secure the bumper to the vehicle’s impact bar have been damaged. If any of these pieces are damaged or broken, it should be immediately replaced. Simply gluing these pieces back together will not protect you from wet and cold weather, and you risk having your bumper fall off while driving.
Take Care Of Your Car’s Bumper Before It’s Too Late!
Bumpers, like any other part of your vehicle, should always be in good condition to ensure a safe and smooth ride. We cannot, however, guarantee that there will be no problems down the road – but don’t worry, Anchor Auto Body is here to assist you with whatever needs you may have. From auto body repair, fender and bumper repair, to detailing, we got you covered!
Anchor Auto Body provides expert bumper repair services without the hassle and high costs usually attributed to them. We service a wide variety of makes and models and take pride in repairing your vehicle to a like-new condition while keeping you and your wallet happy. Look what Karen has to say about her experience:
I’ve never used an auto body shop before, but another driver hit my car and their insurer (CSAA) referred us to Anchor. I have been so impressed with how professional and buttoned up they were. The entire process was so incredibly seamless and their office was spotless and well-organized. When the repair work was underway, I would get periodic updates. The follow-through that Danny and the team showed was great and they would be my go-to auto body shop, should I find myself in the unfortunate situation of needing one!
Speaking of car repairs, we also have another useful blog posts about windshield glass repair here.
