The Difference Between Fender and Bumper Dent Repair

Published On: February 28, 2019

When it comes to auto body repair, it’s important for car owners to understand the repair process before taking further action. Bumper and fender damage can range from small dings to noticeable dents, and there are differences between the two. As automotive repair specialists, we’re here to make your dent removal repair a hassle-free and informative process. When it comes to vehicle damage, our technicians are well versed in the techniques of executing a seamless and efficient dent repair for every El Segundo car owner. Here are the processes and differences of a bumper and fender dent repair.

Bumper Dent Repair

Bumpers are meant to reduce physical damage to the front and rear of your vehicles. Most modern bumpers are made up of plastic components which include thermoplastic olefins, polycarbonates, polyesters, polypropylene, polyurethane and more. Your bumper absorbs the impact during any low-speed collision which aids in protecting your vehicle. When it comes to vehicle damage, our technicians are well versed in the techniques of executing a seamless an efficient bumper dent repair.

The first step to our bumper repair process includes prepping the area by thoroughly cleaning the impaired area of any debris or dust. We then heat treat the dent with a heat gun until the dent starts to form to its original shape. If the dent doesn’t begin to release or remold into its original form, we suggest using body filler to make sure the bumper is evenly aligned. Once the area is dried (typically takes about 20-30 minutes), we proceed to sand down it down to create a smooth, untextured surface for the paint primer – paint primer helps the paint adhere to the car’s panel. Once the paint primer is applied and dried, the correct paint color will be applied over the restored dent. Lastly, we use a clear coat to add a glossy and protective coat that preserves the newly applied paint.

Fender Dent Repair

A fender is different than a bumper because it’s a metal structure that frames the wheel well of your car, instead of the front or back. The fender extends between the front door to the front bumper covering the front wheels of the vehicle. Depending on the size of the dent on your fender, our technicians will remove it using one of two methods: traditional dent removal, or paintless dent removal, which is not used for bumper repairs. You would typically use PDR for minor dents without any real obstruction. For larger dents with paint damage, we will remove the paint from the dent and use electrically welded pins through a process that uses a stud welder dent pulling system. Using this technique, we make a pattern within the indentation which allows us to pull out the dent into its original form without any further damage. Once the studs are aligned, we’ll use a slide hammer to pull the studs into the fender’s initial placement. We’ll then remove the studs, fill in the remaining area, and then prepare for the final steps: primer, paint, and clear coat.

 

Whether your car needs a bumper or fender dent repair, give us a call! Our team will make sure your car looks brand new again. Bumper Buddies is an affordable, mobile, and hassle-free alternative that won’t end in tears, burnt hands, or a bad paint job. You can trust us to make your car look good as new because we’ve been doing it in El Segundo and Los Angeles for the last 20 years. Give us a call today to get your free, no obligation estimate!

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