Each component of your car plays an integral role in its overall functionality, which is why you should stay on top of its care and maintenance. When your bumper gets damaged, you should be able to act quickly and decide whether to repair or replace it.
A little fender bender shouldn’t cause too much of a concern, since it would only need a quick fix to get it looking good again. Bumpers, after all, are built specifically to absorb collision impacts, which then helps avoid or at least minimize injuries to the driver and passengers.
In most cases, the repairs needed are merely cosmetic. In others, though, especially where there is heavy damage to the autobody involved, the bumper would need to be completely replaced.
Your technician should be able to tell you about the condition of your car upon close inspection. Their diagnostics should also reveal whether the bumper damage also resulted in other damages elsewhere in the car. In the meantime, here are some telltale signs that your bumper needs more than just a repair but a complete replacement.
CRACKED BUMPER
Cracks are bound to grow and spread. That’s why it’s ideal for vehicle owners to get this issue addressed as soon as possible. Sometimes cracks start out so small that they’re not really noticeable until it’s too late. By then, the cracks would have gotten deeper, and with a lot more problems with it.
When there is a crack, it becomes a vulnerability because the exposed material becomes susceptible to rust. This in turn could mean bigger issues for the car over time, resulting in holes, ridges, or crumpled areas on the bumper. Because of this variety of deficiencies, it’s a smart idea to replace the bumper instead of attempting to get each and every damage repaired.
MAJOR POINT DAMAGE
Some people would say that fixing a scratch or minor damage on a bumper is something you can remedy as a DIY. However, scratches can be deep, which means the surface would need to be sanded down and then filled with a compound to level the surface more.
The more scratches there are, and the deeper they go, the more laborious it would be to deal with the damage. Consequently, too, this means the deeper you’ll have to go in your pocket to get the repairs done as efficiently as possible. With all of these things, it would be much more cost-efficient to simply get the whole of the bumper replaced instead of repaired.
UNSEEN BODY DAMAGE
Sometimes, accidents cause damage to the car’s body beyond the bumper itself. It could be a twisted or cracked frame, or a bent component affecting the position of the bumper. This becomes a safety hazard because the vibrations might slow down the car, or worse, cause the bumper to suddenly fall off, causing an accident on the road.
If you have bumper damage or related issues, it’s best to get it checked out by a professional. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Network Autobody so you can get your car–whether it’s the bumper or any other part–returned to its original condition.
