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Tin top bumper bumped . . .
clockwork - 25/3/07 at 03:23 PM

Quick Q.
After a slight accident with a fast moving tree, the bumper detached. Now I've replaced the brackets either side of the car, but some "hangers" that attach the underside of the bumper to the chassis have broken. I made some locost inspired plastic hangers and adhered them to the underside of the bumper with some loctite structural adhesive, and clamped them overnight, but this morning it still hadn't stuck.
Any idea of a good glue I could use? The area was clean by the way, I even read (and followed) the instructions on the packet.
NB. I cant just bolt it as I want the the repair to be nigh on invisible.
(Whatabout mastic?)


Confused but excited. - 25/3/07 at 03:37 PM

I'm assuming you have ABS (plastic) bumpers. If so you can buy adhesive cement specifically for ABS. It is similar to the PVC cement that plumbers use for plastic waste pipes etc.
The other factor is the plastic material that you have used for the brackets (ideally these should be ABS as well). Some plastics such as polythene are practically impossible to bond with adhesive.


clockwork - 25/3/07 at 03:41 PM

Plastic was cut from the bottom of a plastic storage box . . . no idea what it was. I have some plumbing adhesive though... I'll grab some offcuts of the box and see if I can stick themselves together. Cheers.


ned - 25/3/07 at 03:56 PM

sod the plastic, just rivet some ally plate onto the underside, no one will know except you. i have done this a few times.

Ned.


Confused but excited. - 25/3/07 at 04:44 PM

If it's a cheap box from a pound shop it will be too britle and break with vibration. If it is a good quality box it may be polypropylene, which will not bond with adhesive. better to do as Ned said or get some old bumper bits from a scrappy to make the brackets. ABS can be heated and formed (ie straightened/flattened/bent, we used to vac form it, using 3mm sheet, on a home made machine) with a little care, if you must glue it. I wouldn't be too hopeful though.
Good luck anyway.
By the way, make sure you use the adhesive in a well vetilated area or outside. Fumes are a no no.

[Edited on 25/3/07 by Confused but excited.]


clockwork - 25/3/07 at 05:19 PM

Unfortunately the lip for the bumber points down (nearly new corolla(ry)), so there is no way for me to hide rivet heads.
I've just had a quick read on gluing plastics . . . blimey it's much more complicated than I thought. I'm going to have a go with some acetone and some abs sheet.
It needs to be neat as we are selling the car asap to get something cheaper. Where the wife parks it it gets scratched to pieces. Didn't have a scratch on it when we bought it 14months ago. Now the only panels without a scratch are the roof and the bumper. It's not my wifes driving, it's morons who can't park, or feel the need to run their handbag zips down the side.