How do you fix this?

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 8:46 pm

The left side of my front bumper (series 2) has a 10cm long crack in it. How do I fix this? Also the plastic mudflap area in that area is cracked. I am beginning to think that the car has been in an accident and whoever fixed it, did a F***ING sh*t job doing it. I'll try to get some pictures up as soon as I can find a way how. Or maybe just post it up in the gallery section?

EDIT : Best I can do for now until imageshack emails me my login details.

http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... &g2_page=4
http://www.ftoaustralia.com/modules.php ... &g2_page=3

RallyMad · Post by **RallyMad** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:42 pm

Maybe try and find a plastic welder near you and take it to them, beyond that I don't know but if you've got some Fibre glassing skill and patience it might be worth a shot to take the bar of and try and smooth it out with fibre glass from behind?

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:02 am

My fibreglassing skill amounts to a 3 hour compulsory workshop they made us do at uni. I don't think it is enough. But I might give it a go. With the fibreglassing from behind, does that mean just putting the fibreglass over the crack from the back? Where do I find a plastic welder? I'm in Sydney. I guess the worst case scenario is buying a replacement front bar for $550.

RallyMad · Post by **RallyMad** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:57 pm

on the plastic welder front maybe ask at a panel shop. They should know there surely would be a few in Sydney. Fibreglassing front, I have no skills, had only heard of people doing it before sorry. For me I would go to a panel shop and ask some advice anyway, maybe they will tell you the crack is too big and you might save yourself the cost and stress of trying to get it fixed when the crack might just reopen and get a new one in the first place.

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:09 pm

DOne and done. I asked a smash repairer (well three and they said to fix and respray it would cost $400). To buy a new one and have it resprayed would cost $750. I might have a go at fixing it myselg by either using a steel bracket and sticking it behind the front bar and using a rivet gun to hold it in place. Set me back a few dollars. While I'm at it I might as well try and fix the left front plastic mud flap area.

RallyMad · Post by **RallyMad** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:34 pm

thats great to hear mate, maybe a DIY with pics is in order if you could be stuffed

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:20 pm

That would be a good idea eh? hehe Will get down to it when I can be stuffed. Maybe after Christmas

RallyMad · Post by **RallyMad** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:26 am

Fair enough

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 7:44 pm

Just fixed it now. Will get some pics of it up soon and maybe write it up soon. But long story short, a bit of body filler, and a lot of sanding. Oh a final coat of touch up paint sparyed on with an air brush. a good 1 hour of work.

RallyMad · Post by **RallyMad** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 12:07 am

good on you mate, love to see the pics. I have some scratches on my car I have thought about trying to spray myself, did you use a kero touch up paint mix with a air brush connected to a air compressor?

bushido · Post by **bushido** » Tue Dec 25, 2007 12:55 am

yes to the air brush connected to a compressor and yes to the touch up paint mix. I did one spray and then it looked a bit odd, like too thick, so yeh mixed in a bit of kero, or maybe it was turps! Haha the fumes made me funny. Anyway, a DIY will be up shortly.