I bought a new to me truck last month and I am still trying to sort out all of the little things that are wrong with it. I noticed this little issue when I picked it up. The truck has been in a "minor rear collision" according to car fax, I can see where the bumper cover has been repainted. These two mounting tabs are broken. What are my at home repair options? You can't see them at all without being under the truck so I am not worried about aesthetics. I was thinking I could drill little holes and then use safety wire to bind them back together. I am a little worried that the safety wire will just cut it's way back out, any thoughts?
Edit,
Having trouble adding pics. I will try to add the pics from my phone.
Clean and sand with whatever and some sand paper. Then try permatex plastic repair epoxy. If real concerned about strength embed some wire mesh or a paper clip on the side you don't see. If that doesn't work there are 3m or Norton adhesives for bumper repair but they are more money and require a special caulking gun to dispense.
In reply to 1SlowVW :
Thanks for the answer. I'll look those up and give it a try!
I'd use a hot stapler & 3M products for that. You can use the two part 3M products without the special guns by pushing equal amounts out of each cylinder without the special mixing nozzle onto something flat (like cardboard) and mixing like you would body filler. The drawback is that products like 3M 05887 are about $50.00 for a cartridge and you only need like 5 bucks worth.
[URL=https://app.photobucket.com/u/NOTATA/a/8aae0a56-d793-4fc1-8797-7f51f7a0248c/p/ce5c5f92-dfbe-4cd6-8cb8-9cdad233f5ca]
[/URL]
[URL=https://app.photobucket.com/u/NOTATA/a/8aae0a56-d793-4fc1-8797-7f51f7a0248c/p/43c7930e-89f9-4dbb-a661-58d88552a512]
[/URL]
[URL=https://app.photobucket.com/u/NOTATA/a/8aae0a56-d793-4fc1-8797-7f51f7a0248c/p/f7363b0b-6448-4a5c-948d-0d5b20968376]
[/URL]
[URL=https://app.photobucket.com/u/NOTATA/a/8aae0a56-d793-4fc1-8797-7f51f7a0248c/p/13c42c8a-816d-4219-a522-069720aeb932]
[/URL]
Harbor freight sell this plastic welder. With some practice it could get the job done. $17.00. I have used one in the past to repair bumper with rips and holes.
In reply to NY Nick :
I've thought about the safety wire thing as well, but had the same worry as you mentioned. I think it would wear through. Epoxy over that may help, but might still wear
I do have a broken clip on the back of a K75 side cover I might have to buy the hammer store plastic welder to try... no sucess with epoxies yet.
In reply to NOT A TA :
Never seen a hot stapler before. That has potential for a lot of stuff! Looks kinda expensive for the diy type, but is there a home garage guy version?
Good info here, I'm also interested in a consumer grade hot stapler - any recommendations, or all they all about the same?
In reply to NOT A TA :
That's great advice, thank you. I read that and said "I have that adhesive". Unused it for a different project but I have the 3m 2 part shown below. The data sheet makes it look like that is the stuff. I don't have the hot stapler but I have a couple of soldering irons so I will try to make some small homemade staples. I also have fiberglass mesh, should I put a little patch over the backside with that?
If it's an ABS bumper, ABS pipe cement works really well... Pipe cement + safety wire after it has cured would give you the reinforcement factor
In reply to sobe_death :
I didn't consider it could be ABS but I've used plumbing cement on motorcycle side panels with really great results.
In reply to 03Panther :
Hot Stapler for the win! I love the one I have (identical piece, but brand name on mine is EZ Red).
EZ Red markets a cordless model now, but I've never had any problem getting my plug-in job to work its magic in the shop
Hot Stapler Plastic Repair Kit - Rechargeable - EZRED
I also have one of those "wood carver" kits for welding__melting__plastic back together, like MyMiatas has, but the hot stapler gets used 10:1 over it.
