So I've lost a fight with a tree root... - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

D.Scrye · 10-15-2014, 12:33 PM

Saturday night I was relegated to parking on the grass, due to a lack of parking. There was a protruding tree root, that was just a bit more protruding than I thought it was... So, when I backed out the next morning it split the bottom of my front bumper- I seek advise on how to fix. I'm considering borrowing a plastic welder from an associate, or just drilling a pilot hole and sticking a tear aid patch over the crack. Any other ideas? I figure I'll eventually just stick a CF lip over it or get the TOM's bumper (there are some other abrasions as well), or something, in the long term. Thoughts?

TL: DR- broke bumper on tree root, need advice

Name: 20141015_091151.jpg
Views: 1123
Size: 304.7 KB

Name: 20141015_091151.jpg
Views: 1123
Size: 304.7 KB

Ammonia · 10-15-2014, 12:38 PM

Totaled

nah I have no idea how to fix that though

MrBlaze-65 · 10-15-2014, 12:45 PM

Buy a polyurethane lip on ebay
secure to front bumper
continue on with life

eventually the lip will become damaged and you'll have to replace it but replacing a $60-$100 lip every year or two won't be so bad as replacing a $500 carbon lip that will show defects and wear much faster.

gramicci101 · 10-15-2014, 12:55 PM

At the very end of the crack, drill a small hole. Because the crack is irregular with a specific fracture line, it's possible that it will continue to spread along that line. A drilled hole will be smooth and round with no single stress point, so it'll be less likely that the crack will spread past that point.

Then cover it with a lip and try not to drive into any more trees.

D.Scrye · 10-15-2014, 01:04 PM

Anybody use a plastic welder before, or have any experience with tear aid on automotive plastic? It causes me some concern to just stick a lip over it without securing the crack first, for structural purposes.

RFB · 10-15-2014, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.Scrye

Anybody use a plastic welder before, or have any experience with tear aid on automotive plastic? It causes me some concern to just stick a lip over it without securing the crack first, for structural purposes.

It wouldn't hurt to key the back and apply an epoxy putty patch (like tape).
Plumbers Seal is as hard as steel, but the green and yellow strip epoxy putty(forget the brand) is softer but more flexible.

CERBERUS

Tcoat · 10-15-2014, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.Scrye

Anybody use a plastic welder before, or have any experience with tear aid on automotive plastic? It causes me some concern to just stick a lip over it without securing the crack first, for structural purposes.

Did plastic welding for a few years. A lot depend upon the type of plastic really. Probably be fine on the bumper plastic but as it is a weld, it will make a rather ugly line.
I would just drill the hole to prevent spreading (as said already) and put the lip on. Just make sure you secure the lip as close to either side of the crack as possible to give it some rigidity.

continuecrushing · 10-15-2014, 02:01 PM

like others said, go for a lip

Guzic · 10-15-2014, 07:08 PM

Remove bumper
Drill hole at the end of crack as gramicci stated
Scuff the back of the bumper where he crack is to apply some bondo
Apply a fiberglass sheet on top of the bondo before it dries to get a decent hold.
Apply bondo on top of fiberglass sheet
Touch up paint the front
Live life.

That's a quick and cheap way to fix it without replacing the bumber.

Ultramaroon · 10-15-2014, 09:21 PM

This is the only stuff that will actually bond to polyethelene. It involves some surface prep but really works. Use a similar wide piece across the back side (think band-aid) to get some surface area for the adhesive to do its thing. http://mrstickys.com/mr-stickys-poly-bonder-glue-30g/

More of the same stuff. http://www.tapplastics.com/product/r...d_adhesive/435

Kimsey47 · 10-15-2014, 09:45 PM

My advice:

Don't go down without fighting back!

Tcoat · 10-16-2014, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

This is the only stuff that will actually bond to polyethelene. It involves some surface prep but really works. Use a similar wide piece across the back side (think band-aid) to get some surface area for the adhesive to do its thing. http://mrstickys.com/mr-stickys-poly-bonder-glue-30g/

More of the same stuff. http://www.tapplastics.com/product/r...d_adhesive/435

I would listen to Ultra because if anybody knows about something called "Mr. Sticky" he would!

Ultramaroon · 10-16-2014, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I would listen to Ultra because if anybody knows about something called "Mr. Sticky" he would!

I never wash.

10-15-2014, 12:38 PM	#2
Ammonia Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: Whiteout FRS, Audi A4, 135i (sold) Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 918 Thanks: 1,440 Thanked 567 Times in 289 Posts Mentioned: 11 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Totaled nah I have no idea how to fix that though __________________ boooooooooooooooooost

10-15-2014, 07:08 PM	#9
Guzic Clean as F86ck Join Date: Dec 2013 Drives: 2014 Asphalt FR-S Location: Las Vegas :) Posts: 116 Thanks: 25 Thanked 53 Times in 37 Posts Mentioned: 8 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Remove bumper Drill hole at the end of crack as gramicci stated Scuff the back of the bumper where he crack is to apply some bondo Apply a fiberglass sheet on top of the bondo before it dries to get a decent hold. Apply bondo on top of fiberglass sheet Touch up paint the front Live life. That's a quick and cheap way to fix it without replacing the bumber. __________________

10-15-2014, 09:21 PM	#10
Ultramaroon not playing cards Join Date: Sep 2014 Drives: a 13 e8h frs Location: vantucky, wa Posts: 32,395 Thanks: 53,053 Thanked 37,228 Times in 19,308 Posts Mentioned: 1118 Post(s) Tagged: 9 Thread(s)	This is the only stuff that will actually bond to polyethelene. It involves some surface prep but really works. Use a similar wide piece across the back side (think band-aid) to get some surface area for the adhesive to do its thing. http://mrstickys.com/mr-stickys-poly-bonder-glue-30g/ More of the same stuff. http://www.tapplastics.com/product/r...d_adhesive/435 __________________ service manuals

10-15-2014, 09:45 PM	#11
Kimsey47 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: 2016 STI DGM Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 1,875 Thanks: 1,189 Thanked 1,460 Times in 662 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	My advice: Don't go down without fighting back! __________________ Subaru STI :

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Who would win in a fight?	Touge_ninja	Off-Topic Lounge [WARNING: NO POLITICS]	26	04-05-2016 04:07 PM
Triple XXX Root Beer Import Meet 23 Feb 2014	Hippophobia	Northwest	22	02-23-2014 09:59 PM
Car vs. Tree	Joakim3	Cosmetic Maintenance (Wash, Wax, Detailing, Body Repairs)	2	11-15-2013 11:19 AM
Let's See Your Tree!	FRavenS	Off-Topic Lounge [WARNING: NO POLITICS]	13	12-05-2012 11:46 PM
7 vs 1 behind school fight	Giccin	Off-Topic Lounge [WARNING: NO POLITICS]	45	01-17-2012 08:50 PM

10-15-2014, 12:45 PM	#3
MrBlaze-65 Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Location: United States Posts: 93 Thanks: 85 Thanked 41 Times in 27 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Buy a polyurethane lip on ebay secure to front bumper continue on with life eventually the lip will become damaged and you'll have to replace it but replacing a $60-$100 lip every year or two won't be so bad as replacing a $500 carbon lip that will show defects and wear much faster.

10-15-2014, 12:55 PM	#4
gramicci101 Off Topic Join Date: Feb 2014 Drives: 2014 Subaru BRZ Limited Location: Vegas, baby! Posts: 4,610 Thanks: 2,369 Thanked 4,243 Times in 2,170 Posts Mentioned: 43 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	At the very end of the crack, drill a small hole. Because the crack is irregular with a specific fracture line, it's possible that it will continue to spread along that line. A drilled hole will be smooth and round with no single stress point, so it'll be less likely that the crack will spread past that point. Then cover it with a lip and try not to drive into any more trees.

10-15-2014, 02:01 PM	#8
continuecrushing Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 2013 Firestorm FRS Location: Lake Elsinore, CA Posts: 2,707 Thanks: 1,231 Thanked 2,144 Times in 1,003 Posts Mentioned: 73 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	like others said, go for a lip

User Name		Remember Me?
Password