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Bent bumper

JCKnife

Well-known member
1,367
46
48
Location
Kentucky
My front bumber is slightly bent--enough that it rubs the fender on the drivers side. The bend is in the "straight" part, so it also is messing up the geometry of the holes (I have the bumper off the truck now for sanding and priming).

Could a body shop straighten it out you think?

I have a 12-ton arbor press here, but I don't have any strong steel plates to sandwich the bumper between to straighten it out. Would have to be something stronger than the bumper itself...I'm at a loss for ideas.
 

Jakob

Member
722
5
18
Location
Louisville, KY
Put it on the ground so it's facing up.
Make sure it's in line with the frame of your truck.
Place the jack on the correct end and commence straightening.

Or...

Line up some two 4x4's parallel with the trucks frame.
Lay the flat side of the bumper that's bent on the wood, dent in the middle.
Have someone/something hold the other end of the bumper up.
Place the jack on the correct spot and commence straightening.

I've done enough redneck repairs that I could straighten anything with next to nothing. I can't put my thoughts in to words very well, I just do it, haha.
 

SixSpeed

Banned
1,107
8
0
Location
Tampa, Florida
I'm guilty of using my Unimog to straighten out parts. Also, one time I bent the bumper down (broke top bolts) trying to recover a truck (broke two wheels off in a mud hole, was REALLY stuck) and just ran it into a wall to bend it back.


If it were me, I'd do as Post #4 recommends and find a big tree, and some chain.
 

JCKnife

Well-known member
1,367
46
48
Location
Kentucky
Turns out the little arbor press did the trick. I jigged it in there with a 4x4 under it and some steel plates in strategic places to keep the wood from just squashing or getting cut into, and it straightened right out with a LOT of pressure.

It's not perfect, but it no longer contacts the fender and the holes seem to line up!

What's the saying? "Close enough for government work!"
 

Haggar

New member
46
0
0
Location
Oxford, MI
Sounds good. I've used a heavy beam, chains, and a large bottle jack to straighten all types of things, including bent axle housings. Sometimes a little heat helps.
 
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