Bumper damage question

[cmondieyoung]

A few weekends ago I managed to bash my front--stock--bumper in on the driver's side.

I removed the air dam, and cut the endcaps to size this afternoon, but I'm having problems fitting the bumper back on. The metal plate that holds the end caps on is bent upwards, making it difficult to correctly position the bumper on (it pushes up against the driver's side quarterpanel/fender).

I've tried banging it down into place with a hammer, but to no avail. My wife suggested using heat to forge it back into place, but I don't have any means of creating enough heat to do so... other than use the firepit out front to barbeque the damn thing.

Any suggestions on how to bend this sucker back down?

 

[rover4x4]

bigger hammer?

 

[cmondieyoung]

Are you throwing in a sacrastic quip, or serious?

I thought that perhaps my hammer was just localizing pressure, more pounding out little dents then actually moving the metal back into position.

I'm a little worried if I use a sledge (even a small one), I won't be as precise as I need to be--to bend it into the correct position.

Have you had success just pounding on these things?

 

[Jaime]

Try bending it. can you somehow wedge a crow bar, or a pipe to do it?

Or how about jumping on it? I bent up my rear bumper corner on a rock, and I just jumped up and down on it and was able to get it back into shape.

 

[Andrew Homan]

Is this a sign form the rover gods that it's time to upgrade your front bumper?

 

[cmondieyoung]

If I could sacrifice a cow, a lamb, or smash the window of a Jeep, and suddenly be in posession of a new TJM, I'd do it.

The Rover Gods are nothing but Sirens, waiting for my bank account to crash onto their rocks.

 

[Randy]

You can buy a relatively cheap propane soldering torch for plumbing at any hardware store, probably no more than $15 and propane bottles are about $3. You can then use it to sweat pipes or even light the BBQ grill if you want after heating the metal bracket. BTW, I had one of mine bent too....I was able to bend it back with some large slip-joint pliers.

 

[Discojunky]

I would think since so many people are putting on aftermarket bumpers you should be able to pick up a used one pretty easy. Put a post in the parts wanted. But, really if your gonna' keep using that rover the bumpers (front and back) will keep bending and you will always be repairing them. Pay now pay later.

 

[Disco Mike]

Craig,
You have been blessed with a great opprotunity to rid yourself of that chunk of plastic, take advantage of it and for for the new one.
Mike J.

 

[LRWheelman]

I used a porta-power ram and a board on the tire to push it back out. Worked real well. I borrowed a friends porta-power, but you should be able to rent one cheap. Thank You, LRW.

 

[muddydisco2]

Convince your wife that it simply can't be repaired and that you must go out and get a winch bumper. My stock bumper took a beating before I finally went to ARB. Don't know what kind of mods you already have, but replacing the stock bumper is only the beginning. It's like Rover-crack....once I started with the bumper I couldn't stop!

Abercrombie