Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose
Auto Terms,  Car body,  Car device

Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

The passive safety system of any car includes several elements. Some of them appeared almost immediately after the start of production of the first machines. Consider one of them - a car bumper.

Even the most unprofessional motorists do not have questions about where the bumper of the car is. Let's consider why it is needed, as well as some of its additional functions.

What is a car bumper

Before we get acquainted with the additional functions of these body elements, let's understand what a bumper is. This is a hinged or built-in part of the car body, which is always located in the front and rear of the vehicle. Most often this is the most extreme point of the car, both in front and behind.

Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

Depending on the design idea of ​​the automaker, the bumper in the car can be integrated into the body, visually making up a single whole with the entire car. In some cases, as seen in the photo, this element can be a beautiful accessory that gives the car originality.

Main purpose

Many motorists and pedestrians mistakenly think that bumpers in cars are needed solely as a decorative element. For this reason, some of the car owners remove the protruding “decorative” elements as an initial "tuning".

In fact, the decorative properties of this element play a secondary role. First of all, this is a part designed for the safety of pedestrians. In addition, rigid hinged structures prevent damage to important parts located in the front of the engine compartment, as well as to the supporting parts of the body. It is much cheaper to replace this element than to straighten a car distorted in a minor accident.

Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

The modern bumper is a resilient element that acts as a damper in a collision. Although it most often bursts and can fly into small pieces, it is designed to extinguish a significant portion of the kinetic energy generated during the collision.

The history of the appearance of the bumper

For the first time, a bumper on a car appeared in the design of Ford models. Many sources point to 1930 as the year of the appearance of the automobile bumper. Initially, it was just a U-shaped metal beam that was welded on the front under the hood.

This structural element can be seen on the Model A Deluxe Delivery, which was produced between 1930 and 1931. In classic cars, the cross-member design of the bumper has changed only slightly. Modern bumpers are visually part of the bodywork in favor of design and aerodynamics.

Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

Despite their obvious benefits, bumpers were not considered necessary for some time. Thus, these buffer elements were most popular in America and Europe. Since 1970, this part has been included in the list of mandatory vehicle equipment. The bumper increased safety and comfort when transporting passengers or goods.

When bumpers on cars became an integral part of the design, the concept of "safe impact speed" appeared. This is a parameter of the speed of a car at which, in a collision, the bumper completely absorbs all the energy, and at the same time prevents damage to the vehicle itself.

Initially, this figure was set at the limit of four kilometers per hour (or three miles per hour). A little later, this parameter was increased to 8 km / h. Today, a vehicle without a bumper cannot be operated (at least the bumper must be on the back of the car).

Functionality of modern bumpers

In addition to the passive external safety mentioned above, modern bumpers for the car also have additional functions, which is why some models are called Front-End. Here are the characteristics a modification of this element can have:

  1. Protect pedestrians from serious injury in case of accidental collision. For this, manufacturers select the optimal rigidity, shape and equip them with additional elements, for example, rubberized cushions.
  2. Safety after a minor collision. Most of the old modifications of bumpers made of metal, as a result of collision with a pointed obstacle (for example, a vertical post), deform, acquiring a dangerous shape (in some cases, their edges stick out forward, which makes the car more dangerous for pedestrians).
  3. Modern parts are manufactured taking into account the aerodynamic characteristics of the car. In many cases, the edges are folded back to increase downforce. More expensive modifications are equipped with air intakes that provide a larger volume of air entering the engine compartment to cool the units.
  4. Parktronic sensors can be mounted in the bumper (for more details about the device, see separately), as well as a rear view camera.
  5. Additionally, fog lights are installed in the bumper (they should be located as close to the ground as possible) and other lighting equipment.

How the quality of bumpers is checked

Since the bumper is an important element of car safety, before each modification goes on sale, its design undergoes a series of tests, according to the results of which the quality of the shape is determined, and whether specific materials are suitable.

Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

There are several tests by which it is determined whether a part can be put on a machine or not:

  1. An element fixed on the stand is struck with a heavy structure (pendulum) with a certain force. The mass of the moving structure corresponds to the mass of the intended car. In this case, the impact force must correspond to the impact if the car were moving at a speed of 4 km / h.
  2. The strength of the bumper is also tested directly on the test vehicle. The car crashes into a rigidly fixed obstacle at the same speed.

This check is carried out with both the front and rear bumpers. A part is considered safe if it is not deformed or broken as a result of the impact. This test is carried out by European companies.

As for the American standards, the test is taking place under more stringent conditions. Thus, the mass of the pendulum does not change (it is identical to the weight of the tested car), but its speed is twice as high, and amounts to 8 km / h. For this reason, in European car models, bumpers look aesthetically pleasing, and the American counterpart is more massive.

Design features

Unfortunately, many modern car bumpers have lost their original purpose. So, in light vehicles, the external passive safety element has turned into a decorative strip of metal, which is deformed at the slightest impact on foreign objects.

Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

In the case of trucks, the opposite extreme is observed. On many, the manufacturer installs a powerful beam, which is practically not damaged even with a strong impact from a passenger car, because of which it turns into a convertible in a matter of seconds.

Many bumper models have the following elements:

  • Main part. Most often, the structure is already painted in the color of a particular car. There are models on which only a primer is applied. The motorist must independently paint the part in the color of the car body.
  • Radiator false grille. Not found in all modifications. Although this element serves only an aesthetic function, when struck during movement (for example, a bird or a stone) dampens energy a little, so that the radiator itself does not suffer so much.Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose
  • In some modifications, the design has a lower grille, which is designed to direct the flow of air into the engine compartment.
  • To mitigate the impact of the car on a solid obstacle, there is a seal, or upper pad, on the top of the bumpers. Basically, it does not stand out from the main part of the structure.
  • Most modern car models have bumpers with a bottom strip made of elastic plastic. It is painted black. The purpose of this element is to warn the driver that he has approached a high obstacle that can damage the bottom of the car or the lower part of the engine.Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose
  • On the inside, all bumpers have a corresponding attachment.
  • On the side of the tow hook, a special hole is made in the bumper. Some vehicles do not have this element as the towing eyelet is located below the bumper.
  • Many car manufacturers allow various decorative elements on the bumpers. These can be rubberized pads that prevent scratching with slight contact with a vertical obstacle or chrome moldings.

Unlike the modifications used on cars of the 1960s era, modern bumpers are integrated into the body, providing it with a logical completeness.

To ensure that the bumper provides adequate protection for the interior of the engine compartment, the interior is reinforced with metal. Many front and rear models have aerodynamic elements.

Types of bumpers

Regardless of the design of the bumper, this element provides adequate safety. If we talk about aerodynamic properties, then in sports cars special bumpers are used, the design of which provides for air ducts to cool the brakes and a wing, which increases downforce in the front of the car. This applies to standard bumpers.

If a part of a non-standard shape is installed (within the framework of visual tuning), then some bumpers pose a danger to pedestrians - in a collision, the sharp edges of such a buffer increase the likelihood of the victim getting more serious damage.

In addition to the difference in shape, bumpers differ from each other in the material from which they are made. A modern car can be fitted with a bumper made of:

  • Butadiene acrylonitrile styrene and its polymer alloys (ABS / PC);
  • Polycarbonate (PC);
  • Polybutylene tereflora (RVT);
  • Plain or ethylenediene polypropylene (PP / EPDM);
  • Polyurethane (PUR);
  • Nylon or Polyamide (PA);
  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC or PVC);
  • Fiberglass or thermosetting plastic (GRP / SMC);
  • Polyethylene (PE).

If you choose a non-standard bumper, then first of all you need to give preference to safer options, and not only more beautiful. Thanks to the use of modern materials, bumper manufacturers are able to create different forms of bumper elements instead of standard counterparts. The design of the new bumper can have many different slots, which not only improve aerodynamics, but can also provide additional cooling for the engine or braking system.

Of course, the use of some polymeric materials leads to the fact that the bumper becomes more delicate, which is why it must also be protected (for example, for a modern SUV, it is planned to install a kenguryatnik). On passenger cars, parking sensors (parking sensors) are often installed for this purpose, and so that if you accidentally hit the curb you don't have to buy a new bumper, many modern models have a rubber replaceable skirt below.

More about the materials of the integrated bumpers

The main material from which integrated bumpers are made is thermoplastic or fiberglass. Sometimes there are models from a different polymer. The material affects how much the bumper costs.

By default, these modifications are called plastic. Their main advantages are lightness, resistance to high temperatures and beautiful design. The disadvantages of integrated bumpers include expensive repairs and fragility. Such modifications are mainly installed on passenger cars, crossovers and inexpensive SUVs.

Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

As for full-fledged SUVs, they are often equipped with metal bumpers. The reason for this is that such vehicles are often used to travel over rough terrain, and can seriously hit a tree or other obstacle.

You can find out what material this or that part is made of from the factory markings, which are applied to the inside of the product. The following materials comply with this marking:

  • For thermoplastic - ABS, PS or AAS;
  • For Duroplast - EP, PA or PUR;
  • For polypropylene - EPDM, PP or POM.
Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

Different methods are used to repair each material. So, fiberglass cannot be soldered, since it does not soften when heated. Thermoplastic, on the contrary, softens when heated. The polypropylene model is the easiest to weld. It can be restored even if the bumper is blown to pieces.

Some models are made of steel and coated with chromium ions on top. However, such elements are extremely rare in modern cars. Most of the chrome-plated parts are made of polymer, and are processed by electroplating or metallization (what these procedures are, described separately).

More about power bumpers

The main application of this category of bumpers is on SUVs. These vehicles are often adapted for extreme off-road driving. Under these operating conditions, there is a high likelihood of a collision with a tree or other vehicle, so the machine should be more protected from damage.

Reinforced bumpers are no longer made from polymers. Basically it is sheet steel with a thickness of about 4mm. Factory models are manufactured in such a way that their installation on the car does not require a change in the body structure.

Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

These models are great for off-road vehicles because they can withstand heavy impacts. In addition to the massive look, such modifications will have:

  • Fasteners for mounting the winch;
  • Reinforced parts that you can rest the jack on;
  • Towing loop;
  • A place for installing a towing reel (allows you to quickly rewind a tow rope or tape);
  • Fasteners for installing additional light, for example, fog lights.
Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

As for the rear reinforced bumpers, a much smaller number of elements are installed on them. Most often there will be a towing eyelet and a reinforced jacking element. A standard or removable bumper can be installed on the front and rear on a reinforced bumper (read about what kind of part it is and why it is needed) separate review).

Types of damage to bumpers

Most often, the front of the car suffers through the fault of the driver: it caught up with the car in front, did not calculate the dimensions of the car, hooked on a pole, etc. But the rear bumper is also not protected from damage: the onlooker caught up, the parking sensors did not work, etc.

Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

Depending on the material capabilities of the car owner, the damaged bumper can either be replaced with a new one or restored. In this case, one should take into account what material the part is made of. Here is a list of the most common damage to external passive safety elements:

  • Scratch. Depending on its depth, the recovery method can be different. For some, puttying and then painting with polishing are required, while for others, only polishing with abrasive pastes is sufficient. Additionally, how to remove scratches from plastic is described here.Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose
  • Crack. In some cases, such damage is not noticeable. Such damage can only affect the paintwork, and often after the impact, the plastic itself bursts, but falls into place. If a metal bumper bursts, it is more difficult to repair it. Often such damage is accompanied by deformation of the part, because of which it must first be bent (and in places with stiffening ribs it is extremely difficult to do this), and then welded by welding. Repairing polymer models is a little easier. If such a breakdown is found, it is not worth tightening with its elimination, since the rigidity of the part directly depends on the size of the crack.Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose
  • The gap. This is the most difficult damage, since it can be accompanied by complete or partial separation of particles from the main structure. Only a professional should repair such a bumper. In this case, the use of reinforcing meshes, brazing of fiberglass and polypropylene linings often only provides the aesthetics of the product, but does not make it durable as before.Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

Read more about the repair of plastic bumpers here... Regarding the repair of polymer bumpers, there is no clear recommendation: is the part worth repairing or it needs to be replaced. It all depends on the degree of damage, as well as the cost of the new part.

Bumper selection techniques

If it is decided not to repair the damaged element, then the following methods will help to choose it correctly:

  • Selection of parts by checking the VIN-code of the car. This is the most proven method, as the set of numbers and letters includes more than the make and model of the vehicle. This marking also contains important information on minor modifications that often affect similar machine parts. Details about what information automakers encrypt in this code and where to find it is described here.
  • Bumper selection by vehicle model. Some cars do not undergo major changes, so it is enough to tell the seller this information, and he will find a suitable modification of the part. Sometimes, in order not to be mistaken, the seller may ask the release date of the car.
  • Selection in the Internet catalog. This method combines the previous two, only the search is carried out by the buyer himself. The main thing in this case is to correctly enter the code or other necessary information into the search field.
Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

Some motorists believe that genuine parts should always be purchased. In this case, it should be clarified whether the car manufacturer is engaged in the manufacture of spare parts for its models or uses the services of third-party companies. In this case, the "original" spare part will cost more just because it has the manufacturer's label on it.

Brand Tour

On the auto parts market, you can often find original bumpers from the automaker, but among quality products there are also worthy analogues that are not inferior in quality to the original.

Here is a small list of bumper manufacturers you can trust:

  • Low-cost products can be selected among the goods of Polish (Polcar), Danish (JP Group), Chinese (Feituo) and Taiwanese (Bodyparts) manufacturers;
  • Belgian (Van Wezel), Chinese (Ukor Fenghua), South Korean (Onnuri) and American (APR) bumpers can be mentioned in the product category "golden mean" between price and quality;
  • The highest quality, and at the same time the most expensive, are the models that are made by Taiwanese manufacturers TYG, as well as API. Some users of these products note that sometimes their products are even superior in quality to analogs that are sold as original.
Car bumper. What is it for and how to choose

Sometimes motorists pick up spare parts for their car during disassembly. If a bumper is chosen, then you should pay attention not only to its condition, but also to the nature of the damage due to which the car got to this site. It so happens that the car received a serious rear impact, which completely crippled half of the body, but the front end remained unharmed.

In this case, you can buy a front bumper by removing it directly from the car. There are much more pitfalls in buying parts that have already been removed from cars. It is not known whether a particular bumper was repaired or not (some craftsmen carry out the restoration so well that the part cannot be distinguished from a new one), so there is a high probability of buying a broken part at a serviceable price.

Pros and cons of bumpers

Depending on the complexity of the damage and the material from which the bumper is made, this part may be subject to repair. But each modification has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, plastic bumpers are budgetary, but this material is difficult to repair. But even a high-quality restored plastic part no longer possesses 100% properties, as before the breakdown.

Stronger bumpers are made of silicone. They do not break in the cold as much as their plastic counterparts. They are also easier to repair, after which it retains its properties. In this case, the silicone version will cost an order of magnitude more.

If we talk about metal options, then they are the most durable and protect the car from damage even with a strong impact. But due to their heavy weight and impressive dimensions, they are installed only on SUVs with a powerful engine.

As for the advantages and disadvantages of the part itself (bumper), they cannot be particularly distinguished. The only drawback of this element is an increase in the mass of the car (this parameter will be tangible if a metal analogue is installed instead of a plastic bumper). But the same can be said about the motor, gearbox and so on.

Hack and predictor Aviator

So, the bumper of a modern car can perform many important functions, but the main one remains - transport safety. All modern products undergo the necessary checks and receive the appropriate certificates, so you can opt for the models of the manufacturers mentioned in the above list.

In conclusion, we offer a short video about materials for the repair of polymer auto bumpers:

FULLEN POLYMER vs bumpers and wheel arch trims. What do professionals choose? | Repair of plastic cars

Related videos

Here is a short video on how to solder a crack in the bumper yourself:

Questions and answers:

What is a bumper for a car for? It is an indispensable element of the bodywork, the purpose of which is to provide a soft impact and damp the kinetic energy that occurs during minor collisions.

What are the bumpers? It is a body element or a separate metal cross member. They are made of metal (old version), polycarbonate, fiberglass, carbon fiber or polypropylene.

Why change the bumper? After a collision, the bumper may deform or burst. Because of this, it loses its rigidity and ceases to provide passive protection to vehicles at low speeds.

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