How to choose a bumper for a car
The bumper is an important part of the car body, primarily performing protective functions.
To put it simply, a bumper is an energy-absorbing buffer device that is located in the front and rear of a car and allows you to avoid defects in the hood, headlights and other components of the car as a result of minor collisions or reduce damage in more serious accidents. It takes the blow when hitting obstacles during bad parking or in difficult weather conditions. Scratches, dents and cracks on the bumper are not uncommon, and therefore it often needs repair or replacement. However, this is a relatively small price to pay for keeping more important and expensive parts intact.
The functions of this body part are not limited to mitigating impacts on obstacles and other cars. There is always the possibility of a collision with a pedestrian, so when designing the front bumper, engineers pay special attention to measures to reduce the risk of serious consequences in such situations.
Both the front and rear bumpers often have special openings for fog lights and running lights. It can house some sensors, in particular, parking assistant sensors (parking sensors).
And finally, we should not forget about the aesthetic component. For some drivers, this is so important that during the tuning process, the part is often subjected to very significant processing.
The bumper usually looks like a curved beam with bends on the right and left, although there are other designs - lattice, tubular, etc.
Previously, steel was used for its manufacture, but over time, heavy steel structures gave way to lightweight aluminum parts. And now mainly synthetic materials are used - various polymers, fiberglass, thermoplastic, duroplast. As a result, modern bumpers are lightweight, resilient and resistant to temperature fluctuations.
To compensate for some loss of strength, the bumper is supplemented with an amplifier. It can be metal or plastic and is mounted under the bumper itself. Often there are regular places to install the amplifier, otherwise you will have to drill holes for the fasteners yourself.
If the amplifier is chosen correctly, it will significantly improve impact protection at speeds up to about 30 km / h. In a collision at a higher speed, the damage from an overly stiff metal reinforcement can be even greater than if it were not there at all.
There may be other elements in the design:
- grilles, they play a purely decorative role or protect the radiator from debris, pebbles and sand;
- upper and lower lining;
- moldings, these are mainly decorative elements that protect the paintwork from defects with minor contact with various objects.
Certain areas of the front bumper can act as spoilers to improve the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle.
In recent years, some automakers have been installing a single design called front-end on their cars instead of classic bumpers. It includes the elements listed above, as well as lighting devices, sensors, elements of the cooling and ventilation system. The frontend greatly simplifies assembly, but replacing such a device will undoubtedly cost a lot.
There are certain standards that regulate the installation height of bumpers and their energy-absorbing characteristics. This is necessary so that the blows fall bumper to bumper, otherwise even a slight collision can lead to significant defects in the body and components located under the hood. In addition, according to these standards, the bumper must protect the headlights, radiator, body and parts in the engine compartment from defects when hit at a speed of 4 km / h.
Bumpers differ depending on the car model, modification, etc. They may be different in versions before and after restyling. Therefore, it is most reliable to make a selection by the VIN-code of the car. This will completely eliminate the error. You can also search by Part number if known. In extreme cases, you can shift the burden of finding the right part to the seller, providing him with the necessary data about the car - make, model, year of manufacture, equipment.
The bumper can be with or without pre-drilled holes for parking sensors, have an amplifier in the package or be supplied without it. It is necessary to take into account other nuances, for example, the possibility of installing foglights.
Some bumpers are paintable, they need to be painted to match the color of the car. Others do not require staining, most often they are black.
The manufacturer is important, as it is for every other car part. Of course, buying the original guarantees high quality, but you will have to pay a decent amount for it. If you know who is its real manufacturer, then there is a chance to find a part of almost original quality, but much cheaper. Products from little-known manufacturers can be inexpensive, but cheapness is usually achieved through poor quality materials and workmanship. Do not be surprised if there are problems with the installation of such a bumper and you have to “finish” something during installation.
If you need to change the front or rear bumper, take a look at the corresponding Chinese online store. Here you will find not only the bumpers themselves, but also everything related to them - amplifiers, grilles, various inserts, fastening elements and much more.
Purchasing a used bumper can be a good option if it is an original part, albeit slightly worn, but without significant defects and traces of repair. If the part has been repaired, this can be seen by carefully examining its inner surface. It is better to refrain from buying a restored bumper, since it is almost impossible to evaluate its real quality.
In some cases, the bumper can be repaired. But only small defects can be eliminated on their own. In more serious cases, especially when it comes to tears, it is better to contact the service station, and the service organization should have special equipment for working with plastic.
