If you were recently involved in a collision, your car's bumper may have sustained some type of damage, and you wonder whether you should repair or replace it with a new one. Consider the reasons below of why you should replace your bumper
instead of repairing it.
1. Cracks and Dents Affect the Bumper's Structural Integrity
If a collision cracked or dented your bumper, this damage may seem as though it is only cosmetic. However, even small cracks and tiny dents can affect the bumper's structural integrity.
When the bumper sustains damage, it is no longer a solid piece that can withstand impact. Even if you fix the bumper, it will no longer have the same strength as it did before.
If another collision happens, the bumper would not absorb the impact. This inability to absorb the impact could lead to further damage to your car's body.
2. Damaged Hooks Make the Bumper Unstable
Another reason you should consider replacing your damaged bumper is that the hooks that hold the bumper onto your vehicle may have damage. Even if you cannot see the damage, tiny cracks or chips may have formed on the hooks.
If these damaged hooks are subject to the vibrations of the road while driving after the accident, they may break. When the hooks break, your bumper will fall off your car and potentially hit another vehicle on the road.
When you replace your bumper, the repair shop also replaces these hooks. This total replacement of your bumper and its hooks eliminates the danger of your bumper falling off mid-drive.
3. The Bumper Can Hide Unseen Damage
When your bumper sustains damage during an accident, the chances of there being damage underneath is likely. If you only repair the bumper, you may not see what additional damage you have.
Underneath the bumper, a foam layer lies that helps absorb vibrations from the road and impacts from objects. If a collision struck your bumper, this foam layer often pushes into the car or breaks into several pieces.
If you replace your bumper, the mechanic inspections the condition of this foam. Then, the mechanic replaces the foam layer if damaged.
4. Previous Damage Could Lead to Future Insurance Claim Issues
When you only repair the damage to your bumper, you may jeopardize your success when you file future insurance claims. As previously discussed, the bumper's structural integrity is compromised when you only repair the damage.
Insurance adjusters know how repaired bumpers tend to be weak. If you are in another collision, your car may sustain more extensive body damage. However, the adjuster may try to attribute the current damage to the previous accident because of the weakened bumper.
5. Repaired Bumpers Can Devalue Your Car
Insurance adjusters are not the only people who know about the decreased integrity of a repaired bumper. If you try to sell your car after simply repairing the damage, the buyer is also probably aware of the safety risks involved when a vehicle has a previously damaged bumper.
Because of the previous damage, the value of your car will decrease because of the safety issues. However, if you replace the damaged bumper with a new one, your car's value will not go down because of the bumper.
When your bumper has damage from a collision, you may find replacing your bumper better instead of repairing it. Bring your car to Automotive Super Sports so we can inspect your bumper and any additional body damage. Then, we can suggest the ideal way to approach the damaged bumper, whether through replacement or repair. We're here to help you.
