How to Straighten Bumper

[James92]

Hmmm.. any advice here? I dropped it off at the body shop and they were able to make it maybe 75% better, but I'd really like to straighten it some more if possible. It looks like a PO tried to tow a little too much weight. Thanks!

 

[eaglescout526]

When I restored mine, it was heat and a BFH to knock out dents and fix any bends. 

[ThatJeepGuy]

Back it into a tree... gently, easy now don't get too carried away.

[Eagle_SX4]

I think someone used that hitch ball as a recovery point. Only a quick hard pull would cause that kind of bend in the bumper. 

 

Using a large press would be the easiest and safest way to straighten that back out. I agreed with @ThatJeepGuy you could back into something slowly in low range and push it back in. Just don't get to crazy with throttle.

[James92]

Thanks guys. Yeah, the auto body guy suggested backing it into a tree as well. I just don't want to tweak it more than it already is or scratch it up. I was hoping to come up with some other idea... 

[fiatslug87]

@Gjeep sent his to S&S Bumper Repair in So Cal. Half way down page 4

 https://comancheclub.com/topic/74144-project-slippery-slope-–-a-’91-mj-runner/page/4/#comments

 

[DesertRat1991]

I got a nice result working with a metal refinisher to straighten a bumper. They usually have experience doing restoration work for the hotrod community.  They know how to patch, stretch and shrink metal and can also handle powder coating or chrome dipping.

 

Bodyshops just want to turn and burn insurance work.  What you really want is a restoration. Strip, straighten and refinish. 

 

 

 

 

 

[ThatJeepGuy]

Personally I think it's a fitting character for the patina your truck apparently has (peeling clear and faded). It'd be a shame to go soo far out of the way to straighten a lighter duty bumper like that to only have someone schmuck it in a parking lit a week later. No bad joojoo here but losers will do as they do best and run away from honesty/responsibilty.

[89 MJ]

I’d echo bringing it to a metal shop or a chrome shop and having them straighten it. 

[Gjeep]

Backing into things sounds crazy. Not sure what you're looking to spend, but the repair on mine which was somewhat worse than 92MJ's bumper was $350 ($250 repair + $100 shipping) for repair shipped back from them if I remember correctly. I had to pay shipping to their shop. I should mention the repair will cost less if you remove all the plastic and ship it metal bumper only.  http://ssbumperrepair.com/

[James92]

Alright, thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll call up some metal shops in the area and see what they can do.

 

S&S did a really great job on GJeep's bumper! It looks like there's a couple of bumper shops closer to me that I'll look into before considering shipping mine. I do agree that my truck doesn't need a perfect restoration bumper. I mainly just want it a little better than it is. 

[pizzaman09]

If you don't have a press, park the truck near a very solid object, like a tree, then use a bottle jack to carefully push the bumper back to shape, probably with a 2x4 piece at the contact point with the bumper.