BUMPER
ABOUT USED BUMPERS
WHAT IS THE BUMPER?
A bumper is a fixed bar that is placed on the front and the rear of the vehicle to provide passenger protection in the event of a collision.
WHAT DOES THE BUMPER DO?
The bumper acts as a buffer to the front and the rear of the vehicle in the event of an impact.
WHAT DOES A BUMPER LOOK LIKE?
The bumper is a long, horizontal bar that can either be integrated into the design of the exterior of the vehicle or it can protrude from the front or the rear of the vehicle.
WHERE IS THE BUMPER LOCATED ON THE VEHICLE?
The bumper can be located in the front or the rear of the vehicle. All new cars, trucks and SUVs are manufactured with front and rear bumpers – as these are necessary safety parts to protect passengers from collisions.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A USED BUMPER?
If your used vehicle is missing a front bumper or rear bumper, it’s easy enough to find a used bumper at your local salvage yard. Before heading out to the yard, here are a few tips for what you should look for in a used bumper.
First, you want to make sure that the bumper has strong rigidity throughout the length of the bar. This is because the bumper has to be able to withstand an impact up to a certain velocity. Beyond the safety benefits of a bumper that is in good shape, you generally wouldn’t want to purchase and install a bumper that has been damaged on your new vehicle.
When looking for a used replacement bumper for your car, truck, or SUV, look for a bumper that is free of dents, dings, or more serious damage that may jeopardize the integrity of the bumper. From a cosmetic standpoint, look for a bumper that is free of scratches or rust on metal parts – or cracks or discoloration for plastic parts on the bumpers. If your bumper is from a newer vehicle, it may have a bumper cover – a covering that goes over the bumper and matches the vehicle’s paint color. If you have a bumper like this, you’ll likely want to find a bumper cover that matches your vehicle’s paint color so you don’t need to repaint your vehicle after replacing the bumper and bumper cover.
WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT A BUMPER BEFORE I PURCHASE ONE?
You can get a bumper as an OEM part that can integrate perfectly with a specific model of a vehicle or you can get an aftermarket bumper that can fit several model vehicles. Also, you can get an aftermarket bumper which is designed to complement an already existing bumper.
Also, you should make sure to inspect the reinforcement bar behind the cover and make sure that it is intact. The reinforcement bar is the most critical component since it is tasked with absorbing the impact of an accident.
WHAT OTHER PARTS ARE CONNECTED TO THE BUMPER THAT I MAY NEED?
Most bumpers will come with a mounting system. However, you want to make sure that the mounting system comes with a used bumper. The mounting system of a bumper will connect to the front or the rear of the vehicle. As mentioned above, some bumpers also have bumper covers which are part of the body of your vehicle and considered separate parts.
WHAT SIGNS OF WEAR SHOULD I LOOK AT WHEN BUYING A USED BUMPER?
Be sure to check for any cracks or breaks in the bumper cover. Also, inspect the reinforcement bar to see if it is free of any cracks or breaks. Also, check for any signs of rust on the mounting system. Finally, check to see if the absorber is fully intact. In most cases, if the vehicle shows no sign of being in a collision, the bumper is most-likely in good working condition.
You should consider running a Carfax Vehicle History Report on the vehicle using the vehicles VIN to check that there has been no front-end or rear-end accident damage that may not be noticeable if the vehicle has been repaired. In some cases, this may be a good thing, as the bumper may be a replacement part and in better working condition than the original bumper.
WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF A BUMPER?
A typical bumper should be able to last about 5 to 10 years. A well-maintained bumper can theoretically last forever. However, innovations in bumpers and strong materials may render older bumpers obsolete or less effective.
WHEN SHOULD THE PART BE REPLACED?
If your used vehicle doesn’t have a bumper or you’re currently driving around with a 2’x4’ or similar homemade bumper, you should replace it with a bumper that will protect your vehicle and its passengers in the event of a collision. You should also replace a bumper if the structural integrity of the part is compromised after an impact or an accident. For instance, if the reinforcement bar is cracked or broken, then the bumper will not be effective in the case of an accident. Also, if the cover is cracked or broken, then replacing the bumper should be considered.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT BUMPERS
WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF A BUMPER?
A bumper is made up of four parts:
- Bumper cover
- The bumper absorber
- The bumper reinforcement bar
- The bumper mounting system
Most salvage yards will sell all the parts as a bumper assembly and will typically be priced much lower than buying these parts as new, OEM replacement parts. Purchasing a bumper from a salvage yard is a great way to save money on your bumper repair for your car, truck or SUV.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FENDERS AND BUMPERS?
A fender is a metal structure that frames to the wheel well of a car while the bumper is mounted to the either the front or the rear of the vehicle. Fenders are commonly confused for bumpers, but are different parts of a vehicle.
HOW MUCH CAN IT COST TO HAVE A BUMPER INSTALLED?
Labor costs can vary from $48 to over $200 and a bumper will typically take about four to five to hours. Therefore, the installation costs can run anywhere from $200 to $600. Pull-A-Part sells bumpers for approximately $50 and bumper related parts are sold separately. For example, a bumper absorber is about $9 and a bumper cover is around $40. These prices are consistent across all year, make or model vehicles. You can search used auto parts pricing for bumpers and related parts on our website.
WHAT TOOLS WILL I NEED TO REMOVE A BUMPER?
The hardest part of removing a bumper from a vehicle at the salvage yard is loosening bolts that may be rusted. The most important tool to help with this job is a can of high-quality penetrating lubricant. You can remove the bolts mounting the bumper to the frame using a socket set, but your job will be easier if you also have a breaker bar to give you more leverage. Use a higher quality socket and wrench that won’t break under the amount of torque it may take you to remove the nuts. You may also be able to use a heavy duty wrench or adjustable wrench if the nuts are in good shape, just be careful not to strip the nuts in the process. In most cases, there are only a few nuts to remove to get the bumper off of the vehicle. Some of these nuts may be well-disguised and tricky to find. We recommend searching YouTube for a video of how to remove the front or rear bumper off you specific vehicle to help save you time and prepare before heading out to the yard to remove the part.