are your rubber bumpers dull??

[79MGB16]

If they are dull buy a can of armor all tire foam (see link). I sprayed the bumpers down, completely covered them in foam and let it sit like 10 mins. Then wipe off the excess. I am pretty sure this stuff moisturized the rubber, which is most likely dried out over the years, and now all i have to do is use a little armor all origional to shine them up.

https://www.armorall.com/prodcat/pages/tires_2.18.html

Worked great for me, but if you try it and your bumpers fall off don't come hunt me down.

Thanks,
Robert

 

[Basil]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 79MGB16:
If they are dull buy a can of armor all tire foam (see link). I sprayed the bumpers down, completely covered them in foam and let it sit like 10 mins. Then wipe off the excess. I am pretty sure this stuff moisturized the rubber, which is most likely dried out over the years, and now all i have to do is use a little armor all origional to shine them up.

https://www.armorall.com/prodcat/pages/tires_2.18.html

Worked great for me, but if you try it and your bumpers fall off don't come hunt me down.

Thanks,
Robert<hr></blockquote>

Hmmm. I may have to try that on my Spit bumbers.

 

[Guest]

I just took 'em off

 

[tony barnhill]

I haven't figured out the big deal yet...I just clean mine with denatured alcohol, lightly sand them, & shoot them with black paint out of a can....lasts about 5 years before you have to do it again...&, makes them look brand new!

 

[Steve]

My bumpers are not exactly dull, but they need a thorough cleaning to remove the residue of previous shine-up products that were less than successful.....any suggestions as to a good method? I have no desire to paint them. Thanks.

 

[tony barnhill]

Steve..As I said, I usually clean mine with denatured alcohol...it turns a white rag black! I think that's your first step. Then, you could treat them with some type rubber protector - I'd not use Armorall though

 

[aerog]

Not to bash the new foaming stuff, but Armor All in general has a horrible reputation for destroying the materials it's supposed to protect so I've been a little hesitant to go back to their other products.

Aside from Tony's solution, there are products designed specifically to restore black bumpers, and the various other rubber overriders, etc, to their original condition - products such as "forever black" are supposed to do wonders to restore the materials, not just dress them up.

Meguiar's #40 is supposed to do a good job bringing rubber and vinyl back and works as a protectant.

[ 08-22-2003: Message edited by: aerog ]</p>

 

[Steve F]

I agree about the Armour All. It's addictive stuff, in other words, once you start using it you have to continue or it will destroy the rubber/vinyl. I think it dries the stuff out more than if it wasn't on.

I personally like Black Magic, but any "back to black" product works. I'm not a fan of painting them though. I think rubber bumpers should stay rubber, not painted. A repair shop once tried to get away with a nick in my bumper by doing that. I told them "no way" so the lady's insurance had to buy me a new rubber bumper (btw-have you SEEN the price of them in Moss? sure wish there was a place to get them used

 

[tony barnhill]

Steve...I have 5 used rear bumpers & 4 used front bumpers...all nice! &, as most insurance companies have it in their policies that using used parts on cars over a certain age is their policy, I've sold bumpers, fenders, etc to insurance companies to repair accidents!

[ 08-22-2003: Message edited by: tony barnhill ]</p>

 

[Guest]

I've found an easy formula that works well, without having to apply significant elbow grease. First, denatured alcohol works fine, but I've been using Wesley's Bleach White, followed by either Turtle Wax Tire Wax, or Meguirs (sp) tire gel. This is a no muscle way to get a great, long lasting shine.

Craig Kubiak
'79B

 

[tony barnhill]

Guys, there wasn't that much shine to them when they were new...they were - at best - a soft, satin shine....the ones on my '79 vermillion Red that I bought new look almost like new with that nice satin blush...the ones on my '74-1/2 GT that I painted with satin black paint look almost like the ones on my original car!

 

[Steve F]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by tony barnhill:
Steve...I have 5 used rear bumpers & 4 used front bumpers...all nice! &, as most insurance companies have it in their policies that using used parts on cars over a certain age is their policy, I've sold bumpers, fenders, etc to insurance companies to repair accidents!

[ 08-22-2003: Message edited by: tony barnhill ]<hr></blockquote>

Thanks Tony, actually my statement was a little "tounge in cheek" as it seems rubber bumpers are a dime a dozen, yet when I was "negotiating" with the insurance company I showed them the Moss cataloge and said "you can't repair it, it's not supposed to be painted, and i want new!!! by the way, I just happen to have a cataloge here that shows the current price"