Fix Front Bumper Scratches 2005 Matrix XR (?)

[Matreks]

Well, after saying "damn it" about 50 times, among other things, I finally made some time to post here. I guess the first scratch always hurts the most.

I always make sure not to part right up to any curbs so as to not scratch my Matrix's front bumper or skirt, although it would clear most, but I got bit by a large pot hole instead. A large amount of rain fruther washed out a rut caused by semi-drivers jumping a curve and I ended up scratching the underside of the front bumper when I came out of a unseen and water covered hole . There are about 10 or so horizontal scratches on the very front corner of the bumper near the passenger's fog light (you need to get down on your knees to see them). There is no structural damage, but the scratches are deep; I guess you might say they look like a tiger used his front paws on the bumper.

I am wondering what the best way to repair them will be? Is there any type of product I could use myself to fill the heavy scratches in and them buff out so you'd never know they were there? I am perfectly willing to do the entire process by hand if that what it takes. I have a stock black bumper with fog lights and factory skirts (2005 XR). No doubt a body shop or a Toyota dealer will want at least couple hundred bucks just to look at it - lol.

[mistamatrix]

Here's what 808matrix did to fix his. I realize the front bumpers are different but the effort would be the same and gives you an idea what kind of task is ahead of you...


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alright. today i got tired of seeing my front lip all scratched up. so, i decided to fix them


what i used

10mm socket and ratchet
phillips screw driver
flat head screw driver
sanding block
320 sand paper
400 wet/dry sand paper
wax and grease remover
laquer thinner
shop towels
primer
bundo and hardener
plastic knife
small empty bucket, or a canister to hold all bolts and clips
clamps

work area

an empty table, one that you dont mind spraying on or using it as a shelf
a well vented garage
mosquito punks (optional) :razz:

Step one: estimated time - 5 to 10 minutes

Remove the front bumper.



Step two: 3 minutes

Remove the clips that hold the front lip and valences together.

Step three: 5 to 15 minutes

Take a sanding block, and attack 320 dry sandpaper on it, sand where most of the scratches are, till most of the "peelings" are gone. at this point, you will want to take off the rubber trim on the top of the valences.







Step four: 5 to 10 minutes

take a small sheet of 320 sanding paper. (take the whole sheet, fold in half, then fold in half again, and take part of the 4 pieces); use this sheet to sand down areas around the scratches, and the scratches itself. you will want to go down to the primer, or to the original black color, depending on how deep your scratch is. sand with the paper in YOUR HAND, not on the block, you should sand till you see no shiny clearcoat reflections in any angle of light.

Step five: 5 to 10 minutes

once you think its smooth enough, around the scratch and the scratch itself. wash the piece, then take 400grit wet/dry sandpaper and wetsand the whole piece, except for the clips, and the 2 flipping things (you'll see what i mean) sand the edges also. just sand the piece till its smooth to your liking.



that's a pic after it finished air drying

Step 6: 3 to 5 minutes

take some wax and grease remover. pour some on a twice folded shop towel, wipe down the WHOLE piece, just the outside. when you are done, take a fresh shop towel from the roll, and wipe down the piece again.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88...w%20to/ht3.jpg

Step 7: various

put the valence on something that will allow you to paint easier, from a top down perspective. take your can of primer* and apply a coat so you cant see any of the original color. try to paint evenly. wait for about 4 hours for it to dry completely

Step 8: take a 3 hour break :-D

Step 9: various

well, when the primer is dry, you'll notice that i've never told you to sand down the scratches till its gone. this is where bundo comes in! mix your bundo and hardener together, then take your plastic knife, and trusty butter spreading skills, to apply the bundo in the scratches. apply it in the scratch, and make a little "dome" over it. do this to all scratches to fill them in.

dome - fill more than the exact. ever baked something before? when measuring flower or sugar with the cup, you ALWAYS made it exact? well for this you dont, take a spoon and scoop some sugar, shake "some off" and you have a little bit more than a teaspoon. THATS what i mean by dome.

allow a 15 minute break for the bundo to dry, at this time, you may go take a dump, yell at the kids for touching your stuff, or find food.







sorry if the pics are blurry :oops: but yeah, can you at least see those "dips" ? you fill those in with the bundo

[mistamatrix]

CONT'D...

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Step 10:

the bundo should be dry and ready to sand! attach some dry 400 sand paper to a sanding block, then sand away till the bundo is flush! now, what hand do you write with? left? right? both? well, which ever you do, run a finger across the places you applied bundo to after you finished them sanding flush. if it runs smoothly, GOOD JOB! you dont need to do anything more but primer!

but if you feel a small bump, or a small pothole, then redo steps 9 and 10 till its flush. or you can just skip it :razz:





Step 11: various

alright! now, repeat steps SEVEN then FIVE, but treat seven as primering enough so you dont see any bundo showing. and do step five AFTER the 4 hours.

THE FINAL PRODUCT

shown with ONE coat of primer










Step 12: various

yay! you've reached the final phase! :-D

from then on, you can either

1) go to a body shop for them to color match and paint it

or

2) buy the color matched paint, clearcoat, air compressor and spray gun.

if you have picked number 1

thank you for reading my how to! i hope you did a decent job so that no scratches show up when the body shop paints your valences

if you have picked number 2

remember that little mount you made for when primering? well make sure it can withstand the force of a spraygun.

mix the paint, the reducer and hardner to the reccomended specs (ask the person who sold you the paint if this is your first time doing this)

editors note: the place you bought the paint from, tell them you need everything, they should throw in the following to your paint purchase

mixing sticks
mixing buckets
filters

they will also instruct you on how to mix and use everything, so listen. if they dont tell you....well go to another paint place and ask them.

wipe on wax and grease remover once more, and wipe it off. put the piece on your mount, and spray it like you were primering. give it nice and easy LIGHT coats. go side to side. paint the edges too.

done? ok good, take a 20 minutes bathroom/food hunting break

step 13: various

after the break, apply a second coat of the paint! remember, nice and easy light coats. side to side, and the edges.

now, take a 30 minute break, go watch tv, refresh, i dont know, just go cruise for 30 minutes

step 14: various

YAY you've done it! you have fixed those (nasty)scratches on your front valences, all you need now is the clear coat! :grin:

mix the clearcoat, hardener, and reducer to reccomended specs.

pour some lacquer thinner into the the spray gun to clean it, and SPRAY all of it out, but spray AWAY from the valence, you dont want to ruin what you just created.

when you are done cleaning the spray gun, put in the clear coat, and spray away!

go from side to side, giving a light coat, the edges too. now, DO IT AGAIN. so this time, its 2 light coats instead of 1.

wait 20 minutes again, then spray 2 light coats again.

let dry 2 hours for clear coat, and 48 hours for paint to cure.

clean up the work area, re-attach the valences to the bumper, and be very very careful putting the bumper back on before you create another scratch, and you'll probably yell at the top of your lungs, and i'd probably hear you scream from the middle of the ocean

admire your freshly reborn front valences, take pictures, and post them!

step 15: various

treat yourself or you and you wife/fiance/girlfriend/friends to a nice warm pizza and a ice cold pepsi.

tips and tricks

use a well vented garage, if you can, use a spray booth, inhaling paint is a no no, and you do not want overspray all over your stuff

instead of spray can primer, use a spraygun get industrial primer, it dries faster than spray can, and you can apply one more coat because of the saved drying time

if you doubt your painting skills, practice on something till you are confident enough

after each painting session, take a breather of fresh air for about 5 minutes

a radio is nice

any questions? ask me, i just typed this off the top of my head of what i did earlier.

[mistamatrix]

And here's another approach by dreday...

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this is how i got em.


here is the first step, sand all loose and pieling paint, bondo all issues.

next i prime the pieces,

then i spot putty any touch up areas

i then reprime and put on the final coats x3


all fine and dandy :wink:

[xrs22]

good work. You don't need that much bondo though to what a couple of coats of primer will fill. Doin' the work yourself will save u money but check around for prices. Mine only cost like $50or so to do since the scuffs were already on there before i left the dealership, which they paid for. If you get the paint yourself the code should be on the door then go to a local paint shop and get a pint of Omni brand paint for whatever the color is. A flex agent is also a recommendation too to stop spider webb crack if the bumper is hit. Well depends on how hard it's hit too. Yeah but check around first if it's not expensive then have someone else do it unless u want to do it yourself. But u can get the paint yourself and have them use it just get it back in case of any touch up.

[Kanata_Matrix]

Hey guys,
Anybody have done to fix up a small dent/scratch from the front hood - it's about half an inche in diameter . I got a freakin rock hit my hood when I drove under an overpass on highway.
I bought some touch up pen from stealership. So I need some good advice or instruction.

Thanks