How would you suggest getting this bend out of my bumper?

Chris

Chris

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Okay, so my Mopar Rock Crawler bumper I ordered from Quadratec arrived today. First off, this thing is heavy as hell. Secondly, the welds look amazing, and the quality of the steel is very good from what I can tell. This isn't some thin, cheap, Chinese bumper!

One issue though. The area where you mount the winch hawse fairlead too is bent back on the upper part. We're talking about maybe .5" of a bend, and I'm not sure how it happened, because it was packed well, and there is no visible damage to the box.

Now if this was a small item, I'd just return it and get a new one. However, this thing is insanely heavy, and the box was huge. I'm thinking I can probably just pound it out with a rubber mallet (as I don't want to damage the powder coat on it), but I'm looking for suggestions on what others might do in this situation in terms of getting the bend out as best I can.

Here's some photos:

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Chris said:
Okay, so my Mopar Rock Crawler bumper I ordered from Quadratec arrived today. First off, this thing is heavy as hell. Secondly, the welds look amazing, and the quality of the steel is very good from what I can tell. This isn't some thin, cheap, Chinese bumper!

One issue though. The area where you mount the winch hawse fairlead too is bent back on the upper part. We're talking about maybe .5" of a bend, and I'm not sure how it happened, because it was packed well, and there is no visible damage to the box.

Now if this was a small item, I'd just return it and get a new one. However, this thing is insanely heavy, and the box was huge. I'm thinking I can probably just pound it out with a rubber mallet (as I don't want to damage the powder coat on it), but I'm looking for suggestions on what others might do in this situation in terms of getting the bend out as best I can.

Here's some photos:

View attachment 29372 View attachment 29373 View attachment 29374
Click to expand...
How heavy do you guess it is??? I told you the thing has some weight to it! Hence the rake I'm experiencing hahaha. Why can't shit get shipped perfect like it leaves the factory? I would suggest the rubber mallet, but I doubt that will work. Might try it and see what happens.
 
I wouldn't beat on it. Know anyone with a press? Or stick a good long pry bar through the slot and bend it back out. You could probaby do that easily once it's bolted up to the front of your TJ.
 
Chris said:
Okay, so my Mopar Rock Crawler bumper I ordered from Quadratec arrived today. First off, this thing is heavy as hell. Secondly, the welds look amazing, and the quality of the steel is very good from what I can tell. This isn't some thin, cheap, Chinese bumper!

One issue though. The area where you mount the winch hawse fairlead too is bent back on the upper part. We're talking about maybe .5" of a bend, and I'm not sure how it happened, because it was packed well, and there is no visible damage to the box.

Now if this was a small item, I'd just return it and get a new one. However, this thing is insanely heavy, and the box was huge. I'm thinking I can probably just pound it out with a rubber mallet (as I don't want to damage the powder coat on it), but I'm looking for suggestions on what others might do in this situation in terms of getting the bend out as best I can.

Here's some photos:

View attachment 29372 View attachment 29373 View attachment 29374
Click to expand...
Its steel so you can probably heat it up and reshape it, although you wouldn’t be able to get it perfectly straight without extensive work. If it were me, I’d be exchanging it. $700.00 for a bumper, it better be perfect and more.
 
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Would need a 40lb rubber mallet, that looks stout.

If you don't send it back, you'll probably have to bolt it up and put a strap around it to a tree and back up in reverse, gently.
 
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Bolt it up to your frame @Chris, and drive it up here on a Friday afternoon. We can straighten that thing out in about 10 minutes. I doubt that the powder coat will even get dinged up.
 
When I order those ARB rock sliders from them tomorrow I'm going to ask them to package them extra careful. These companies have to take better care with these high dollar items. If you do intend to send it back I would make them schedule a UPS pickup at your house. That damn thing is heavy as hell and you shouldn't have to move it again unless your mounting it up.
 
I wouldn't put heat (a torch) to it, as the coating would likely suffer some damage. Cover the area before wailing on it or putting pressure on it. I'd be more inclined to mount it to your rig, and then use pressure (some sort of "pry bar" for leverage) vs. beating it with a dead blow, or something.
 
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Can you heat that warped section up with a space heater or propane torch? Heat it up, take the heat away and take a block of wood and push the bend back to shape. Another option, heat it up, take the heat off and take a cold damp rag to the end you want the metal to go.
 
Starrs said:
How heavy do you guess it is???
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It's got to weight 75 lbs at least, maybe more.

JamesAndTheSahara said:
I’d be exchanging it. $700.00 for a bumper, it better be perfect and more.
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Normally I would, but this bend isn't that bad, and since this is such a huge item, I don't want to attempt to return it unless UPS came to pick it up from me.

Starrs said:
When I order those ARB rock sliders from them tomorrow I'm going to ask them to package them extra careful. These companies have to take better care with these high dollar items. If you do intend to send it back I would make them schedule a UPS pickup at your house. That damn thing is heavy as hell and you shouldn't have to move it again unless your mounting it up.
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The packaging was perfect. No damage to it at all, and it was packed well inside the box too. I'm not sure how it happened to be honest, I have to assume it happened before it was put in the box.

Jerry Bransford said:
Place a 2" or so wide piece of wood against the back side of the bend to protect it, then pound the bend straight by hitting the wood with a small sledge/BFH. Shouldn't take more than a couple mild-medium hits, that's not much of a bend.
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This is what I was thinking too. I'm going to try this first, as I think this bend is small enough to get out pretty easily.

bobthetj03 said:
Can you heat that warped section up with a space heater or propane torch? Heat it up, take the heat away and take a block of wood and push the bend back to shape. Another option, heat it up, take the heat off and take a cold damp rag to the end you want the metal to go.
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I think any sort of heat might cause the powder coat to come off, or who knows what. I'm going to try it with just a piece of wood and a BFH first, as Jerry suggested.
 
Jerry has the answer. Use a plastic faced deadblow and a block of wood. I also had to straighten that piece of metal on my new bumper from Amazon. Its not perfect, but its good enough. Did it tonight, in fact. Don't try heat...in order to get enough heat in it to make any difference in the malleability of the metal, you'll destroy the finish.
 
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Starrs said:
I was thinking in the neighborhood of 80-90 lbs. add a 60lb winch to the front and you've got a ton of weight there.
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Sounds about right to me. It’s a very stout and well built bumper though, I’m thoroughly impressed. Looks like a factory part!
 
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