Subaru Bumper Material and Bumper Repair
Subaru Bumper Material and Bumper Repair
Polyurethane (PUR), Reaction Injection Molding (RIM), Reinforced reaction injection molding (RRIM), Thermoset polyurethane — Most common on domestic vehicles. Yellow or grey in color. Bubbles and smokes when you attempt to melt. Thermo-set PUR sands powdery and can be smoothed with a grinder as long as you don’t use high pressure or high speed that causes the plastic to liquefy.
PUR and most thermo-set plastics are repaired by heat fusing and grinding a “V” groove and filling with urethane filler material and structural support (stainless steel screen) to the backside of the cracked material.
Thermoplastic Olefin (TPO), Thermo-Elastic Olefin (TEO)— TPO and TEO are a combination of polypropylene, an elastomer or rubber, and a mineral filler such as calcium carbonate or talc.
TPO bumper material sands in chunks melts like butter with high-speed grinders, feels like wax and gets stringy when hot, so keep this in mind when trying sand or grind a TPO bumper cover.
TPO bumper covers are the most difficult to repair because they contain 3% to 5% wax-based mold release within the material. The embedded wax makes it difficult for filler, adhesive, primer and paint to stick. Body shops prefer to discard a TPO bumper because the repair is so difficult
However, TPO IS repairable as long as you know how to prepare it. You must use a cleaner and adhesion promoter prior to adding any filler material.
Thermoplastic Poly Propylene— PP is semi-flexible, melts & smears when grinding, waxy or greasy feel. Repaired by heat fusing and grinding a “V” groove and filling with polypropylene filler material and structural support (stainless steel screen) to the backside of the cracked material.
Baja (2003-2006) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
BRZ (2013-2016) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
BRZ w/Textured Lower (2013-2019) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester 2.5L; LIMITED; w/Textured Lower (2014-2016) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Forester w/Sport Model (2008) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Forester 2.5 XS/XT; LL Bean (2006-2008) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester 2.5 X (2006-2008) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Forester LL Bean (2004-2005) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester 2.5 X (2003-2005) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Forester 2.5 XS/XT (2003-2005) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester L; dark gray (2001-2002) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester S (2001-2002) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester S (1998-2000) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester w/o Object Sensors; w/Textured Lower (2014-2018) Rear Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Forester (2009-2013) Rear Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Forester (2003-2008) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester Matte Finish (2003-2008) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester (2001-2002) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester S (1998-2000) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Forester base model/L; gray (1998-2000) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza (2015-2016) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza except WRX (2012-2014) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza WRX (2011-2014) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza WRX; w/Spoiler (2009-2010) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza (2008-2011) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza STI (2008-2010) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza 4dr wagon (2006-2007) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza 4dr sedan (2006-2007) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza 4dr sedan; RS/WRX (2004-2005) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza 4dr wagon; WRX Sport (2004-2005) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza 4dr wagon; RS (2004-2005) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza 4dr sedan; WRX STi (2004-2005) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza 4dr wagon; except WRX (2002-2003) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza 4dr sedan; except WRX (2002-2003) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza 2dr coupe; RS model; USA (1999-2001) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza Wagon (2012-2016) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza Sedan; except WRX; Smooth (2012-2016) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza WRX; LIMITED|PREMIUM (2011-2014) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Impreza WRX; w/o Sport Pkg; w/o Spoiler Holes (2008-2010) Rear Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza w/Sport Pkg; w/Spoiler Holes (2008-2011) Rear Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza WRX; Wagon (2008) Rear Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza BASE; Wagon; USA; Canada w/o Sport Pkg (2008-2011) Rear Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza w/o Sport Pkg; w/o Spoiler Holes (2008-2011) Rear Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza 4dr wagon (2004-2007) Rear Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Impreza 4dr sedan; RS/WRX (2004-2007) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy (2013-2014) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy Sedan (2010-2012) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy Outback (2005-2007) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy except Outback (2005-2007) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Legacy Outback (2003-2004) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy except Outback (2003-2004) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Legacy 4dr sedan; Brighton/L (1998-1999) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy 4dr sedan; GT (1997) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy 4dr wagon; SUS (1997-1999) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy 4dr wagon; Outback (1996-1999) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy 4dr sedan; except GT (1996-1997) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy 4dr wagon; except Outback (1996-1997) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy (1995) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy w/o turbo (1990-1991) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy Sedan (2010-2014) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy (2008-2009) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy 4dr wagon; Outback (2000-2004) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy 4dr wagon; Outback (1996-1999) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy 4dr wagon; except Outback (1996-1999) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Legacy 4dr wagon (1995) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Outback (2013-2014) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Outback (2010-2012) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Outback (2010-2014) Rear Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Tribeca (2008-2014) Front Bumper TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)
Tribeca (2006-2007) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
Tribeca (2006-2007) Rear Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
XV Crosstrek HYBRID; w/Textured Lower (2014) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)
XV Crosstrek w/Textured Lower (2013-2015) Front Bumper PP (Polypropylene)