Repairing front lip

hrhdi23 · Mar 17, 2009, 09:47 AM

Please help, I slid and hit a pothole and now the bottom lip on my 2004 Lancer Ralliart is now hanging off the front drivers side. The lip its self is not actually damaged.
Can someone please tell me how to repair this without having to actually replace it?????
Or possibly reccomend a lip repair kit of some kind...
Please help!!!!!
Thanks

Reefer650 · Mar 17, 2009, 09:50 AM

post some pics to see what were workin with

hrhdi23 · Mar 17, 2009, 12:59 PM

Thanks for the advice, I just picture...Please let me know you all think.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.

evosam726 · Mar 17, 2009, 01:08 PM

id say glue those clips back on but first take the lip off

EightZero · Mar 18, 2009, 01:48 PM

I just did this the other day, outside, at night, with only a flashlight, at -20 degrees Celsius. Good times.

What you will have to do is remove the bumper first. There are 4 black plastic poppy-uppy-thingies on top(I honestly don't know what they're called), 2 bolts behind the grille, a bolt and two plastic screws on each fender, and two plugs on the bottom that you have to use needle nose pliers to get off. Also, disconnect the wiring harness for the fog lamps at the bottom front centre of the bumper before you pull it off. It will take a bit of force, but a good pull on both sides of the bumper should get it off. I've done it by myself without issues.

Now, there will be 15 nuts connected to the bolts that are/were connected to the air deflector. There will also be 4 bolts/clips connected to the bottom of the air deflector. Take off all of these parts and put them in a safe place. I put my bumper back on at this point because my RA is my daily driver and I had places to be. Even with warm temperatures and water on the roads, I didn't have any issues with water in the intake(in my Injen CAI).

Take the air deflector somewhere warm and break out the sandpaper and epoxy. Sand down the areas where you need to reconnect parts, in this case the front left clips and more than likely the little angled connection at the bottom, and make sure the edges are clean. Mix the epoxy, I used Elmer's Epoxy, and place a light layer over the places where you're going to place the pieces, as well as a small layer on the piece itself. Hold the piece in place for roughly 5 minutes to let it cure, and then remix more epoxy and repeat with the other pieces. After this, store it in a warm, VENTILATED area for 24 hours. I didn't store it in a ventilated area, my bathroom, and walking into my condo was not a pleasant experience. If you want, you can further reinforce the joints with more epoxy.

Now, take of the bumper once again, if you need to. Install the air deflector by making sure that all bolts go into their respective holes on the bumper, secure the centre bolt and work outwards. Be careful with the parts that are epoxied, because they can break again. Once you have reconnected all of the bolts, simply reinstall the bumper.

I hope that helps.

samj601 · Mar 19, 2009, 05:55 PM

yea, just use some epoxy. I didnt actually take the bumper off to do it. My front lip was coming off from both sides and thats all I used and it hasnt off yet.

bruce988jl · Mar 19, 2009, 06:48 PM

I gave up on repairing my skirts, my rocker panels etc... But for a quick fix (doesn't last long) the automotive double sided tape works wonders. If you really want to get down and dirty pull the bumper and lip off like the other guy said, be sure to clean the mounting points and throw some nice plastic based epoxy on there and let it cure over night.