In many cases, a cracked front bumper — while often not a serious issue — is something that can render your vehicle undrivable due to the fact that it will drag the ground as you are driving. Thankfully, there is a quick and easy way to temporarily fix this issue.
So how do you fix a cracked front bumper?
Automotive YouTuber ChrisFix explains how to easily fix your cracked bumper using a method known as the “drifter’s stitch.”
- Gather zip ties, a drill, drill bits, and duct tape.
- Close the crack together using tape.
- Drill holes in the bumper along both sides of the crack then remove the tape.
- Place zip ties in the holes in a criss-cross pattern and tighten them.
Below, we will cover this extremely easy and effective method for fixing a cracked bumper in more detail so that you are able to complete a temporary fix for your own cracked bumper and get back on the road.
How to Perform the Drifter’s Stitch
Named such due to the fact that professional drifters tend to encounter a lot of cracked bumpers caused by hitting the walls of a track during a drift, the drifter’s stitch is a method for quickly repairing cracked bumpers in a way that looks halfway decent and makes the vehicle drivable again.
While not a permanent solution, this method can get you back on the road while you are waiting for a good time to take your vehicle in for repairs.
To repair a cracked bumper using the drifter’s stitch, you will want to start by closing the edges of the crack together using a piece of duct tape that runs the length of the crack.
Once the crack is closed, begin drilling holes along both sides of the crack that are about a finger’s width away from the crack and an inch apart from one another. Once these holes are drilled, you can then remove the duct tape and begin threading your zip ties through the holes in a criss-cross pattern.
This pattern will hold the bumper together more tightly as well as look a little better than a straight-across stitch pattern. Once you’ve tightened these zip ties in place along the length of your bumper’s crack, you can rest assured that it will not come apart again while you are driving.
Where to Find Important Maintenance info About Your Vehicle
Knowing how to repair common issues with a vehicle such as a cracked bumper is a great way to save yourself a lot of stress and money. Thankfully, Vehicle History makes it easy to learn everything there is to know about any make and model, including maintenance info and beyond.
