Idiot Body Repair Shop - What are these parts

[mecheng]

Here is the before and after. I used regular steel rivets
But they won't work for the front bumper so I guess
I need to buy the plastic coated ones from the dealer

I can't believe they quoted $1500 to repair this.
It's not perfect but for the cost of rivets I'm happy

I also don't understand why insurance wouldn't repair it
Given they paid me more than the repair cost.
There is something more than money in their decision
But not sure what exactly.

[erikv11]

... I'm still at the office now, but I assume the license plate plastic piece can be installed without removing the bumper?

Absolutely. It goes between the bracket and the bumper, so that the bracket sits perpendicular to the road.

[scot850]

Nice job on the beating out. Want to come over here and take the small bend out of the RH front fender the PO put in behind the turn signal. Broke the tabs of the turn signal unit and then glued it in place! Actually got most of it out and what is left won't be seen.

Like you said, not sure why the insurance company did what they did if the repair was less than the pay-out. Take the money and run!

Neil.

[mrbrian200]

Like you said, not sure why the insurance company did what they did if the repair was less than the pay-out. Take the money and run!

Neil.

That is interesting.

[mecheng]

Nice job on the beating out. Want to come over here and take the small bend out of the RH front fender the PO put in behind the turn signal. Broke the tabs of the turn signal unit and then glued it in place! Actually got most of it out and what is left won't be seen.

Like you said, not sure why the insurance company did what they did if the repair was less than the pay-out. Take the money and run!

Neil.

My Nupla deadblow hammer came in use! I didn't want to use the ball peen hammer because it may leave dent marks without a proper dolly.
I think the 16oz deadblow works best with the soft face. Next time, I will buy some dollys. I also used a piece of wood to massage the metal, try that out.
Not sure if body hammers would have been better, but it seemed to work. Next accident I might invest in proper body hammers.

http://www.nuplacorp.com/products/?mode ... =StrikePro

[mecheng]

Like you said, not sure why the insurance company did what they did if the repair was less than the pay-out. Take the money and run!

Neil.

That is interesting.

Ya I said to the adjuster it must be more than just numbers, he responded with yes. I didn't want to prod any further. They gave us a rental at first because it was going to be repaired but they changed their mind, this is why insurance can be so expensive.

I guess it must be a liability thing, they don't want to fix it themselves.

[abscate]

Looks like 2 cm depth, 4 mm diameter for the ones I have...ordered from FCP I think?

[dyn blin]

For the wheel well liners, I use plain old 1" rivets from Harbor Freight. The work fine. I do take the precaution of placing a small nylon washer under the rivet head prior to placement- seems to help keep the liner from cracking.

[scot850]

The only issue I have of using plain rivets is in areas where we get salt on other nasty stuff sprayed on the roads, the plain ones scrape the paint in the holes which allows rust to form unseen. If you live in a dry area, then regular would be fine.

I did see someone selling packs of 15 rivets for $15 US + shipping on eBay.com. Over $35 free shipping in US if that helps anyone? At the dealer I paid $2.25 CDN each as a VIP customer.

Neil.

[dyn blin]

Good point, Neil. 'spoiled by Taxifornia weather and lack of road chemicals.