Front bumper step rubbers

[oldporridge]

Last year I removed a decent pair of front bumper step rubbers in order to refurbish the bumper.

When it came to replacing the rubbers they appear to have shrunk a little and I can't stretch the rubbers enough to get them to line up with the locating holes in the steps.

Is there a trick to refitting them? Is there a method of expanding them?

As the rubbers are in pretty good condition I would prefer not to have to buy a new pair (and they are not cheap either!). Any suggestions welcome.

[1971 - early rounded bumper]

 

[Clarkson46]

When I did it, I used Waxoyl to lubricate everything and with persistence worked the rubber over the step bit by bit. The rubbers I used were of unknown age and origin but fitted in the end.

 

[buddysbuddy]

Its always an idea to fit these on a warm sunny day. Leave the rubbers in the sun for a while and the heat will make them a little more pliable.

You could always use a hair dryer (carefully) :shock: to simulate the heat, I imagine the effect would be the same.

Washing up liquid is a handy lubricant.

But what ever you do it takes effort to get them in. Keep at it!

 

[jjgreenwood]

er never use washing up liquid near your car. Its full of salt and abrasive rusting agents which is why cutlery is always steel (stainless) and sinks are always steel (stainless) or plastic. Just a little tip.

 

[ProfessorWheeto]

It also perishes rubber.

Hair dryer or soaking them in hot water will make them more pliable.

 

[easy]

It also perishes rubber.

Hair dryer or soaking them in hot water will make them more pliable.

Hot water is the one :mrgreen: works for bumper trim rubbers etc aswell 8)

 

[Guest]

son of a gun is an easy to find lube for rubbers, works great on window rubbers as well and is a good water dispearsant too.

 

[buddysbuddy]

er never use washing up liquid near your car. Its full of salt and abrasive rusting agents which is why cutlery is always steel (stainless) and sinks are always steel (stainless) or plastic. Just a little tip.

:shock: :shock:

 

[Araon]

10 seconds at a time in the microwave just dont tell the missus :wink:

much more than that and you'll start to cook the things without realising...

 

[oldporridge]

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll give them a whirl tomorrow.

 

[oldporridge]

Got them fitted - warming them up made a surprising difference. They wouldn't fit into the microwave, so I put them into a warmish oven for five minutes. which improved pliability no end.

Cheers gang.