Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

It's so hard to get those little rubber hood bumpers installed that I'm afraid I will rip the nipple off them. There must be a quick and easy way???

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

Just put a small amount of Vaseline on each pc, they will pull through no problem.

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

Soapy water, that way it evaporates and they stay there.

Brian

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

I use soapy water for that type of deal as well. evaporates and leaves no hot day run off mess. barring that idea, I have also used a dab of synthetic brake grease, a little goes a long way. a plastic pry tool can also help work the nipple into the hole, then a little rotation as you push in slightly.

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

The very best product EVER made for that....geez, I forget the name. It doesn't matter being it's not available anymore. It was made by 3M and in an aerosol can, crap, can't remember. Anyway, I have a can at home that I got when the EPA or who whomever made 3M take it off the market. OMG this stuff worked so good, for rubber window seals in doors, for anything rubber, it evaporated to nothing in minutes after you used it to easily slide the rubber into place. Window rubbers, anything, damn it worked good. The can I have I use like it is gold, very sparingly.

Brian

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

A little spit?

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

lick'em and stick'em in! or.....wd40 if that grosses you out

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

Some of the repop bumpers have been on the shelf for 20+ (30+? 40+?) years now, and are pretty hard.

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

I just cut the ones out of my hood that I installed 37 years ago!


Brian

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

If I can get a pair of small, 90 degree needlenose on the backside of a hood bumper type piece a little pull usually completes installation without lube. But there are some good choices if you need to make it slippery. Tire shine has a massive amount of silicone in it and does a helluva job helping put rubber and steel together. It's also great for keeping door seals or other rubber parts from squeaking and, for the folks who live in cold states, allows one to wash a vehicle in winter without the doors freezing shut. 3M silicone grease also works but is expensive. Tire lube also works but most folks don't have access to it.

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

The bumpers for my 58 had a hole in the center, inserting a small punch with a blunt tip stretched the nipple and they popped right in

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

I wondered what that hole was for!

Thanks guys, I used a combination of lubrication and needle nose pliers. The front ones fell right in, but the side holes were really tight.

Re: Tricks for installing hood bumpers?
 

3m still makes a silicone spray that works well....we use it at work all the time...
I also just reinstalled my 60yr old axle bumps...I didn't have the spray but I filled a bowl full of hot water and let them sit 5-10 min...and the popped right in....before the hot water they were hard a s rocks