Paint cracking up

[Screaming mad]

On my 94 maro Ive had the rear bumper resprayed 3 times now, and the paints cracked again! Now to make it look worse the paint is flaking!
How can I stop it cracking? Why is it cracking? I wanna fix this for good, not just another 18months!

[Jeff_in_Atl]

On my 94 maro Ive had the rear bumper resprayed 3 times now, and the paints cracked again! Now to make it look worse the paint is flaking!
How can I stop it cracking? Why is it cracking? I wanna fix this for good, not just another 18months!

When you paint a flexible part like a bumper you have to add a flex agent to the paint to keep it from getting hard and cracking.

Usually the flaking of paint is caused by improper preparations of the surface before painting. I had a body shop paint a bumper without priming it first. That is a no no with bumpers. It flaked off in like 2 years.

If it's doing either there is no way to stop it. The only repair is to strip it and do it right.

[TraceZ]

The only repair is to strip it and do it right.

Stripping it is of huge importance.

I'm guessing this is what is causing your problem. Did they strip it the last couple times they repainted it? If they don't strip it, and they paint over the old cracked paint it is only a matter of time before the cracks come through the new paint.

You have to strip off all the old paint first before you refinish a bumper cover.

[Screaming mad]

With a closer look it looks as though the bumper has not been rubbed down enough, it does not look as though it has been sanded? I expected to see rough looking plastic, but it looks like new!
This bumper has been painted 3? times now!
Each time costing me 500pounds $900?
After 18 months I dont have a recipt, do you think its worth going to complain at the paint shop?
As it keeps happening is the bumper maybe very weak in that area from a crash? or is the paint not made right?

[thenuge876]

Do you keep going to the same place to get it painted? If so its probably time to go somewhere else, but it may be worth it to go to the shop and talk to them and explain how it keeps flaking off. Maybe then can give it to you for free, 900 seems a little steep to repaint a bumper, but i dont know that much about body stuff, but i figure you can get a whole car done for a couple thousand so closoe to half that just for the bumper cover seems high.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

I had mine repainted at a GM dealership for $252.

[Screaming mad]

Do you keep going to the same place to get it painted? If so its probably time to go somewhere else, but it may be worth it to go to the shop and talk to them and explain how it keeps flaking off. Maybe then can give it to you for free, 900 seems a little steep to repaint a bumper, but i dont know that much about body stuff, but i figure you can get a whole car done for a couple thousand so closoe to half that just for the bumper cover seems high.

Well this morning I had spare hour, so I popped to the paint shop I had bumper done last two times, I was very polite and explained what had happened....

Guy said somebody must have hit the bumper cause it wouldn't just flake off like that, I tried to explain he painted it before and the same thing happened! And you can see plastic is shiny and has not been rubbed down...

He said 350 + tax! and walked off!

I will never use this paint shop again! Worst thing is this is a paint shop with a very good repetation!

Well least I kept my cool, and was polite Even if he wouldnt stick by his work, and just walked off!

Have to find new paint shop

Should I think about gettin new fender as well

[Joe 1320]

It could also be improper prep as well as no flex agent in the paint. See if you can find a shop that will use PPG paint. Most shops will offer a lifetime warranty on PPG paint.