Lada Priora is the most popular and sought-after brand of automotive equipment on the market. At the same time, many car owners try to give their car an original appearance that allows it to stand out from the traffic. The easiest way to achieve this goal is to tune one or another element of the car's design.
Therefore, bumper tuning for Priora is considered one of the most requested services offered by modern auto repair shops and service stations. At the same time, you should not confuse such concepts as “styling” and “tuning”. The fact is that styling is understood as changing the appearance of the Lada Priora, and tuning is an operation in which elements of the body structure are refined and improved. As a result, their standard factory characteristics are radically improved, for example, tuning the bumper, both front and rear, can not only transform the appearance of the car, but also protect the air suspension.
Front bumper tuning
The front bumper of the Lada Priora is quite successful from both an aesthetic and technical point of view. It is worth noting, however, that not all dampers of these machines are made of high-quality and durable material. As a result, these structural elements of the car quickly fail and begin to require urgent replacement. In addition, standard products may be defective and therefore not fit in size to the standard mounting location.
In this case, the optimal way out of this situation may be an original method of modernizing the Priora, by tuning its front bumper. To correctly select the named element of the car body structure, you need to know the following points:
- a bumper made from too strong a material has the disadvantages inherent in all similar products. The fact is that even with a slight impact it can be damaged, cracks will appear on it and it will have to be replaced, which amounts to a serious amount of money.
- an option that is too soft is also unreliable, since in this case, dents may appear on it when the car is used.
- The product being tuned must be completely free of even minor damage and dents.
- On an accessory that will be subject to modernization, the class of plastic from which it was made must be indicated.
Separately, it is necessary to check whether the updated Lada Priora bumper has holes for fog lights. It is desirable that they be made industrially, since in this case this structural element will look best.
Young car owners love to show off their tuned front bumper with an original design. At the same time, they forget that this is, first of all, a structural element of the car, and it must fully comply with its functional purpose. For example, it happens that there are no elements for installing fog lights on the bumper, but in addition to the standard fasteners, it is possible to install additional fastening elements for them. Such fastenings must be used without fail during work.
What are bumpers made of?
Product options, their design, as well as strength characteristics largely depend on the material from which they are made. Modern bumpers, including those on the Lada Priora, are made of polymer materials, which can be divided into two main groups: thermoplastic and thermosetting. Thermoplastic materials are made from the following chemicals:
- acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS);
- polyamide (PA);
- polycarbonate (PC);
- polyethylene (PE);
- polypropylene (PP).
Their modifications can also be used. These materials are widely used due to their maintainability. When heated, they turn into a liquid state and are able to change shape, and when cooled, they can turn into a solid state an unlimited number of times.
Thermosets, such as polyurethanes (PUP) and fiberglass, easily take on any shape when the product is manufactured, but cannot change it once it has cured. This occurs due to the irreversibility of the polymerization reaction.
The material from which the bumper is made has a corresponding marking stamped on its reverse side. Such information about the structure of the part will be very useful when carrying out repairs in case of minor damage.
Rear bumper tuning
Choosing the rear bumper of a Lada Priora to suit the car owner’s taste is much more difficult than choosing the front bumper. That is why many car owners leave the factory product in order not to waste extra time searching for an original tuning accessory. In any case, even if you decide to modernize it, you should know that in this case, a pre-purchased finished product may not fit in a regular place.
In this case, it would be best to make the bumper and fit it with your own hands. As a result, you will eliminate all the shortcomings inherent in such a product and guarantee its original appearance and uniqueness. The procedure for performing such work is as follows:
- a blank is taken, for example, for a bumper for a hatchback sedan.
- Using a marker, the holes necessary for making additional fastenings and installing new lighting and other equipment are marked on it.
- Using a small chisel, holes are made, if necessary, for the same headlights. If there is no need for this, simply install a correctly selected bumper in its original place using screwdrivers.
- Since in this case the product used is usually exclusive, it will be necessary to think about the color. The fact is that such an accessory may stand out from the overall appearance, so it will have to be repainted. The best options would be gray, silver, old and black tones. It is imperative to use only special paint that can harmonize with the appearance of the car.
This completes the tuning procedure. If you decide to radically update your car, you should also perform the tuning procedure for other parts of the car.
Types of purchased bumpers
First, let's look at the range of bumpers that are currently on sale. Most car accessories are based on basic types of designs:
- "Sniper";
- AVR;
- "Fan";
- "Boxing ring";
- "Strike";
- "Tokyo";
- "I am a robot".
One of the very first tuning options developed for Priora was the “Sniper”. It has a number of advantages. Made from durable ABS plastic. It does not look too defiant, straight lines predominate, the fog lights are spaced far apart, which increases the spectrum of light dispersion. There will be no problems with installation; the fasteners are designed for factory holes. A small minus: there is not enough space to attach the license plate. Compared to the standard product, the front ground clearance has been reduced.
The AVR series is similar in design to the Sniper model. In the manufacture of this model, a large thickness of plastic is used. This type of bumpers has the largest color palette.
A good option is “Fan”. It is special in that the radiator grille is combined with the air intake. There is a massive form. The recesses for the foglights are made separately from the grille and are also spaced far apart. The lower edge is contoured with a “skirt”.
The “Ring” model was developed for both the first and second modifications of Priora. Characteristic Features: Raised, convex style that adds massiveness to the car. The fastening connections are standard.
Defense in the “Strike” execution resembles a racing element. Brutal angular shapes with separate positions for foglights. In the center there is one large trapezoidal grille, the outline of which is described in a color different from the color of the bumper. A plastic strip crosses the grille to secure the numbers. This protective element is wider than the size of the car, so you will have to tinker with the installation.
It’s not for nothing that the “Tokyo” option received such a name. This detail makes Priora look like a Japanese car. In this case, the recesses for fog lighting are located as far as possible in separate triangles. The grilles are divided, the bottom one is wider. In the middle is a seat for a number.
The last front bumper is “I am a robot”. The manufacturing concept is the iron style of the future. With such a bumper, the car looks like a rocket. From a practicality point of view, this is the most convenient option, because the favorable location of the grilles ensures normal engine cooling. There are also small grilles in the places where the foglights are installed. Factory holes are used for installation.
If you think that such options are not for you, use inexpensive bumper covers. This bumper enhancer will improve the appearance. It will also protect the grille from dust and dirt.
Some of the models offered do not have the ability to attach a tow rope. This is a clear disadvantage, because every car should have a tug.
For additional security, you can check the car using the VIN code. The VIN code is the identification number of the vehicle, so the check is based on it, and not on the state number. number is a more correct measure from a security point of view.
DIY bumper upgrade
If you decide to change the appearance of your car, you should try to modernize the bumper on it based on an existing standard product. This will make it possible to get a very attractive appearance of the car without spending effort and money on making it yourself. To update the Lada Priora damper, you need to prepare in advance
- epoxy resin,
- sandpaper,
- fiberglass,
- wire,
- mounting foam in a can,
- thick paper such as cardboard.
Homemade bumper
In the event that it is impossible to perform tuning on the basis of a ready-made bumper, the bumper for the Priora will have to be made by hand. Despite the fact that this requires special skills and abilities, it is in principle quite possible to perform this procedure. To do this, first make a wire frame in the shape of a trapezoid.
After this, polyurethane foam is also used to form the body of the product. Next, using the technology already described, it is coated with epoxy resin. The result is a new bumper of original design and design.
It is worth noting separately that if you do not know how to perform this kind of work, it is better to buy products made on the basis of polyester resins, ready-made and install them in place. Moreover, they are already equipped with a reinforcing mesh, which is already included in the price of the accessory. As a result, such a bumper will be more resistant to mechanical damage, so it can be used in the most extreme conditions.
Tuning the bumpers of a Lada Priora car is the best way to develop their functionality and ensure an excellent appearance of the car. In addition, this procedure allows you to protect the front and rear from minor accidents. Moreover, if you do not have experience in manufacturing polymer parts, you should purchase a ready-made product or create it based on an existing standard bumper. This will allow you to perform tuning of the product quickly and efficiently.
The main reasons for replacing a bumper
The Priora driver decides to install new protection in two cases.
- Replacement due to wear of old part.
- The desire to give the car aesthetic originality.
The practical side of the issue: replacement is simply necessary if the body part has breaks, cracks, or dents. Driving with such a bumper is not only unpleasant for the driver, but also fraught with a threat to vehicle components that are left without proper protection. After all, when driving, the shock load primarily falls on the front bumper. This barrier prevents shock energy from transferring to the radiator, engine and other engine compartment devices.
When replacing a protective element due to a breakdown, most drivers do not want the new model to be tuned. In this case, you can order a standard part from an official VAZ representative or at a car dealership. But even if you are not going to decorate the Priora, you can purchase or make a more durable bumper that will protect the car better than the factory one.
The second reason for replacement: the driver seeks to distinguish his car from the “gray mass”. After all, since 2007, tens of thousands of Prioras have been produced throughout the country, and the appearance of the car in the factory body becomes dry and unremarkable. And if you remove the bumper, we see that it occupies most of the front of the Lada. The overall picture when viewed from the front largely depends on it. Even the most primitive tuning bumper will give the Lada’s exterior more dynamics, character and style.
Priora leads the list of VAZ models in terms of tuning performed by drivers. It is most often tinted, lowered, equipped with spoilers and vinyls are added. Therefore, you can find many beautiful accessories for this car on sale. The market offers design solutions in various styles: futuristic, classic, brutal, sporty. You have the opportunity to choose protection to suit your style and preferences. But the abundance of bumpers, at the same time, is a minus. You risk purchasing an “incubator” part that is found on every second car.
An alternative solution that will save your money and definitely allow you to become the owner of a unique bumper is to do it yourself. You can remake your protective element without spending extra money. To implement this idea will require effort and time. But confidence in the original exterior of the future product will motivate you.
The advantage of using your own strength: you can “blind” an element of any shape and configuration. Exactly the way you want it.
