How to Fix Dents Using Suction Cups

Body dents remain one of the most common repair areas on an automotive vehicle, and everyone has experienced one or more dents in some form or another. Dents can be very expensive, depending upon their severity and location; body shops glean premium prices for labor and parts. Fortunately suction cup dent pullers cost little, are easy for the layman to operate and can save untold labor time and expense. Learning to use a suction cup dent puller requires some practice and a keen eye.

Instructions

1

Examine the dent you wish to pull, and determine if it is a good candidate for a suction cup puller. Flat or slightly crowned areas, like hoods, door panels, some fenders, roofs and trunks present the best surfaces for suction cup dent repair. Ridges, dented edges, high crowns (sharp rises) and torn or stretched metal does not lend itself particularly well to suction cup adhesion. Large, shallow panel dents offer the best subjects for repair.

2

Mix a solution of dish washing soap in a bucket of water. Clean the dent area with a cleaning brush and soap. Remove all traces of old wax, oil, dirt and oxidation. Rinse with clean water and wipe dry with a towel. If the surface of the paint is pitted or oxidized, you need to remove it by applying some compound-paste abrasive, and rubbing the paste into the paint for three to five minutes. Wipe off the reside with a dry towel-you should have a very clean and smooth surface.

3

Clean the rubber suction pad with a brush, soap and water, if the pad is dirty. It is imperative that both the suction pad and vehicle's panel surface be immaculate. Spray a film of clean water on the dent with a hose, and push the suction cup over the center of the dent. If you have a suction dent-pulling kit, use a cup size that has roughly the same diameter of the dent or slightly smaller.

4

Flatten the suction cup completely against the panel. If the suction cup puller has a central pull-up locking handle, pull it up with one hand and lock it in place while you press the top suction cup handle into the body panel. Give it a light tug to verify that the puller has adhered to the surface.

5

Pull back on the top handle of the puller, with both hands, if necessary. Use a firm, slow pull and not a yank. Pull until the dent pops back into place. If the cup comes loose, check the cleanliness of the cup and the panel, and clean it again. Reset the suction cup puller and repeat the firm, slow pull. You can use your body weight for more leverage by leaning backward.