How to Pop a Dent Out of a Car

You can remove smaller dents yourself, avoiding the expense of a body shop.

One way to pop a dent out of a car is with a handheld dent puller. There are different types of dent pullers, including some that require holes to be drilled in the metal (that will later have to be filled and painted). Suction cup dent pullers, on the other hand, come in a variety of sizes (up to six inches) and are made of soft rubber so they won't damage the vehicle's finish. You operate this type of puller by placing it over the dented area, locking it into place by closing the handles, and applying outward force to pull out the dent.

Things You'll Need

• Suction cup dent puller

Instructions

1. Open the handles on the dent puller and place the suction cup over the dented area.

2. Secure the dent puller by pushing (closing) the handles together.

3. Pull the dent puller away from the vehicle with slow, steady pressure until the dent pops out.

4. Release the dent puller by opening the handles.

Tips & Warnings

• You may need to experiment a bit, attaching the dent puller in various positions to achieve maximum suction.

• Wet the suction cup before attaching it to provide better adhesion to the metal.

• If you do not have enough strength to pull out the dent, park the vehicle near a tree and run a rope through the handles of the puller, and then around the tree. Tie a knot in the rope. Place a tire iron between the two pieces of the rope, in a perpendicular position. Twist the rope by spinning the tire iron. This will gradually shorten the rope, putting greater tension on the dent puller.

References

• Autos.com: How Big of a Dent Can a Suction Cup Dent Puller Repair?
• Autos.com: How to Use a Car Dent Puller

Resources

• Auto Body Repair: Removing Dents with Suction Cups