Community Forums:

The first thing you want to do is remove the oxidized rubber. There are a couple of ways to do this. What's worked best for me is to use a citrus-based degreaser (I got the last bottle at a bicycle shop) and a medium to soft scrub brush. I've found that a couple of passes with medium pressure work better than trying to scrub it all off at once. And then you want to treat the rubber with a product that doesn't have silicone or anything else that's just going to add to future oxidation. I've always had good luck with products from Griot's Garage (www.griotsgarage.com), although I have not used their rubber dressing. They also carry a rubber dye in the event the scrubbing doesn't (and it sometimes doesn't) remove all the oxidation.

But don't paint it, for godsake. I've seen it done and it never works; the bumper flexes and expands, and the paint always cracks and chips.

Best of luck,

Michael