Straighten rear bumper alignment

[Crom Cruach]

Hi Folks, I’m getting a new dual exhaust system fit to the manifold next week, so I want to straighten my rear bumper before they are fit. From searching the forum I think I need to loosen the very edge bolt and then just use force to twist it correct. Bit nervous about the twisting part!

Is it the brace mount that needs to be loosened (as per photo)? 

 

Are you guys using a ‘hustler stick’ to move the bumper, or a DIY tool, or what? 

[Dtret]

Post pictures of what your dealing with. 

[Crom Cruach]

Good idea…

[Dtret]

I’m assuming the other side is the way you want it ?  That doesn’t look like a big problem. Try loosening the 4 bolts and that side and see if it will twist. For as big as them bumpers are they are pretty flexible. 

[Crom Cruach]

sorry no Dennis the other side is the same. I will try that

[Dtret]

That’s actually a good thing. That hopefully means the bumper is not bent or twisted. You should be able to adjust that to where you want it. 

[jft69z]

Those corner end pieces can be moved around a little by yanking on them, if you run out of adjustments with the mounting bolt holes. Seems a lot of times someone bumped into something along the way & bent them in, etc. Don't be alarmed if you need to give it a pull to get the final straightening, they move around pretty easy.

[Crom Cruach]

Thanks guys. Are y’all using proper tools for this or just a chain attached to some 2x4? Or possibly reversing slowly into something not too scrapy? 😨

[Scott S.]

I went through the same problem on the same corner.... Must be a blind spot on the left rear ? It was still bent after I got it back from the body shop. 

What I used was a 24" pipe wrench and wrapped the jaws with lots of rags and tape. You have to be VERY careful how you position the wrench, and do your adjusting in small increments to make sure you don't go to far. 

[Scott S.]

P.S.... You'll have to remove the tail light to get the best access. 

[Crom Cruach]

What a car Scott, rear quarter is a good angle. Thanks for the tips. 

[Scott S.]

Thanks, she's a little different after the new paint

No problem...... I've gotten lots of help from here, just trying to give a little back.

[jft69z]

I just tugged on the rear corners by hand, it bent pretty easy.

[Crom Cruach]

3 hours ago, jft69z said:

I just tugged on the rear corners by hand, it bent pretty easy.

I was thinking of moving the whole bumper to tighten up the gap across the whole length of the trunk lid, how does the gap look…

[Leghome]

The gap does not look bad at all

[jft69z]

2 hours ago, Crom Cruach said:

I was thinking of moving the whole bumper to tighten up the gap across the whole length of the trunk lid, how does the gap look…

 

Yes, as stated earlier, adjust the bumper to the best position allowed by the available range of all the mounting bracket bolt holes, then if the ends/corners look a little off, give them a tug if necessary.

Sometimes they were pushed in too close to the body, or whacked while someone backed into something so that the vertical leading edge isn't parallel to the quarter panel body line, as in your earlier pictures.

Adjust first, bend second if needed.

[Scott S.]

Keep in mind that raising the bumper will effect the spacing around the tail lights...... might throw off the vertical balance a bit. 

[Glen]

On 5/1/2022 at 11:25 PM, jft69z said:

I just tugged on the rear corners by hand, it bent pretty easy.

Well look at ya, Joe. We’re not all built like little Schwarzenegger‘s. Thanks for reminding us all of our inferiorities 😢

[jft69z]

1 hour ago, Glen said:

Well look at ya, Joe. We’re not all built like little Schwarzenegger‘s. Thanks for reminding us all of our inferiorities 😢

I almost spit out my lunch, lol.

I'm certainly not the exercise type, that's for sure. More like potato chips and cookies. That extra fat on the a&& helps when tugging on the bumper.

[Dtret]

Diet potato chips and low-fat cookies?  

[jft69z]

32 minutes ago, Dtret said:

Diet potato chips and low-fat cookies?  

Hell no! What would be the point?

[willie]

Joe if you ever get that big, that hot tub turns into a one-person tub!!!  You just keep eating whatever you want, butter pecan ben and jerry's.   lol

[Scott S.]

On 5/5/2022 at 5:41 PM, jft69z said:

Hell no! What would be the point?

Cardboard........ and more cardboard ???

[RON T]

Hold my beer! 🙈

[Dtret]

2 minutes ago, Searsman said:

Hold my beer! 🙈

That’s lite beer correct?