Front bumper side brackets pulled loose from bumper how do i fix this??

[Ascension]

Had no idea of this until the wheel and tire change and I started looking at gaining access to the fender bolts.
All the brackets are attached to the frame and everything looked in order -- at least at first. However the bumper seemed "loose' at the ends for some reason. When I got in there and looked both ends have had the pins pulled out of the bracket at the bumper so the bumper is only attached in the center not the ends. Been this way evidently since I have owned the car and now that I know about it how do I fix this?? Can I get the pins back in place and have them stay or is this bumper toast? They look like some type of a pop rivet that attaches the actual pillowed bracket to the inside of the bumper and on both sides they are pulled out of the brackets. Bumper itself has some light scuffing but seems intact except for the pins pulled out.

 

[Glen]

Can you post a picture of the broken part?

 

[Ascension]

Can you post a picture of the broken part?

Glen plan to do just that when I can get time to get the car up so I can get a good shot. It's the actual attachment point to the bumper skin that has pulled loose from the pillow bracket that connects to the arm to the frame. Looks like it has 2 pins imbedded in the bumper that press fit in the bracket and they have been pulled out. Looks ok at first until you move the cover and see the cover move slightly but the bracket not.

 

[Ascension]

Ok guys here is a photo of the drivers side bumper bracket that is loose. Note that the open bracket is not attached to the pin from the bumper cover at all and the hole is showing it went through. It's the same on both ends of the bumper cover and it's being held on only by the center bolt and front 2 brackets right now as both ends are loose from these brackets.

 

[nocfn]

Creativity here but good you have that metal part left. Gently remove and clean area. You may be able at worst to squeegee some jbweld or other epoxy then gently clamp it tight mating surface. Then another layer over the top. If you can get some 4"x2" aluminum, drill a hole in middle for that broken sleeve to go thru and the other good one. Layer epoxy over both sides for strength. Nobody will see the repair. Let it cure properly in stages. Fiberglass bondo mesh too but I like the aluminum. And a soda can would work just double its width and fold it, I hope that starts juices flowing. That's a $9 repair and if you are precise, saves you $691!


Or you could do what Glen is suggesting below!

 

[Glen]

The "bracket" is available new but installing it will require a bit of work on your part. Basically, you need to remove the bumper and take off the impact strip. Once off, you will see the screws that hold that bracket to the bumper cover.

 

[gsxr]

Looks to me like the "bracket" rivets popped loose... as Glen said, you have to disassemble everything to fix it. You may not need to buy any parts though?

 

[Ascension]

The "bracket" is available new but installing it will require a bit of work on your part. Basically, you need to remove the bumper and take off the impact strip. Once off, you will see the screws that hold that bracket to the bumper cover.

One problem with that Glen, this is on a face-lifted 95 034 so the cover is all one piece with no removable impact strip. Will pull the bumper cover and see what I can do with reattaching the bracket after I get it all apart.
Thanks guys.

 

[Glen]

One problem with that Glen, this is on a face-lifted 95 034 so the cover is all one piece with no removable impact strip. Will pull the bumper cover and see what I can do with reattaching the bracket after I get it all apart.
Thanks guys.

All 124 bumpers have removable impact strips, once you get the bumper off the car you will see how it works.

 

[gsxr]

All 124 bumpers have removable impact strips, once you get the bumper off the car you will see how it works.

Correct. The impact strip does come off, but you cannot remove the impact strip with the bumper on the car. Take the bumper off and the impact strip disconnects from the back side.

 

[Ascension]

Correct. The impact strip does come off, but you cannot remove the impact strip with the bumper on the car. Take the bumper off and the impact strip disconnects from the back side.

Got it. Thought you guys were talking about the black rubber insert strip on the pre facelift cars. Found that the center bolt is also missing so only the 4 center bolts are holding the bumper cover on right now. Plan on tackling that on Tuesday when I'm off weather permitting.

 

[gsxr]

Got it. Thought you guys were talking about the black rubber insert strip on the pre facelift cars.

It's the same piece. Pre-facelift is black, post-facelift is painted.

 

[Ascension]

It's the same piece. Pre-facelift is black, post-facelift is painted.

Don't understand here as the entire outer bumper cover on my car is one piece. If there is a removable "impact strip" it would have to be on the inside of the cover as on the outside on mine it's all one molded piece so??

 

[nocfn]

Take off bumper, on the inside near fender edge, 2 or 3 Phillips screws remove the strip, then you carefully pop tabs along the edges to remove

 

[gsxr]

Don't understand here as the entire outer bumper cover on my car is one piece. If there is a removable "impact strip" it would have to be on the inside of the cover as on the outside on mine it's all one molded piece so??

It may look like 1 piece, but it isn't. Check out Louis' photo below of a bumper with the impact strip removed.

 

[nocfn]

another view

 

[Ascension]

It may look like 1 piece, but it isn't. Check out Louis' photo below of a bumper with the impact strip removed.

Thanks for that as yep got it. I had to grab a flashlight and really look hard to find the seam but it's there.
My front bumper has seemed "loose" at the ends since I have owned this car but in looking at the mounts several times I could not find the issue till now.
Now that I know what's going on will work on addressing this as soon as I can get a break in the storms long enough to get at it.
Keep you guys posted here and THANKS!