Removing rear bumper

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Cab-ova pete
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Removing rear bumper

Post by Cab-ova pete » Wed May 27, 2015 8:27 pm

Why is one of the bolts just turning round? One bolt is normal and the other has a plate (slotted in the bumper) that is turning with the bolt? I've heard the rear bumper is hard to remove? I haven't tried the front yet? :roll:
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Northern Bongolow
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Northern Bongolow » Wed May 27, 2015 8:37 pm

mine did the bloody same when i did mine this week so i ground the nut off, easy really but a nightmare if you have a towbar fitted like mine.

i sought advice from a breaker and he recommends a pry bar to force the clips that hold the bolt heads to one side, if done carefully they dont break off. #-o

front is a lot easier. 8) .
Gasy
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Gasy » Wed May 27, 2015 8:39 pm

You started with the hardest one by sounds of it
Can you not get hold of the nut to stop it spinning
Spray it with oil ASAP to free it
Gas safe heating engineer / plumber if you need any advice just shout.
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Simon Jones
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Simon Jones » Wed May 27, 2015 9:15 pm

The bit that's turning is a square head of the captive bolt that slots into the bumper. If you can clean and free up the threads as well as jam something against the head of the bolt then it ought to come off. When you refit it, grease the threads and don't do it up too tight so it should be ok for the future.
Cab-ova pete
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Cab-ova pete » Wed May 27, 2015 9:23 pm

Nice one NB, Gasy, Simon, yeh I started with the rear coz I thaught its all downhill after that :lol: I didn't even get one side off? I'm gonna try wedging a screwdriver in the slot, I've blasted the bolts with some wd40, roll on Saturday :cry: thanks again!
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Simon Jones
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Simon Jones » Wed May 27, 2015 9:37 pm

It may be more effective to get some proper penetrating fluid such as PlusGas which will do a better job than WD40.
Cab-ova pete
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Cab-ova pete » Wed May 27, 2015 11:13 pm

Hi Simon I will try some of that, where is the best place for it?
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Simon Jones
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Simon Jones » Wed May 27, 2015 11:53 pm

Cab-ova pete
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Cab-ova pete » Sat May 30, 2015 9:03 pm

Well bumpers are now removed, the plus gas was the saviour of the day :D . Front and rear removed, the only bolt that snapped was the one underneath the front bumper, in the middle of the two plastic ones! There appears to be a lot of surface rust on metalwork around radiator, the bar which the rad sits on has plenty of surface rust not heavy but light rust which will come off with sand paper. If I take out 3screws that fasten the air intake(black plastic) to the cross member that the rad is sat on is this all I need to do so I can deal with the rust treatment and re-painting of the cross member etc? Is there a specific primer to use(spray) and any advice on which paint/colour, a colleague said paint it black but I don't like that idea, prefer to stay original, I think I need some green, correct code i believe is in the door jam? I'm having the front end sprayed at the end of autumn as the bonnet is faded but it looks dodgy with the rust showing behind bumper! The rear bumper is fine? No work at all, apart from it could do with new bolts, the number plates need replacing due to rust running through them from rusty screws? Thanks for your help and advice Simon, gasy, northern bungalow, I wished I could put some pics on of her while she's all exposed? :D
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Northern Bongolow
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Northern Bongolow » Sat May 30, 2015 9:08 pm

Cab-ova pete wrote:Hi Simon I will try some of that, where is the best place for it?
on yer nuts. :lol: :lol: :lol: .------ sorry. :oops:
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Simon Jones
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Simon Jones » Sat May 30, 2015 9:15 pm

On my previous van, the front crossmember just had surface rust so sanded and wire brushed it, treated with some silver anti-rust paint then covered it in black Waxoyl. Also gave it a good dousing inside.

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Personally, I would not bother spraying it to match the body colour as it won't really be seen and it won't have the same level of protection as Waxoyl or underseal. Black Hammerite is another option to consider.

Get some silver aluminium mesh behind the bumper and won't even be able to see your handiwork:
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This is the current van before I Waxoyled it and you can see the lower section was originally painted black anyway.

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Cab-ova pete
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Cab-ova pete » Sat May 30, 2015 10:23 pm

Hi Simon, where did you get ally mesh from and roughly how much? Can I get waxoyl on Sunday from anywhere? And yeh Simon " you know some stuff you do" :lol:
Northern bungalow "you will do"! :lol: didn't you read the post about Vulcans and heights in another great gone? Well my nuts perished long ago :lol: :lol: that plusgas ain't gonna help em :roll: nice one mate
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Simon Jones
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by Simon Jones » Sat May 30, 2015 10:32 pm

The ally mesh was from Halfords at about £20 for a sheet which was big enough. It was branded Ripspeed but I've not seen it for a while so I think they're no longer stocking that design. I seem to recall seeing plenty similar ones on eBay. Halfords also do Waxoyl but it's not the cheapest, although they should stock a kit with a sprayer that screws into the can. Stand the can in warm water first and it will spray out much more easily. It's messy stuff so be prepared to get mucky.
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Re: Removing rear bumper

Post by TheStinkyHippy » Sun May 31, 2015 11:45 am

Bit late to reply, but I had the same issue getting rear bumper off due to tow bar in the way and plate just turning.
In the end I used a heat gun to heat up the bumper slot before prying it off, made it easy to get off with lower risk of snapping.
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