Help need to realign rear bumper

[Nitsua552]

I just inherited the Explorer and am trying to fix it one thing at a time.The rear bumper is pushed in like it was backed in to something HARD. I took out the spare and couldn't find any crushing of the supports.

Here's the other side

Yes I know I am neglecting washing it till the water won't freeze straight away

 

[adambant]

I have not looked underneathe mine at all but im curious if/how to fix this. Mine was also backed into somthing, but the whole bumper is evenly tilted downward a little as well as in. I though if i could just bend it or "pull" it back out and up a bit. Curious to see how you fare with yours.

Sorry no pic right now.

Adam.

 

[Nitsua552]

I think it was a low car,there's a little blue scuff.I'm thinking about using rope to hold it to a tree and then use a come-along on the crunched side. You can't see it because of all the salt aftermath.

 

[Joe Dirt]

It's just a few bolts holding it on, I would pull it off and see what's under there. Most likely one of the mounts is pushed in/bent.

 

[Nitsua552]

How do you get the bolts off

It's to small for a wrench

 

[Joe Dirt]

Not for some sockets though... Been there, done that.

 

[Nitsua552]

which ones though, there's three sets

 

[turboexplorer]

I was rear ended by a four runner and I took all the nuts and bolts off and bent the four brackets back to the right shape and then re assembled it. Super easy to take the bumper off but bending those brackets back was wicked hard. Took a press and things in my neighbors shop. Try to find a set of new brackets and just swap them out. With you and a buddy it should only take like half hour to do.

I used a shallow 1/2" socket and ratcht to get the bolts off the truck. If your going to take the whole bumper off then just take the four bolts that bolt the L-angle bracket to the frame off, then the whole thing slides off and you have better access to the others.

 

[Nitsua552]

OK, now I see where it bent the little tiny angle of the angle bracket.

One more thing guys, do you know where to get the small trim for the right side to finish the project up nicely? Its just plain missing right now.

PS There's no junkyard near me.
PSS Thanks to everyone that helped.

 

[turboexplorer]

Yup there is two bracket prices on each side. Usually the L-bracket that goes to the frame is the one that's REALLY hard to bend back. The other wasn't to bad with a big vise and pipe wrench with a pipe extension. Good luck, I found my front bumper brackets on discount body parts .com

 

[Joe Dirt]

I see turbo answered back on the brackets... thanx!

The trim piece is a junkyard piece, since you don't have one near you, I would hit up one of our used parts vendors like kbabiak or ped5stang. I can keep an eye out at the yards too, I may go tomorrow if I'm feeling up to it. Just post a note if you've found one...

 

[Nitsua552]

out of all the sets of wrenches and sockets they all stop just short at 11/16". Home improvement store trip. YAY!!!!!!!!!!! I'm like a kid in a candy store...