Rear bumper problem

[ncyrider]

Have a 2001 ST with the grey "tupperware" bumpers, and I noticed recently the rear bumper looks like it is hanging down on the right side. It's at least one inch lower on the right side than the left side, and I have no idea how it happened. When I try to move it/push it back up, it wont move. I have seen other sport trac's with bumpers that look messed up, so is this one an easy fix?
It doesn't look like a car hit my bumper because there are no marks/dents/scratches. Should I just remove the plastic bumper and reinstall it in place?

 

[koda2000]

just try loosening the 4 bolts that hold the bumper to the frame and use a floor jack with some pieces of wood on top of it to push it up where it should be, then retighten the bolts.

 

[Kjhadfield]

I think most often the cause is if ppl use the bumper ball, the load (over time) can tweak the bumper. Mine is lower on the right- not much but enough to bother me (but not so much to get up and fix it).

 

[swshawaii]

^^ Double ditto. Spray the bolt threads with penetrant first. Rear under carriage hardware almost always have corrosion issues.

Re-aligning the Bumper
http://www.mysporttrac.com/MySportTrac/projects/Re-aligningTheBumper.pdf

 

[429CJ-3X2]

Triple ditto^^^^^ There's only 1 bolt actually holding the bumper up on my '01. The others are there, but they're rusty enough they get tight before they make enough contact to hold the bumper in place.

 

[koda2000]

I didn't have any rusted bolts tend deal with (GA) but bumper bolts tend to be really tight. I used a piece of pipe on my 1/2 ratchet to loosen and retighten them.