Rear Bumper Crack

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Mar 22, 2003 | 04:35 PM

Reno67

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Oct 2002

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Rear Bumper Crack

There is a crack at the bottom passenger side of my rear bumper. :cry

http://home.cfl.rr.com/digster2/DSC00339.JPG

Is this something that can be repaired or do yall think a new bumper is needed? On the driver side, flex cracks have developed in the paint and I was wanting to remove it and have it repainted. If I need to get another bumper, now is obviously the best time.

If a new bumper is needed, any suggestions on which kind: Plastic, fiberglass, flex-fit (which I think is flexible fiberglass)?

Thanks much

[Modified by 96GhostLT4, 4:36 PM 3/22/2003]

Mar 22, 2003 | 06:55 PM

vette_dreamer

Melting Slicks

Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 3,019

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From: North Dallas, TX

Re: Rear Bumper Crack (96GhostLT4)

If you can't see it from behind, why fix it. I'd save the money for later. Just use some duct tape to tape it from underneath.

Mar 22, 2003 | 07:04 PM

69mako

Race Director

Joined: Jan 2000

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From: USA. Northern Virginia

Re: Rear Bumper Crack (vette_dreamer)

Duct it! :thumbs:

Mar 22, 2003 | 07:17 PM

Iroc

Pro

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Re: Rear Bumper Crack (vette_dreamer)

Been there, done that :yesnod:

A couple summers back somebody backed into that same corner of the rear bumper but didnt crack the bumper cover. It spiderwebed the paint so I took it to the local Chevy paint department and had them deal with it. About the time I was going to have the car painted it was spiderwebbing again in the same area. So I put on a good used bumper cover. It was pretty easy but some studs snapped when I took the old one off. Luckily they were part of the bumper cover itself and the new cover had alls studs intact. I did it all my self, pretty easy. But it doesn't match perfectly to the rear quarter but came out looking very good. You have to push, tug & pull it as you tighten the corner nuts to get alignment.

As a side note, the rear side lenses that are in the bumper cover have 2 nuts to hold them on from the inside. Mine were rusted to the stud and it just turned. Might take some creativity to transfer the lenses.

Since I went with a used bumper cover I saved a bundle$. But if you go fiberglass and if you ever get hit you can repair it without having to put on a new bumper cover. Not sure how fiberglass will fit since the stock type is flexible.

[Modified by Iroc, 7:18 PM 3/22/2003]

Mar 23, 2003 | 02:23 AM

stinger95

Drifting

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 1,444

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From: lakeview new york

Cruise-In IV Veteran

Re: Rear Bumper Crack (vette_dreamer)

Quote:

If you can't see it from behind, why fix it. I'd save the money for later. Just use some duct tape to tape it from underneath.

:nono: Just replace it and do it right!

Mar 23, 2003 | 12:10 PM

Reno67

Thread Starter

Instructor

Joined: Oct 2002

Posts: 215

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Re: Rear Bumper Crack (96GhostLT4)

Thanks for the replies. I think I will duct tape it until I get around to removing it and replacing it. Has anyone bought the flex-fit? Wondering how that item is. I kinda would like to get something strong so I won't have spider crack problems again like I have now with the plastic one.

thanks

Mar 24, 2003 | 05:29 AM

wake

Race Director

Joined: Mar 1999

Posts: 16,950

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From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...

Re: Rear Bumper Crack (96GhostLT4)

I just had the nose and tail on my Vette repaired last month... I was going to get new bumper covers from GM, but the body guy talked me into getting the current ones refurbed instead...

His explanation was that most of them come from the suppliers (GM, Ford, Dodge, etc) a little warped right out of the box, so I could be less satisfied than I was with the old ones... The shop they use to refurb the ABS plastic pieces was supposed to be very good and I have to say, I'm impressed...

Also, the cost was just a little over half of what new covers would have cost me... That was another added benefit...

Oh, you're looking at around $1200-$1500 for remove, refurb, and reinstall for both nose and tail... The nose actually costs more also because it is difficult to line up correctly... The shop showed me the book and it lists 8hrs labor for nose remove and reinstall... When I picked it up, the shop owner told me they had to do it twice because it didn't line up correctly...

I believe the rear was 4.5hrs labor R&R...

Mar 24, 2003 | 07:10 AM

Red Tornado

Team Owner

Joined: Sep 2002

Posts: 22,209

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From: OBAMA IS HITLER

Re: Rear Bumper Crack (96GhostLT4)

I would recommend NOT replacing it, but simply get it repaired at a very reputable body shop. Believe me, cracks due to impact almost invariably include lots of spiderweb cracks way beyond the small impact site when it comes to fiberglass. A new rear bumper is quite expensive, and repairing
by a good shop will do the trick. Good luck! :seeya