Rear bumper started falling off, panel gap increase
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 117
Likes: 3
From: College Station Texas
Rear bumper started falling off, panel gap increase
Walking by my 2014 one day I noticed that the panel gap at the top of the rear bumper cover driver side was all of a sudden more, there were no marks to indicate it had been hit or run into.
After getting the bumper off
Turns out some plastic that was heat welded together at the factory let go, the three red clips on each side are the only thing aligning and holding the rear bumper along that seam, the red clips snap into plastic that is heat welded to the bumper itself.
I used some super glue + activator to reattach the parts that had come off, but I couldn't get it aligned very well, the only adjustment being losening and sliding around the 4 torx screws holding the plastic piece with the 3 red clips, it's better than it was, but the passenger side actually looks correct with the top edge of the bumper lining up with the body
Has anyone been able to do something to improve this panel gap?
After getting the bumper off
Turns out some plastic that was heat welded together at the factory let go, the three red clips on each side are the only thing aligning and holding the rear bumper along that seam, the red clips snap into plastic that is heat welded to the bumper itself.
I used some super glue + activator to reattach the parts that had come off, but I couldn't get it aligned very well, the only adjustment being losening and sliding around the 4 torx screws holding the plastic piece with the 3 red clips, it's better than it was, but the passenger side actually looks correct with the top edge of the bumper lining up with the body
Has anyone been able to do something to improve this panel gap?
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 234
Likes: 21
Walking by my 2014 one day I noticed that the panel gap at the top of the rear bumper cover driver side was all of a sudden more, there were no marks to indicate it had been hit or run into.
After getting the bumper off
Turns out some plastic that was heat welded together at the factory let go, the three red clips on each side are the only thing aligning and holding the rear bumper along that seam, the red clips snap into plastic that is heat welded to the bumper itself.
I used some super glue + activator to reattach the parts that had come off, but I couldn't get it aligned very well, the only adjustment being losening and sliding around the 4 torx screws holding the plastic piece with the 3 red clips, it's better than it was, but the passenger side actually looks correct with the top edge of the bumper lining up with the body
Has anyone been able to do something to improve this panel gap?
After getting the bumper off
Turns out some plastic that was heat welded together at the factory let go, the three red clips on each side are the only thing aligning and holding the rear bumper along that seam, the red clips snap into plastic that is heat welded to the bumper itself.
I used some super glue + activator to reattach the parts that had come off, but I couldn't get it aligned very well, the only adjustment being losening and sliding around the 4 torx screws holding the plastic piece with the 3 red clips, it's better than it was, but the passenger side actually looks correct with the top edge of the bumper lining up with the body
Has anyone been able to do something to improve this panel gap?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,767
Likes: 338
From: San Diego CA
I had panel gap issues along that same seam on my 2014. After several attempts by my dealer to adjust it, they finally replaced the bracket you referred to. Still not perfect but much improved.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,433
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
My 2014 just developed this issue and it appears the rear fascia pulled away from the inner liner as did the OPs. As I have 42K+ on mine, it is technically out of warranty (although I do have the Platinum GMACC plan but the body is an exclusion so....)
I am planning on escalating this to GM as it is clearly a design and/or material defect since so many are affected by it. (I did go up against GM about my C5Z06 in 2008 and after months of effort, they finally agree to reimburse me for the amount I spent because of THEIR screwup.)
Anyway, it would be good to know how many C7 owners have had to deal with this issue and if you spent money to fix it or even if you haven't had it fixed.
(if you're interested in the gory details of my last go 'round with GM over these sort of things)
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...?highlight=BCM
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...?highlight=BCM
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...?highlight=BCM
(bookmarking this page for (hopefully) lots of folks commenting on their woes)
I am planning on escalating this to GM as it is clearly a design and/or material defect since so many are affected by it. (I did go up against GM about my C5Z06 in 2008 and after months of effort, they finally agree to reimburse me for the amount I spent because of THEIR screwup.)
Anyway, it would be good to know how many C7 owners have had to deal with this issue and if you spent money to fix it or even if you haven't had it fixed.
(if you're interested in the gory details of my last go 'round with GM over these sort of things)
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...?highlight=BCM
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...?highlight=BCM
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...?highlight=BCM
(bookmarking this page for (hopefully) lots of folks commenting on their woes)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
BrandonAGr, sorry about your problems. This wants me to think twice about installing a rear high wing spoiler (that requires removing the rear bumper) on my 2015 this fall when I retire. How long did it take to remove your bumper? Did you need 2 people for the job?
KenHorse, nice to see you around again.
KenHorse, nice to see you around again.
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 22,598
Likes: 14,557
Thanks for this post... sometimes things they do to make it "better" are worse. The C5 was tedious to take the bumper off, but you could easily line up the fascia to the quarters as you tightened the nuts on the metal bracket. This is basically it fits or it doesn't.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 267
Likes: 130
From: Effingham county GA
I had the exact same problem with my 2017 Stingray. The plastic heat welding along the top driver side of the bumper never took properly from day one. The fix was to replace the entire rear bumper after a fender bender.