Removing Rear Bumpers

[scodari]

OK Guys, I hope you can help me figure this one out......I am hoping there is some trick to this especially since we have already spent hours on this without success. We are trying to remove the rear bumpers off of our parts car; we were able to get the two top bolts off, but we can't get the last bolt on the lower part of the bumperette off. We've tried from inside the car and outside the car (through the taillights). We've tried regular sockets, deep sockets, swivel sockets, extensions, once again without success. Please enlighten me as to the best way to get to this last bolt? Also, does anyone know what size it is.

Thanks
Bob

[Ooooner]

If I'm not mistaken, it is a 13mm bolt. It should come off from outside, not inside the tail light area. The bolt is through the bottom of the bumperette.

[ungermm]

Yes, from the outside, in fact, the nut on the inside is welded to a bracket, so, you only need to use a socket on the outside to get the bolt out.

[opelgtworld]

Originally Posted by ungermm Yes, from the outside, in fact, the nut on the inside is welded to a bracket, so, you only need to use a socket on the outside to get the bolt out.

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by ungermm Yes, from the outside, in fact, the nut on the inside is welded to a bracket, so, you only need to use a socket on the outside to get the bolt out.

Which is often the problem, as the bolt seizes inside the nut, and the nut tears loose of the retaining piece (just a strip of sheet metal) and then both happily rotate without the bolt loosening from the nut. So then you reach in through the tail-light holes with the skinniest arms in the household (10 year old daughter works) or remove the entire spare tire shelf ( )and grab hold of the nut with a pair of vice-grips. THEN either the bolt loosens, or it breaks.
HTH

[scodari]

There are none so blind as those that will not see.....I never thought to look under the bumperette....duhhhh! Thanks all....it took me about 5 minutes to get them both off!
_________________________________
Bob
1969 Opel GT
1970 Opel GT
1987 Fiat/Bertone X1/9
1988 Taurus
1996 C280
1998 SLK 230
2003 Aztec

[opelgtworld]

Originally Posted by scodari There are none so blind as those that will not see.....I never thought to look under the bumperette....duhhhh! Thanks all....it took me about 5 minutes to get them both off! _________________________________ Bob

A picture says more than thousand words...