$150 Rear Bumper "Upgrade"

[MFP2241]

How many of the brass threaded inserts in your plastic bumper spun while removing the bumper retaining bolts? I was shocked to see threads into plastic to attach a bumper on an "off road vehicle". It's nothing short of idiotic. Catch that thing ever so slightly on a rock or stump or get it tangled in a bramble or a garage door frame, and chances are pretty good it is departing the vehicle and taking a chunk of the wiring harness with it. The harness connectors seemed far stronger.

Actually, I didn't have any issues removing the bolts from the inserts... they didn't really seem that tight, which shocked me a bit. To your point though, if they were overnighted I could see that being an issue.

Sponsored

 

[MFP2241]

The whole point of a plastic bumpers incl the ones on race vehicles - sacrificial so don't bend metal body and chassis mounting parts though hopefully hear or feel any mild contact first before rip it off.

In many cases they are as strong as the steel one, as bumpers, thus the DOT approvals but flexible. The structural is behind the plastic any way a single ultra light weight high strength beam....


I see so many trucks with bent bumpers makes me cringe.

I get what you saying, to a point. But if someone hits me at 15 mph or above in the middleof the bumper, that plastic bumper is flexing to the point the it his the frame behind it. I'd rather replace the bumper than a frame section.

 

[ThunderFlash]

To your point though, if they were overnighted I could see that being an issue.

It wasn't that the bolts were overtightened, it was that the thread locker on the bolt holding it into the metallic insert was stronger than the plastic the bumper inserts were threaded into. Three of the threaded inserts stripped out of the plastic trying to remove the bolts. I used a Wonder Bar to pry the plastic bumper off the stripped out inserts.

 

[23OBX2.7]

I get what you saying, to a point. But if someone hits me at 15 mph or above in the middleof the bumper, that plastic bumper is flexing to the point the it his the frame behind it. I'd rather replace the bumper than a frame section.

It's has a sacrificial bumper beam behind the plastic both steel and plastic will take the hits though a steel bumper more likely to cause perifoal damage to body on impact than plastic that's just deforms around the reinforcement beam....

 

[MFP2241]

It's has a sacrificial bumper beam behind the plastic both steel and plastic will take the hits though a steel bumper more likely to cause perifoal damage to body on impact than plastic that's just deforms around the reinforcement beam....

I understand the concept... Not trying to argue, but there are also "sacrificial" parts of the metal bumper that help avoid frame damage.

The Bronco steel rear isn't just one single piece, there are the mouning brackets, bolt together internal support structures, and the metal skin. All thinner than the frame and replaceable as individual pieces.

Of the 9 different off-road vehicles I've owned since 1988 (including 2 other Bronco gens), all have had metal bumpers. I never experienced any frame damage from a bumper strike, but dents yes.

I appreciate the discussion though.

 

[23OBX2.7]

I'm just referring to damage to he adjacent body panels from bumper skin.....have bigger problems if the hit is so hard have frame damage....they are both dot bumpers in the end.....

Sponsored