Got rear ended damage to bumper

913 Views 23 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Hotfuzz, 19 h ago

Hotfuzz

Discussion Starter · 8 d ago (Edited)

3

Hello all,

just after some advice in relation to the state of my rear bumber.

Got rear ended at a roundabout today and cleary have some cosmetic damage to the right corner cover (Which I’ve now lost).
Im trying to figure out if the bumper itsef has been knocked out of alignment based on the rear view as I can notice the bolt heads at the top and not sure if this is normal or am I being paranoid? Possibly because of angle of view?

Either way I will probably go through the insurance as I dont want to go to the effort in removing the bumper cover only to find the metal section of the bumber is distorted.

Took a hefty wack though as as you can imagine there were a few expletives in the FJ!

No doubt getting the parts & clips will be a nightmare especially going through the insurance. Will see if Admiral work their magic.

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iwashmycar

· #2 · 8 d ago

From the looks of it a new cap would do the trick. Bumper comes off very easily. Should be able to source a cap from almost anywhere, and have it mailed in.

Not sure what its like there but here, a claim would end up costing whatever deductible (that likely costs more than that part), raised rates for the foreseeable few years due to a claim, and a note on the CarFax sullying the reputation of the vehicle for resale.

Reactions: 1

norm356

· #3 · 8 d ago

Note the beam is welded to the frame.

Like iwashmycar said, the bumper cover is actually really easy to remove: 1 "rivet type" push pin on the inside, below the striker (press its center in to remove it) and the 5 bolts you mentioned which are visible when the door is opened. 4 bolts underneath (located at and near the ends). Then you just pull sharply outward on each side and the whole things comes off.

Best to do this first, as you'll need to do it to replace the missing end piece anyway. Once you get it off you can inspect if there is any damage to the structural beam inside. If that is not damaged then you can replace the missing end piece yourself, for just the cost of a used one from a scrap yard and not need to get the insurance company involved, with all of their expenses and claims, possibly increased rates after, and so on.

If after removing it you find damage to the steel beam, or to the many little brackets that mate to the above mentioned screws, you can put it back on and take it to the insurance company to have them do the really hard repairs at a body shop. After putting it back on no one will ever know you'd removed it (its that easy, I was amazed when I took mine off last month for some rust remediation).

Norm

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Datajockeys

· #4 · 8 d ago

By the time you replace all of the plastic bits, the cost can go a long way toward a nice aftermarket bumper.

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Hotfuzz

Discussion Starter · #5 · 8 d ago

Cheers guys, was thinking this. Dont want to use my time faffing around but on the other hand there is the faff of telling the insurance and thentaking it to a garage.
What a palava!

iwashmycar

· #6 · 8 d ago

2

This case looks worth the faff

just need one of these

and some of these

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FJ-Sun

· #7 · 8 d ago

I hit a deer and bypassed my insurance. It was just barely over the deductible, but the hassle and possible black mark (which is stupid BTW). I'm just so glad it wasn't worse.

I could have done it all myself as all of it was black plastic parts, and of course clips. That corner just pops in, and those white plastic things snap in to the tongues that fit in the slots. As long as nothing else is damaged underneath (more clips and brackets) it's really straight forward to do yourself. Once you get the new part, dry fit it and see if it looks square. It's sometimes hard to tell just looking at it like that. Mine ended up needing more clips at the end too.

Make me wonder how many clips hold the whole thing together. But if they work...

I'd just do it myself. Totally... If it involves anything painted, that eats up a lot of cash, so claim it, but this looks easy...

ZerosFJ

· #8 · 7 d ago

As already said I’d pull it off and have a look. Really is very easy. (Though I guess a little more complicated for a Jap vehicle with the lights etc.

Give @Omo FJ a shout, he has replaced his OE Jap bumper and might have the bits going spare… You might get away with just the corner even if it is a little out of line, if you can’t see it it won’t matter much if the cross member isn’t bent.

Reactions: 1

Hotfuzz

Discussion Starter · #9 · 7 d ago (Edited)

2

Removed the plastic bumper cover and pleasantly suprised that there is next no damage underneath.
The metal bumper appears in line and the only issue is a small metal section bent which I believe I can reshape and annoyingly a small plastic section of the plastic bracket that is attached to the bodywork has snapped on the opposite side when I took the bumper cover off!

Just have to get a response from the other driver now to see if they will pay for the parts to avoid the insurance.

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Datajockeys

· #10 · 7 d ago

Don’t bend anything back! Take it to a body shop and have it repaired properly. Metal fatigue is a bitch!

ZerosFJ

· #11 · 7 d ago

That’s good news. Sounds like just a new corner piece and you’re done

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norm356

· #12 · 7 d ago

Datajockeys said:
Don’t bend anything back! Take it to a body shop and have it repaired properly. Metal fatigue is a bitch!

For the very small amount visible in the photo, a pair of pliers, or a small hammer and suitably sized dolly should do the job just fine.
Work it back into shape gradually (don't be tempted to try and bend too much all at once).
Be sure to carefully repaint the area when done to prevent any cracked paint from allowing water in / corrosion start. It'll be covered so color won't matter.

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FJ-Sun

· #13 · 7 d ago

ZerosFJ said:
That’s good news. Sounds like just a new corner piece and you’re done

And that bracket. A lot of those things are there to restrain things from flapping in the wind, but unless it's rinsed with angel tears, it shouldn't be too expensive. (I was amazed at the number of clips I had to buy, and the cost added up, but they do amazing work keeping things attached and quiet. And people think duct tape holds the universe together? I think it's all held together by clips!!

Zgeo

· #14 · 6 d ago

FJ-Sun said:
And that bracket. A lot of those things are there to restrain things from flapping in the wind, but unless it's rinsed with angel tears, it shouldn't be too expensive. (I was amazed at the number of clips I had to buy, and the cost added up, but they do amazing work keeping things attached and quiet. And people think duct tape holds the universe together? I think it's all held together by clips!!

I have knocked that corner plastic part{the silver thing} off about thee times While off-roading. Once lost it and bought replacement. It is easy to put back on. your first post showed just the silver corner missing and the rest ok. Could have just got the silver corner and put on.

did not need to take the entire bumper cover off. The bent sheet metal in the later posts seems to be unrelated damage. Why did you take the plastic part under the silver corner off?

Hotfuzz

Discussion Starter · #15 · 5 d ago

Zgeo said:
I have knocked that corner plastic part{the silver thing} off about thee times While off-roading. Once lost it and bought replacement. It is easy to put back on. your first post showed just the silver corner missing and the rest ok. Could have just got the silver corner and put on.

did not need to take the entire bumper cover off. The bent sheet metal in the later posts seems to be unrelated damage. Why did you take the plastic part under the silver corner off?

The bent metal is related as a woman failed to stop and hit the rear offside of the bumper causing the silver cover to crack in a number of places and then fall off. The resulting collision bent the metal bracket.

The reason I took the bumper cover off was to ensure there was no further hidden damage and to measure the metal section of the bumper to ensure this wasn’t misaligned along with the frame.

Not sure how you could replace the plastic silver corner without removing or partially removing the bumper cover without putting too much strain on the plastic.

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Zgeo

· #16 · 5 d ago

Hotfuzz said:
The bent metal is related as a woman failed to stop and hit the rear offside of the bumper causing the silver cover to crack in a number of places and then fall off. The resulting collision bent the metal bracket.

The reason I took the bumper cover off was to ensure there was no further hidden damage and to measure the metal section of the bumper to ensure this wasn’t misaligned along with the frame.

Not sure how you could replace the plastic silver corner without removing or partially removing the bumper cover without putting too much strain on the plastic.

Next time it happens i will double check but i thought the silver part was external with a couple of plastic rivets and double side tape…..

i took the bumper cover off before twice. Once to instal a OE hitch receiver { which you may want to switch to] and later when putting in a 7 pin plug on a brake controller install….

norm356

· #17 · 5 d ago

Zgeo said:
Next time it happens i will double check but i thought the silver part was external with a couple of plastic rivets and double side tape…..

i took the bumper cover off before twice. Once to instal a OE hitch receiver { which you may want to switch to] and later when putting in a 7 pin plug on a brake controller install….

No, the corner piece is retained by the clips shown in post #6. Possibly it could be done in place but the access is greatly improved by removing the whole rear cover. It is easy to do and allowed OP to confirm no other damage.

Zgeo

· #18 · 5 d ago

That after market hitch reciever is a blasphemy on the FJ. The OE hitch receiver is cheaper , integrated, retains ground clearance, and simpler to put on.

i hope i dont knock that silver corner plastic piece outside the bumper off for a 4th time but if I do i will refresh my memory of putting it back on……

Hotfuzz

Discussion Starter · #19 · 4 d ago

Zgeo said:
That after market hitch reciever is a blasphemy on the FJ. The OE hitch receiver is cheaper , integrated, retains ground clearance, and simpler to put on.

i hope i dont knock that silver corner plastic piece outside the bumper off for a 4th time but if I do i will refresh my memory of putting it back on……

Not sure what you mean that the hitch receiver is a “Blasphemy on the FJ” it certainly for me is worth its weight in gold, very good quality and has paid dividends with towing my caravan.

Equally not interested in rock climbing or severe off-roading and as such ground clearance is not an issue.

More importantly the brand is called “Tugmaster” with that name you can’t argue someone had a sense of humour and as such I love it. Also in the UK there isn’t an abundance of choice for parts or extras for an FJ!

Zgeo

· #20 · 3 d ago

Hotfuzz said:
Not sure what you mean that the hitch receiver is a “Blasphemy on the FJ” it certainly for me is worth its weight in gold, very good quality and has paid dividends with towing my caravan.

Equally not interested in rock climbing or severe off-roading and as such ground clearance is not an issue.

More importantly the brand is called “Tugmaster” with that name you can’t argue someone had a sense of humour and as such I love it. Also in the UK there isn’t an abundance of choice for parts or extras for an FJ!

No offense. It is just that the OE hitch receiver bolts right into the bumper by design. By comparison it s a small piece of metal and doesn’t add all that stuff under the FJ . Do you need a brake controller for electric brakes on your caravan ?

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