Bumper Fastener

[stormin]

What is the fix for the bumper mounting fasteners that seem to have had better days? I was attempting to bolt my bumper back on and I felt it start to get tight and then that was it. It let loose after that and I was no where near putting torque to the bolt. This was the bolts that hold the bumper brackets to the frame. Something tells me this is not an easy fix. Both bolt fasteners on the passenger side are this way and I was afraid to try the driver’s side. Anyone have experience fixing this issue?

 

[2 Darts]

Had something like this happen with a hood. Definitely a difficult fix. Remove bumper. Check to see if you can feel the nut/socket that the bolt threads into.
Will it rotate? Does it "move around" like it was in a pocket. If so, then a weld has broken loose. Try or make a way to get behind it without compromising the structure so that a new nut can be welded in place. If you can't get enough room to weld, how about room to get a wrench to hold the nut while you tighten from the outside? In either case, keep an eye on the big picture so that your bumper does not "droop" on the affected side.

 

[RedFish]

There are tethered nuts available. Those who install trailer hitches use them often. It is simply a square piece of steel with a threaded hole in it, then a coat hanger like wire welded on. Bend the wire as needed to route the nut in behind the factory nut and use a longer bolt. This square nut should be large enough so i doesn't rotate inside the frame rail.

 

[stormin]

Thanks for the suggestions. The nut is not moving it must be stripped because it will no longer hold any torque. I am going to see if I can get a nut behind the factory nut and somehow tighten it up. I can clearly see both bolts but getting a wrench to hold it is another story.

If there are more ideas please keep them coming.

Aloha
Stormin

 

[RedFish]

I assumed the factory welds had broken. If the nut is secure but stripped a helicoil or simply thread tap and larger bolt might be the fix.

 

[stormin]

Come to find out that the bumper has been held on all these years with the incorrect bolts. I was out analyzing the situation and I realized that the symptoms looked more like the wrong bolt size. I looked at as much of the threads as I could see and they looked fine. The welds were not broke. So I went and got a bolt the next size up and it tightened right up. It was a little hard going in but I attributed that to rusted threads that have not been used in many years. I ran the new bolts in and out a couple of time and did not see any metal shavings so all is well and the bumper is secure.

Thanks for all of the replies.

Aloha
Randy