Did you get underneath and look up?
2009 - how to remove rear bumper reinforcement bar? - Updated!
Junior reversed into a pole while learning to drive and as a learning experience I want to have him help replace the rear bumper and bar. The bumper cover was a little cracked and deformed but I was surprised after removing the cover to find that the reinforcement bar is quite dented.
Checking online I see they run about $75-125 for a used one so figured its worth it to replace it.
However I cannot find any information anywhere on how to remove the existing one. There are 6 bolts that come off easy enough but I cannot get this thing to budge which makes me suspect that there is hidden welding somewhere I cannot see. Comparing the bar installed to pics of ones removed from wrecked cars online I don’t see any obvious difference but there must be something I’m over looking.
If someone has a detailed assembly diagram or has previously done this I’d sure like a helping hand on this.
Update:
Upon further inspection I’m beginning to suspect the issue is the fact that the bar was bent inwards. I think this flattening of the bar is forcing the struts outward and is jamming the mount points against the bolts and holding things in place. I don’t have anything that can pry it loose and there isn’t enough space to insert a jack or other tool to pop it free.
The only option I can see is to cut through the reinforcing bar itself to release the tension and see if I can then remove it. I’m concerned that the mounting struts may still be welded in place even if I do this and I still can’t get it off.
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Checking online I see they run about $75-125 for a used one so figured its worth it to replace it.
However I cannot find any information anywhere on how to remove the existing one. There are 6 bolts that come off easy enough but I cannot get this thing to budge which makes me suspect that there is hidden welding somewhere I cannot see. Comparing the bar installed to pics of ones removed from wrecked cars online I don’t see any obvious difference but there must be something I’m over looking.
If someone has a detailed assembly diagram or has previously done this I’d sure like a helping hand on this.
Update:
Upon further inspection I’m beginning to suspect the issue is the fact that the bar was bent inwards. I think this flattening of the bar is forcing the struts outward and is jamming the mount points against the bolts and holding things in place. I don’t have anything that can pry it loose and there isn’t enough space to insert a jack or other tool to pop it free.
The only option I can see is to cut through the reinforcing bar itself to release the tension and see if I can then remove it. I’m concerned that the mounting struts may still be welded in place even if I do this and I still can’t get it off.
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