Front bumper removal

[Monkeyzak]

Can you take the front bumper covers off without removing the whole bumper? I can get to some fittings but some I can't see how you get to them.

Bank holiday weekend so plan to spend lots of hours on the car!

[Hasbeen]

I suppose anything is possible, that dos not mean it is wise. I reckon it would be more hassle than it's worth.

Unless you remove the bumper it will ne very hard to drill out any of those little bolts that are seized, & sheer off.

Hasbeen

[sonscar]

Bumper removes easily but better with two of you as it is fairly unwieldy with the wrap round sides.Steve.

[Monkeyzak]

Thanks. I'll enlist help and take it off.

The broken covers just make the car look rubbish. I've got the new bits painted and ready.

I confess the car needs a lot more time (never mind money) than I expected

[FI Spyder]

I confess the car needs a lot more time (never mind money) than I expected

Always does. The bolts holding the rubber on are small, often rusty and difficult to remove without breaking them. It might take sometime soaking them, you don't want to be drilling and tapping etc. Good luck doing it on a weekend, To paraphrase Dirty Harry "Do you feel lucky?"

[Monkeyzak]

Had a go today. How do you get the bumper off without actually taking the plastic covers off first? Slightly confused newby again!!

[Hasbeen]

The bolts go in from behind the chassis mounting flanges, into captive nuts I seem to recall, but it is some years since I had to remove one.

Hasbeen

[Rich K]

Hi, just to add to Hasbeen's post, the bumper assembly is attached via 3 nuts on each side which secure onto the threads of the bumper mounts which protrude through the chassis mounting flanges. The arrangement on the convertible is similar to the coupe bar the addition of a flexible mounting sandwiched in between the bumper and the chassis flange. Take care when releasing the nuts as the weight of the bumper assembly means that it will drop like a stone once released and possibly cause damage to you or the car!

[FI Spyder]

I've removed and installed front and rear bumper by myself. It's been a few years but the front bumper hangs on that centre post in the diagram once mount bolts removed. Some people remove end harmonic weights after it removed and apart but that's another story you can search the archives for. The rear bumper I've supported with a jack at the centre for removal and installation.

[Monkeyzak]

Job done. New plastics on. It looking a whole lot better.

Why is the big steel bit so heavy? Why are there what looks like massive weights on it.

Pleased that's another job ticked off. I'll just keep working through my list. Once the loose air con pulley is off I can use it for work

[busheytrader]

The DHC had harmonic front bumper weights fitted to reduce scuttle shake.

There are threads on the forum from those who've removed them with no ill effects.

[Monkeyzak]

It was a wee surprise when I slid the bumper off!!!

. I knew the covers went over steel but didn't know about the weights. If i need to take it off again I think I'll ditch the weights.

Looked it up. There seems to be a dozen reasons why they are supposed to be there

Like most things I've done on the car. Its my first time ever doing it. So if I need to do any of these jobs again at least I'll know what I'm doing and be less daunted by them

[Hasbeen]

If you walk into the north east corner of my shed, be careful. You are likely to stub your toe on one of a couple of large lumps of led.

Yep they were once serving no useful purpose, & causing some undesirable effects at either end of the 8s front bumper. As if the damn thing is not ridiculously heavy, [thanks to some yank tomfoolery], without having great lumps of led added.

We have been totally unable to find anything detrimental from removing the things, & the bumper now droops much less.

Hasbeen