rear left bumper is off on the sides.

[Jim H.]

I tried to adjust the bracket and rear mounts to fill in the gap. The gap is just too large to try to shim. Now, the place who did the chrome plating said they would redo it for me if I have someone work on the bumper. Now, what would be the best thing to try to do? Would changing the inner bracket fix the problem? I know the rear section is straight. Plus, the bracket inside is not bent since it is flush. I do not want to buy another left bumper not knowing if it has problems. Shimming will not fix the problem since the gap is larger than one inch.

[John F.]

Re: rear left bumper is off on the sides.

Did you lay the bumpers back-to-back before installation? Ever been hit? Appears something is bent or shimed somewhere.

[Mike E.]

Re: rear left bumper is off on the sides.

The bumper is obviously bent, although not apparent until put on the car. The only other possibility is that the car has been bent, and you don't even want to think about that. If the inner braces are in the proper places in relationship to the body, the body should be straight, therefore it's the bumper. You're probably better off buying a different bumper, checking the fit first, and having it rechromed.

[Jim H.]

Re: rear left bumper is off on the sides.

The bumper is obviously bent, although not apparent until put on the car. The only other possibility is that the car has been bent, and you don't even want to think about that. If the inner braces are in the proper places in relationship to the body, the body should be straight, therefore it's the bumper. You're probably better off buying a different bumper, checking the fit first, and having it rechromed.

Now, I think it is the inner bracket on the bumper causing the problem. I can see there is a gap between the body and the brace where the inner bracket on the bumper is not fitting properly. The first thing I am going to do to is remove the inner bracket on the bumper and see if the bumper fits. Then reattaching the bumper bracket to the bumper. The inside brace is not bent The holes line up with the rear license plate. Also, it appears one of the welds in the inner bracket were broken.

[Richard T.]

Re: rear left bumper is off on the sides.

Take the brackets out of the equation for a minute. The bumper should sit right on the body areas where the holes for the bolts are located. If it doesn't then either the bumper has been damaged and poorly repaired or the body is at fault.
Is there any evidence of prior damage to the quarter panel?

[Jim H.]

Re: rear left bumper is off on the sides.

Take the brackets out of the equation for a minute. The bumper should sit right on the body areas where the holes for the bolts are located. If it doesn't then either the bumper has been damaged and poorly repaired or the body is at fault.
Is there any evidence of prior damage to the quarter panel?

It does though the bumper is coming out further. The holes line up on the back though still off make sense??? I found a person who has a 62 to make a comparison.

[Jim H.]

Re: rear left bumper is off on the sides.

I figured out the radius is different towards the side of the bumper by comparing it to the passenger side. Now, I am going to see if a local plater can fix it for me. It seems like it would not be difficult to fix since it is not off by the height or twisted. I guess the concerns are it could get twisted once more if the metal is redone.

It is off after the inner bracket.