Removing Bumper Brace from Frame

[Joe M.]

The bolt that holds the left bumper brace to the brace bracket twisted off. The bolt threaded into a capture nut on the back of the brace. The capture nut is part of a bracket that bolts to the end of the left frame rail. The bracket is held onto the frame by 2 bolts that go through the frame into capture nuts located inside the frame rail. There is only enough room to place a ratchet wrench on the bolt heads, but not enough room to put any muscle to the ratchet handle. I sprayed each head with penetrating oil. The only way I see to break the bolts loose is to place a hand winch (come-along) on the socket handle and wrap the cable around a forward part of the frame. Appears to have some danger involved with the bolt breaking, ratchet popping off, etc.

A safer option may be to put a drill bit through the existing hole in the fiberglass where the license plate light wire passes (hidden behind the bumper) and drill out the rusted bolt and through the capture nut. Using a 1/2" drill bitt, total drill length would be about one inch. I could then use a bolt and stand-alone nut. Suggestions?

[Philip P.]

Re: Removing Bumper Brace from Frame

Joe, I will be under my car tomorrow will take a look at the bracket and see if there may be another way. If you had an angle drill you may be able to drill the bolt out from the inside, room may be a problem however.
Phil

[Joe M.]

Re: Removing Bumper Brace from Frame

I solved the problem tonight and it was one of the hardest jobs I have ever done in 24 years of ownership. I tried drilling out the bolt from the outside in; no luck, the bit kept slipping off the twisted off 1/2" bolt end. Not enough room to drill from the inside. I finally used my 4 inch grinder and spent about 90 minutes grinding off the large square capture nut. Just before the nut was ground off, the piece of bolt fell out Brackets are freshly painted and ready to go back on tomorrow.