Rear Bumper Design

[Ninka]

Have any of you noticed how the rear bumber is lacking support on the left hand side (under the fuel filler), so that if you touch it, it will push in quite easily?

I have put an aluminium brace bar behind it to prevent this from happening, as I do not want all the Expensive Daewoo fans at the local car wash to see how the bumper is pushed in just by washing or wiping it!

NOT GOOD ENOUGH ON A 50k VEHICLE!!!!!!!

[CJF077]

I have noticed its a bit flexible.. ahh well..

[Mals BA XR6T]

It was the first thing I noticed when it was washed!. It's not the best. I suppose it's a cheap way of putting on a spoiler kit these days though.

[Guest Trevor]

It does flex a lot doesn't it.

I was also considering some sort of bracing as I wondered how it will stand the test of time.

I thought it might begin to sag or not sit squarely after time (as did the bumpers on the X series falcons)

What do you guys reckon?

[richdave]

  ninka said:

I have put an aluminium brace bar behind it to prevent this from happening,

SOnds like a good idea...how 'bout a picture and perhaps a diagram so we don't all have to reinvent the wheel...

[Guest MavSS]

Be careful about doing anything that could give your insurance company an opportunity to wriggle out of paying a claim *knock on wood*.

You're effectively making a modification to the car which could affect it's proper operation.

Maybe you should run this past your dealer & get their input.

[Ninka]

  MavSS said:

Be careful about doing anything that could give your insurance company an opportunity to wriggle out of paying a claim *knock on wood*.

You're effectively making a modification to the car which could affect it's proper operation.

Maybe you should run this past your dealer & get their input.

Sorry MavSS, and even though I understand where you are coming from, BUT THAT IS JUST TOO FAR FETCHED!!

I will post photos soon and then you will see what I mean.

If your views are accurate, then I guess you could say the same about a number of popular items such as a fluffy steering wheel cover (not that I ever understood where the attaction with this particular accesory lies), as that could impact negatively on the drivability of the car.

[tupperware]

First post ladies & gents, and yes I'm loving the car. 1000Ks in the first week.

The bumper seems to be "prevented" from pushing inwards by the plastic inner wheel arch. On the right side of the car the arch has two fixing points (from memory a rivet and a tab),. where as the left side only has the rivet. Has anyone sussed out adding another fixing point?

If you look behind the wheel when you push the bumper it's easy to see the inner arch rotate around the single rivet. I originally thought Ford missed the second fixing point, obvoiusly not!

[Ninka]

  richdave said:

  ninka said:

I have put an aluminium brace bar behind it to prevent this from happening,

SOnds like a good idea...how 'bout a picture and perhaps a diagram so we don't all have to reinvent the wheel...

Here's the picture of the brace on the left side of the car. I have used the existing bolt hole for the fuel filler pipe support, only I had to use a slightly longer 6mm bolt.

The brace is secured to the bottom of the bumper with 2 x 4 mm blind rivets.

[Ninka]

On the right hand side I decided to add an extra rivet (where the arrow points) and now both sides are steady as!!