Rear bumper removal

[89325iturbo]

i can't undo the t55 torx bolts on the rear bumper of my 1990. There pretty rusty. There just starting to strip out instead now. Tried a breaker bar, and can't really get any penetrating oil on it. Heat can't work, with there being plastic there.
If I drill the head of the bolt off will I be able to knock it out? Or is it threaded threw out the mounting arm?

[JIM1inWisconsin]

bumper

The bolts are threaded and attach to the top of the bumper. Cutting the bolt will not help. You may want to consider removing the dozen or so pins holding the bumper cover in place. It's easy and the bumper cover comes right off. Pins are found under the black plastic trim piece.

[89325iturbo]

I want to remove the brackets aswell. There's some rust repair needed around it. Removing the four bolts that hold the the mounting arms on (two per side). If I remove those will the whole set up come off?

[JRKOUPE]

The bolts are threaded and attach to the top of the bumper. Cutting the bolt will not help. You may want to consider removing the dozen or so pins holding the bumper cover in place. It's easy and the bumper cover comes right off. Pins are found under the black plastic trim piece.

but its a b...tch getting blk trim off w/ bumper still on car...unless u just break it off....

or do u have a way?

[JIM1inWisconsin]

bumper

If you remove the four bolts holding the mounting arms in place the bumper will come off.
Removing the black trim piece takes some patience and go slow applying only what pressure is needed working in from the sides.

[agent]

If you remove the four bolts holding the mounting arms in place the bumper will come off.

If the torx (or in my case, allen) bolts won't come out, you can be all but assured that one or more of those four bolts will break or shear, especially the ones on the driver (exhaust) side.

[TimeMachinE30]

Impact wrench may do the trick.

[89325iturbo]

Yeah the 4 bolts that hold the arms on are pretty toasty. Besides the one in the battery box. I think I might be able to cut them off and knock them out.

[JIM1inWisconsin]

bumper

Good luck with this, meant with all sincerity, and keep us informed as to how this turns out.

[dereliiict]

Once the torx strip, you can always sledge in some Allen sockets and get it out that way.

Worst case, you use heat and sacrifice the plastic

[89325iturbo]

Yeah I'll l you know how it turns out. Maybe I can give it a try tonight again.

[Ether-D]

Yeah the 4 bolts that hold the arms on are pretty toasty. Besides the one in the battery box. I think I might be able to cut them off and knock them out.

You will be able to do this. They are studs with splines on back. Easily removable with a punch (after they shear) and replaceable.

[AndrewBird]

A putty knife slid between the trim and the bumper top and bottom removes the trim easily without breaking anything. Removing the bumper skin will give you a ton more room to work.

[89325iturbo]

Ether-d that's what I was thinking. As long as I can get the cut off wheel in there.
There's no need for me to actually seperate the mount arms from the bumper. Just the arms from the body.

[89325iturbo]

Got them off, but not how I wanted. Just had to cut the mount in half. Anybody have any mounts for sale?? Lol. Either that or I'll weld them back together.
What were they filled will with from the factory. Were I cut there was a little bit of stuff, but it was like a gel. (Like the inside of a stretch Armstrong). Not sure what kinda of movement the shocks would have normally, but that action was also seized.