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THE DROOPING REAR BUMPER THREAD

158K views 1K replies 274 participants last post by  Dan01 
#1 ·
I notice that a few of us are having the same problem with the rear bumper dropping. It appears that one of the studs that holds the bumper on mine has broken. Anyone know how big a job this is to sort out?
 
#477 ·
Hi

Misplaced Invoice but number on bag is 1318182.

Peter
 
#478 ·
Hi

Just compared pad with photo of ST TDCi in post No. 29023 and appears to be identical. So looks if incompatible with later design of bumper cover as fitted to our cars.

Peter
 
#479 ·
damn it! Think that is the one i have on order-doh, wonder if i can cancel :shocked:
 
#480 ·
Hi

Will be leaving pad in garage for now and see how bumper behaves. Hopefully with corners supported there will be less vibration and bumper should stay in alignment.
If not will look at swapping plastic moulding riveted to car for smaller version. Then notch centre pad to clear sensors and wiring.
At least with corner foam blocks bonded into position car looks as it should. With minimal and uniform gap under lights.

Peter
 
#481 ·
I'm just wondering if they got you the correct pad? Can you post up some pics of it? If parking sensor holes have changed position then they would need two types of bumper for crash repairs. Although IIRC they have to have the holes cut so maybe two templates would prove the theory? Did you also get nuts & bolts to fit the centre pad as that one isn't bonded on? I'm gona try & get the part number for the support to see if it changed over the years.........
 
#482 ·
Done some digging on this one, the bracket design changed THREE times between 15/03/2002 & 15/12/2004. There is a bracket listed as >15/12/2004. The foam changed at that date too so i'm just trying to get the FINIS for it......
 
#483 ·
Right some more info! The FINIS for the foam that fits doesn't exist! That is because with the latest bracket design(from 15/12/2004 to production stop) the foam was ommited! The good news for me is i don't have to take it apart again and the foam order was cancelled in time. The only way to fit the centre foam would be to change the rivited bracket. Personally i can't be bothered, i'm confident the two corner supports will be enough-i guess Fords hope was the uprated centre support on it's own would have sorted it though! I suppose you could try cutting the foam but @ £60 odd i'd rather do the job right! The only way i'll be changing the centre bracket is if this bumper cracks-i can't see it TBH as since fitting the two corner supports it's much stiffer anyway.............
 
#484 ·
Hi

Glad to hear you were able to cancel you order Dave. What seems strange is that picture of the black ST TDCi earlier in the posts. But possible they would not have been able to fit the parking sensors to the bumper in that configuration!

Peter
 
#485 ·
Not sure on the parking sensor issue-the bumper hasn't changed according to the parts man. Are yours 100% factory fit? Only the bracker & foam pad changed at the dates-the bumper part number remains the same. Can you post up a pic of the rear bumper on your car to compare to mine? Maybe the foam is deleted with parking sensors too? I didn't check that.......
 
#486 ·
Hello people

Coincidentally discovered this topic yesterday, the same day my car was due in at the dealer (Dagenham Motors in Hackney, London) for them to look at my dropping rear bumper!

Haven't had time to read all 500 posts yet, but I'd be grateful for some initial opinions.

They've acknowledged that it's a common problem, but have told me that their bodyshop has developed a solution involving extra brackets. They were very cagey about what would happen if the repair failed outside of the warranty period (my car's warranty runs out in April next year).

Should I accept this or do I need to gird my loins for a battle?

Thanks a lot for any advice

Gareth
 
#487 ·
Hi Gavin

Check out 'Dropping rear bumper [ST220 & ST TDCi] FIXED' under Problems in the ST220 section . Dave ST220 has detailed a fix which may be there intended solution.

Peter
 
#488 ·
Hi Dave

Only difference between my car and the shots in your guide is car reg & your twin exhausts. Sensors definitely factory fit as bumper has extra plastic around inside not just a hole drilled through. As a reference centre sensors measure 65 to 70mm down from crease line on bumper. Would guess Pad & Sensors never fitted together because there is no provision for connecting wires.

Peter
 
#489 ·
Tipex said:
Well, car was in for service today so got them to look at my replacement "updated" bumper as it's done exactly the same as the old one, dropped and cracked round mountings.

Bodyshop manager took the usual photos, gotta wait and see if Ford approve yet another bumper, I'm not feeling confident this time though!
Shouldn't the dealer guarantee their own work and therefore it shouldnt need to go back to Ford for approval :innocent:
 
#491 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well actually, as you mention it, I did tell him I wasn't happy with the finish on it either.

Where they drilled the holes for the parking sensors they applied too much pressure, and you can see where the bumper bulges out ever so slightly around the sensors (1 is particularly worse), I think the metallic paint shows it up more too.

The bodyshop manager (who is new) gave me some bullsh*t story about it being impossible to fit the sensors without this happening as they have to drill them by hand.

I'm sorry but I dont give two hoots how you do it, I want it perfect and nothing less is acceptable.
 
#493 ·
squelch said:
The bodyshop manager (who is new) gave me some bullsh*t story about it being impossible to fit the sensors without this happening as they have to drill them by hand.
dont the ford bumpers come with the holes pre made for the parking sensors
IIRC no, it was the same for headlight washers on the Mk2-Ford released a TSB with a template to cut the holes :shocked: Cheaper to tool one bumper(although there must be at least two as the TDCi one is different). A dealer cutting all those holes :shocked:
 
#494 ·
Dave,
I think I'm going to have a go at your mod, do I need to remove the rear wheels, I don't quite understand the location of the screws in the wheel liner, how do you unclip the bumper after the screws are removed, do you just slide it back or pull it out at the sides slightly, Thanks in advance, Roger
 
#495 ·
Squelch, mine were the same, drilled by the dealer and I can see distortions around each hole :( I'm not sure whether mine were worse though as they forgot to drill the holes prior to spraying and so the heat from the drilling might of effected the paint that had obviously only just been applied!! I rejected the bumper as I could still see the black bumper colour around all the sensors :mad: :shocked: To be honest even after the respray I can still see an area 2 inches around each sensor where the light catches the paintwork differently.
 
#496 ·
You don't need to but if you did it would make things much easier. The bumper has to be pulled down & under the wheel arch bodywork-when you see it that will make sense-there is a small tab on the bumper that sits behind the metal work. You then pull the bumper back & off it comes.
 
#497 ·
Hi Roger

Having followed Dave's lead and fitted corner supports can agree from experience. You can remove bumper without removing wheels by raising car slightly & using a short screwdriver.
But removing wheels will allow you far better access to see where everything fits. Also gives better access when easing wheel arch liner off top inside stud to give access to top fixing screw.
I would also suggest applying a couple of layers of masking tap along bottom edge of wing so that when you ease locating tab on bumper out from underneath there is less risk of damaging paintwork.

Peter
 
#498 ·
Finally did this last Wednesday week and I cant begin to tell you how happy I am with the result. The best £80 odd quid I ever spent. like dave my bumper wasn't broken but I had massive gaps under the lights and at the side where the pin is, it was this that annoyed me the most, the fit now is perfect, I would recommend anyone thinking about it to do it asap. Thanks to Dave for his walk through and st56 for additional tips.
 
#499 ·
Tipex said:
Well, car was in for service today so got them to look at my replacement "updated" bumper as it's done exactly the same as the old one, dropped and cracked round mountings.

Bodyshop manager took the usual photos, gotta wait and see if Ford approve yet another bumper, I'm not feeling confident this time though!
My replacement bumper is dropping again!
Was all set to take it in next week for a second try at colour matching and noticed the dreaded cracks.
I am going o see if Ford will ok the fitting of the foam blocks. If not then every year they will be replacing my bumper.
What a pain in the backside.
 
#500 ·
Hi

As you say it was the gap starting to open up at the locating pins just forward of the lights that decided me to follow Daves lead and fit the extra supports.

The bumper is much firmer with them in place and I'm sure this mod will prevent the supports from cracking. As well as looking a darned site better.

Its just sad that Ford haven't realised that a Recall and fix of these pads would probable have saved on the replacement of a large number of bumper skins.

Peter
 
#501 ·
Had a "response" from Ford regarding this issue,as far as their technical department are concerned the issue was fixed with the TSB! They say that later cars aren't affected(we now know different) and any customer with a concern should consult their dealer. Shitty reply IMO and one that will cost Ford my custom in future-i don't expect to have to finish the car off after paying out over £20k! Useless..........
 
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