99 Ram rusty rear bumper "fix"

Got rust?
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kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

99 Ram rusty rear bumper "fix"

Post by kevm14 »

See the before pics here: https://forums.kevinallenmoore.com/view ... 110#p22618

Alternate thread title: How to waste perfectly good tape.

I have some nice aluminized tape that ought to cover this all up nicely. This might actually be suitable for inspection because I feel like the rule is that rusty metal can't stick out and potentially cut someone. I don't know if there is a rule on the structural integrity of the rear bumper. I can say that I am not sure if it would support my weight if I stepped on the outer edge on either side...

Step 1, rip off all the flaky, chrome and some rusty metal chunks that aren't doing anything.
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Right side complete. I should have shingled the tape in layers up from the bottom like a roof. Well if this doesn't hold up through the next inspection I'll have an opportunity to correct...
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Left side complete. Layered properly for best quality repair. This isn't some redneck operation. This is structural tape.
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According to the time stamps, this took me about 45 minutes.

After I was done I drove to the transfer station to show off my sweet repair. Except it was not busy. These are the vehicles of the two guys that work there:
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That's why I thought they'd be impressed by my repair.

More pics after I got home (tape held up fine) and also the pile of bumper crumblings on the driveway.
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Fixed forever! Actually, if we are comparing before to after, this looks way better imo.

Before:
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After:
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kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: 99 Ram rusty rear bumper "fix"

Post by kevm14 »

Well that didn't last too long. Had to order a new rear bumper. Inspection coming up this winter so might as well engage on some planning and do it while the weather doesn't suck (well, aside from some hot days).

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.ph ... 340&jsn=12

After shipping, tax and discount (had to scour for a code but I found one that worked - last one I got expired in March) it came to $274 which is a bit steep but I don't have a lot of options. Not willing to do a wood bumper or anything like that.
kevm14
Posts: 15200
Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:28 pm

Re: 99 Ram rusty rear bumper "fix"

Post by kevm14 »

Here's the real fix.

Super shout out to my Ryobi HP mid-torque. It ripped all the rusty hardware apart like nothing, even some nuts/bolts that were part of the bumper bracket. I didn't need to remove them but I wanted to save the nuts.

This wasn't all that hard. Ian helped a little. I stacked two small pieces of plywood between the bumper and tow hitch and that created the perfect height. There was a ton of slop in all the bolt holes so you have to situate the bumper where it wants to be. You can't just tighten everything without aligning stuff. #bodywork

I did my water heater Saturday mostly and didn't shower before bed. After this job, which was only a little over an hour, I required a shower. Well, I took a rust shower in the driveway but that was pretty bad.
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