Bumper won't line up with fender

[horizontalkev]

I rear ended somebody last week, today I replaced the broken headlight and am having trouble getting the bumper to line back up at the fender to put the bolts it, but I can't even get the two pegs to line up. No matter how much a pull, tug move it just won't move into place. Is there something I don't know here? And after I wrecked, the bumper and fender made a gap, how do I fix this? I can't seem to figure out where anything is bent or anything. This is probably the reason it won't line up now.

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[bucken13]

How does it line up with the new headlight ? i would looked at the front of the car and examine the angle front fender starting from the top and go down to where the bumper bolts to and compare it with the passanger side if it was not damaged. It may have pushed the fender out. If that doesnt help check your hood to fender gaps and make sure they are even. Need more pictures to tell if anything else is damaged. Hood open, front profile, both side profiles and bottom of fender mount.

 

[horizontalkev]

The new headlight lines up good I think. I only use the top and bottom bolts and they lined correctly. The fender lines up with the hood. I will take another shot at it again tomorrow morning, remove everything again and start reinspecting everything as I go. Any other pictures that might help? And unrelated question, is there any problem with flipping the intercooler around? Previous owner painted the front black, but left the back alone.

Pictures with broken headlight, not the replacement

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There was a small dent on the fender from the accident where the paint is chipped.

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[bucken13]

Doesnt look like theres any major damage. Your dent in the fender might have tweaked it just enough to though off your mounting points its hard to tell with out the car in person. When you check for damage if there isnt any i would work the fender till it lines back up or wobble the guide holes out a little. With caution as to not cause any further damage

And i dont see a issue with turning the FMIC around besides maybe having issues with mounting it ? but the cores are unidirectional. So you will be fine flipping it around. I would try and figure something for the driver side U pipe. The one you have doesnt look very efficient.

 

[Warpathdsm98]

Not sure if you did this but get all bolts in first before tightening them.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

You can try trimming or removing the alignment tabs on the bumper that fit up into the fender. These could be what is hanging up and causing that gap.

 

[horizontalkev]

Got everything installed and the bumper bolted in.. But that gap is still there and I can't for the life of me figure out what's bent. Everything appear straight. Could it be those little alignment tabs?

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Got that intercooler turned around. It was backwards to begin with

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[horizontalkev]

You can try trimming or removing the alignment tabs on the bumper that fit up into the fender. These could be what is hanging up and causing that gap.

Might be what I been to do

 

[serviceguy]

Are you sure the lower edge of the fender isn't bent? That would keep the bumper from aligning, but it would also be obvious looking at it from the ground...

 

[horizontalkev]

Are you sure the lower edge of the fender isn't bent? That would keep the bumper from aligning, but it would also be obvious looking at it from the ground...

The bottom edge that the bumper bolts to appears just as straight as the passenger side. It almost looks like the bumper itself is bent down a little but I doubt that. Im cutting the tabs and see what happens

 

[brandonpurnell]

Push the fender in where the bumper bolts to the fender. The fender blew out from the wreck.

 

[horizontalkev]

Soo

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[Mello]

There's a metal plate about 1/2" wide x 6" long that goes under the bolt heads which compresses the bumper mount against the fender mounting flange. Are you missing this?

 

[brandonpurnell]

Yes push there and that way.

 

[horizontalkev]

There's a metal plate about 1/2" wide x 6" long that goes under the bolt heads which compresses the bumper mount against the fender mounting flange. Are you missing this?

I am not missing it, its installed and tight.

Yes push there and that way.

I will give it a go tomorrow. It looked normal though. Thanks

 

[horizontalkev]

Push the fender in where the bumper bolts to the fender. The fender blew out from the wreck.

You were 100% correct. Fender blew out, several swift kicks and it lined up again. Thank you, and everybody else who helped.

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[brandonpurnell]

Looks good now. Glad you fixed it. Your like me. I let those little things bother me haha