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MG MGF Technical - Rear Bumper removal

I've just been attempting to remove my rear bumper, but have a problem.

The screws in the wheel arches came off easily, as did the nuts under the carpet in the boot.

I have a problem with the 2 large screw above the exhaust pipes. When I undo them the right one doesn't move at all and just make an awful creaking noise. The left one moves a little and then makes an awful creaking noise. I can reach behind the left one because no tow hook is in the way, and as a turn the screw, something else moves as well as the end of the screw.

Any hints?
Chris Heinrich Perkins

Well known problem with our car. See @ scrlet fever rebuilt website :)

I found similar with mine three month ago when I tried to replace this M10 scews with stainless steel type.

One got off easy, the other stuck in rust just after one turn. Not even WD40 was of help.
I sourced already a second hand one for the LH side.
It was _refurbished by welding_ ;)
Means, the thin bracket is weld back to the box profile.

This shears off when you try to remove a stuck bolt.
Very strange design, though.

IMO your only option is to _close your eyes_ and bolt them off until they break finally. Then get off the plastik bumper and try to remove the bolt from the weld-nut.
Finally remove the box profile section from the car and find someone with weld skills to put back the thin bracket to the box section.
Rust proof an get in stainless steel bolts.

HTH
Dieter
Dieter

Hi, mine was the same, i thought i had got the bolt finally loose and then found that i had turned the bracket right off with the bolt still attached!!!!
The left hand side came off ok so my rear bumper is held on with just one of these 2 bolts. Has passed 2 mots and looks fine but you will know yourself that it is a little loose. If both bolts take the bracket off it would be to loose to get away with imho .
Mel..
m e johnson

Thanks for repies.

I'll leave copious WD40 soaking on them over night and have another go tomorrow. The left one loosens better so hopefully at least that one will survive. I think I could probably live with just having the one large bolt, it's not like the bumper will fall off.

I'll see if I can wiggle someting up to holt the bracket still while I undo it. The right one has rubbish access though.
Chris Heinrich Perkins

>I'll see if I can wiggle someting up to holt the bracket still while I undo it.

The weld-nut (at the bracket) is square shape and a 16mm or 17mm fork spanner might do it. The Bracket width measures 40 mm .

Good luck with it.
Dieter

I got it off. The brackets were more important, so I basically cut the bumper off as it wasn't so important. The right hand screw wouldn't move at all so I snapped the bracket off and now my TF bumper is held with just 1 main screw, which seems fine to me.

Stupid design though, the screw should go into the main sticky out bit, not a silly thing that hangs off it. Both my brackets got twisted quite badly.
Chris Heinrich Perkins

This thread was discussed between 22/09/2006 and 23/09/2006

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