When my fuel pump gave out, we had to try and get my truck back on the driveway to avoid a street seeper ticket (thing wouldn't even start and only two people pushing it didn't do crap). In the process, mom's Explorer bent my front bumper brackets and the upper tabs which they connect to. We have a non-running 1969 Dodge Charger R/T in the garage, so pulling that out to get mine up was out of the question. Stupidly, I listened to mom about wrapping the tow rope around the brackets and still knew I would regret it. Any ideas on how to bend the tabs back without more Explorer yanking? (one more reason for me to hate Fords...)

 

how about a hammer?

 

Tried that on my bumper brackets alone and didn't do anything. I could try a rubber mallet and wood later, but I want to hear some options first.

 

Any ideas... anyone?

 

Maybe....a 12lb hammer?

 

Gotta fit between the frame and body, not to mention, since they are bent toward the passenger side, one is very close to the body mount. I really don't want to remove the body for this job.

 

i think i might have a spare set you could have. it'd probably save you some headache.... ill go look for em.

 

Don't worry about that, but thanks anyway, SD. My girlfriend's dad's friend has a neighbor with a 4Runner w/ IFS, so I'll buy a new bumper and brackets from him. Again, thanks. Just need to bend the tabs back, get the money and I'm good to go!

 

Guess I'll just have to use the Explorer and tug again... I hope they don't snap, that'll suck.

 

Not going to what I said last. Can't roll without a bumper. Any other ideas?

 

get the brackets that sd yota has and be done with it. i kinda like the trucks without bumpers though!

 

Gonna get those fom a junkyard, or that 4Runner I mentioned.

Need to rebend where those bolt up to, I'm no welder, so I can't simply cut 'em off and swap. Not to mention dad sold his old Miller to make the house payment a while back.

 

Can you get a pry bar in there and bend them anyway??

 

Don't got one. Just been wasting my time hammering on them. I know frames are meant to be strong, but D***!

 

Doesnt even have to be a pry bar..... big crewdriver... chunk of metal.. anything you think might not break on you.

 

do you have a pic of the brackets? i'm pretty creative at cave man repairs, just need to see what you dealing with.

 

Not at the moment. but the mounts are leaning like this:\ \

 

Here, just took them. If I got them at volcano heat, I could probably bent them back by hand, er... welding glove... dad's still got some.

See, just behind the bracket, they're f***ed up

Left

Right

Loud creak when theExplorer bent them. I wish I said no to looping it, then I wouldn't have this issue.

 

damn, if you took the bumper off you might be able to straighten them. since they are both bent the one will keep the other from moving.

 

Did that with a hammer already. No dice. Gotta think of how I can fix it. Do you think a bodyshop can straighten 'em out?