sheared end bolt on a 1980-2000

[cheaptrick]

I sheered the large bolt that is fastened to the inside of my rear driver side (left) rubber end piece. About 1/4 is showing, I can't unscrew it so I presume it is welded to a plate inside the rubber. The rubber itself is great. Hate to pay 100.00 for a new one if I can fix it, or maybe a member here would like to sell me a used one. I would post pics but photo bucket it down. Any idea how can I fix this I don't' have any welding equipment. Thanks Steve

[klweimer]

Cheaptrick,

Not sure what bolt you're talking about...

Kirk

[howard]

drill thru bolt and rubber and use a carriage bolt . pant it black. ( i am assume you are referring to the bumper end piece )

[GeorgeT]

If that bolt is the one that anchors the panhard rod (anti-sway bar) it is welded to the axle.

[Funcar]

I think this is a common problem that happens to the end bumper rubbers on the tubular bumpers. The bolts holding them on are subject to the rear wheel throwing water on them and thus they rust. Worse is driving them in the winter. At any rate on my car the bumpers had been removed as well as all the rubber pieces and they where rusted and the bolts broken off. I wanted to put them back on for the original look so I also went looking for end rubbers. You would think this would be easy as for many reason a lot of cars go bumper less or use the bumperets. Not so as nobody that has the end rubbers wants to part with 1 or even 2 as it makes the rest of the bumper virtually worthless. I did find someone who would only sell me both front and back and when they arrived they where in worse shape then the ones I had. As mentioned earlier in this thread the person had just drilled holes through the rubber and inserted a bolt, painted it black and bolted them on. This was not show in the pictures he sent me. Lesson learned about buying parts and no he was not a member of this forum.

I was not able to weld a bolt onto the metal plate in the end rubbers which where in good shape but the metal was too rusted. If you can do this then that is your best solution.



I went to work and removed the metal inside the rubber. Takes some work and a lot of the metal came out in small pieces with a larger lower piece.



I then took the end rubbers to my friend who is a welder and he put in a lower piece and an upper piece of stainless steel then welded them together. Finally he welded on a stainless steel bolt (10 mm).



Finally bolted the them on the bumper and then on the car and yes I used anti-seize. They look good. However in the future my car will go bumper less

[So Cal Mark]

welding without a shirt or goggles! That's a tough cookie

[Frog2Spider]

Or gloves!