Front bumper attachment

[TonyB66]

I've been searching, to no avail as of yet, but is there a good thread here that shows how the front bumper attaches? If it matters, this is on the first sub-gen, in particular a '98...

I'm looking to make a purchase and the owner shared that it was involved in a minor fender-bender in the front bumper area. Not enough to deploy the airbags. Still clean title...

Please check-out the attached PDF image. Sorry that it is small, but it should be able to be enlarged...

There's a non-equidistant gap between the bumper and body that caught my eye, and prompted this question.

Thanks.

 

[octanejunkie]

Its like 6 bolts on my 99, maybe more but not many. If you look from underneath you can pretty much figure it out.

Besides, you're gonna toss the stock bumper for a plate and tube bumper, aren't you?

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[JerkyDrewster]

I've been searching, to no avail as of yet, but is there a good thread here that shows how the front bumper attaches? If it matters, this is on the first sub-gen, in particular a '98...

I'm looking to make a purchase and the owner shared that it was involved in a minor fender-bender in the front bumper area. Not enough to deploy the airbags. Still clean title...

Please check-out the attached PDF image. Sorry that it is small, but it should be able to be enlarged...

There's a non-equidistant gap between the bumper and body that caught my eye, and prompted this question.

Thanks.

I'm pretty sure its the same on all the 3rd gens (for sure on '99-'02), but here is a picture showing the front mounting for the bumper. There are 6 bolts that mount to the front, and 1 on either side which can be partially seen in the picture.

2017-05-15 07.34.11

2017-05-15 07.34.04

 

[TonyB66]

You guys are great. Photos too!

My hope is that the front mounts were not bent, and just the bumper itself.

I will inspect better the next time I see it. Heading down to San Diego on biz travel on Saturday, so probably after that...

Speaking of aftermkt bumpers, while not familiar with all of the offerings, that Coastal Offroad one was worthy of a bookmark.

 

[octanejunkie]

You guys are great. Photos too!

My hope is that the front mounts were not bent, and just the bumper itself.

I will inspect better the next time I see it. Heading down to San Diego on biz travel on Saturday, so probably after that...

Speaking of aftermkt bumpers, while not familiar with all of the offerings, that Coastal Offroad one was worthy of a bookmark.

Even if the bumper brackets were bent they are easily straightened out

As far as the Coastal Offroad Group Buy, are you handy with a mig? If you have to pay a pro to weld up that bumper it will cost as much as an ARB, maybe more.

 

[TonyB66]

Even if the bumper brackets were bent they are easily straightened out

As far as the Coastal Offroad Group Buy, are you handy with a mig? If you have to pay a pro to weld up that bumper it will cost as much as an ARB, maybe more.

I have a mig welder here, somewhere. It has been a long time. I'd pay someone. I prefer the Coastal one to the ARB. I don't even have a 4Runner yet!

My goal, get one before 100th post, lol.

Thanks for sharing about those bumper brackets, being bendable. I won't let that be a factor in my buy/no-buy decision...

 

[phattyduck]

The early ('96-'98) trucks don't have the impact cross beam on the front of the frame, just little caps, like so (my old rolled parts truck, one cap on, one cap off):

It didn't come with a bumper, but I believe the bumper is mostly held on with brackets that bolt on to the side of the frame rails next to the front body mount (still there in the above picture, just all bent up).

-Charlie

 

[Kanoe]

It didn't come with a bumper, but I believe the bumper is mostly held on with brackets that bolt on to the side of the frame rails next to the front body mount (still there in the above picture, just all bent up).

-Charlie

Right. Just 2 nuts for each bracket to Bumper, and 2 bolts for each bracket to frame. And I think 1 bolt on each end for fender liner to bumper. Takes no time to pull the bumper.

These early front bumpers are built like a cheese slice. Thin and incredibly flimsy. I was surprised when i had mine off. Was easily able to push a dent out using the jack and blocking. You might be able to bend things back into shape.

Edit: After looking at your photo, you might just be able to loosen the bracket to frame bolts and adjust the fit. There is quite a lot of slop in those holes so you can line things up just right before tightening. Good luck.

 

[TonyB66]

Right. Just 2 nuts for each bracket to Bumper, and 2 bolts for each bracket to frame. And I think 1 bolt on each end for fender liner to bumper. Takes no time to pull the bumper.

These early front bumpers are built like a cheese slice. Thin and incredibly flimsy. I was surprised when i had mine off. Was easily able to push a dent out using the jack and blocking. You might be able to bend things back into shape.

Edit: After looking at your photo, you might just be able to loosen the bracket to frame bolts and adjust the fit. There is quite a lot of slop in those holes so you can line things up just right before tightening. Good luck.

Kanoe - really good information. I was wondering if the mount holes might be oval or oblong...

 

[habanero]

You've already got the good stuff via phattyduck and Kanoe...
for further illustration and to answer the holes question (round, but you can judge by the hole in the square behind the one that it's bigger than the bolt needs)
here's a pic of the brackets (ignore the square bolted-on parts, yours won't have that). The horns bolt to the end of the frame rails.

and that's my husband's hairy arm chasing threads where one of the brackets bolt to.