Alright, let’s talk about that annoying gap I had on the front bumper of my ’91. It wasn’t huge, but you know how it is, once you see it, you can’t unsee it. Right there, driver’s side, where the plastic meets the fender. Just looked sloppy.
Figuring it Out
So, first thing I did was just get down there and look. Pushed on the bumper a bit, wiggled it. It definitely had some play it shouldn’t have. I suspected maybe a clip was broken or a bolt had worked itself loose over the years. You know, 30-plus years of bumps and vibrations, stuff happens.
I grabbed a flashlight to get a better view underneath and behind the bumper cover in that area. Couldn’t see an obvious broken piece right away, but things didn’t look quite lined up compared to the passenger side which was still nice and tight.
Getting Started
Didn’t seem like a massive job, so I figured I’d tackle it myself. Gathered a few basic tools I thought I might need:
- A Phillips head screwdriver
- A flathead screwdriver (mostly for prying if needed)
- A basic socket set (metric, probably 10mm or 12mm)
- Pliers
- Maybe some zip ties, just in case things were properly busted
The Actual Work
Okay, so I started by looking for fasteners near the gap. Inside the wheel well, there was a screw going up into the fender lip, holding the edge of the bumper cover. Checked that first. It was… sorta tight? Gave it a good turn with the screwdriver anyway, snugged it right up. Then, underneath the front edge, there are usually some bolts or plastic push-pins holding the cover to the frame or splash shield. I found a couple of bolts nearby.
This is where I found the main issue. One of the 10mm bolts holding the bumper bracket near that corner was definitely loose. Not falling out, but loose enough that you could wiggle the bracket by hand. That explained the play I felt earlier.
Got the socket wrench on it and tightened it down properly. While I was under there, I checked the other bolts along the bottom edge just to be sure, and tightened one or two that felt a little less than snug. Didn’t find any broken plastic tabs or clips, thankfully. It seemed like things had just vibrated loose over time.
Checking the Result
After tightening that main bolt near the gap and the screw in the wheel well, I stood back up and looked. Pushed on the bumper again. Solid. The gap against the fender? Man, it was pretty much gone! Lined up real nice now, just like the other side. Looked way cleaner.
It’s funny how sometimes it’s just a simple loose bolt causing the problem. Took maybe 20 minutes tops. Super satisfying little fix that makes the old car look just a bit tidier. Glad I didn’t have to resort to zip ties this time!
