Hey guys, I'm new here (first post lol) and I was wondering if anyone had any experience with bumpers? I'm starting to fix up my dad's old truck for sentimental reasons and I've kind of hit a stumbling block. The front bumper seems to be damaged, or maybe even the frame From looking under it, the bolts are tight and I don't see anywhere to adjust, but to me the bumper looks a little "bent" downwards, which would create the gap. Also, it hangs lower on the left side (where the impact was that caused the damage) than the right side. Is this going to be as easy as replacing the bumper or is it possible that the frame is damaged? Thanks again!

DECAL QUESTION
I also used the rubber 3M eraser wheel to remove that cheesy side graphic and plan on painting it soon. Heres the after shot on without the graphic! I think it looks much better. I'm not sure if it was stock or not because it was there when I bought the truck used, but after removing it it seems that it was under the clearcoat maybe? It started to just peel off so I didn't think much of it, and it was cracking so I assumed it was not under the clearcoat. However, after I removed it I can see that the places that the sticker was actually applied is at a lower level than the paint. I expected there to be a difference in color between where the sticker was due to fading, but there's a noticable difference in the paint height. It looks like it was painted (or clear coated) with the sticker on it which is weird to me. Has anyone seen any decals like this or know if it was stock or not? You can kind of see it in the second picture (on the door)

Before


After


Without Decal

 

It could just be that the bumper mounts are bent. Welcome to the site!

 

Welcome to the site!

^what he said. The bumper bracket is most likely bent. You can probably remove the bumper and straighten them back out.

http://www.tascaparts.com/parts/1998...iagram=MA97130

http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/fe/t.aspx?Page=14

 

Awesome, Thanks guys! So worst case I'm looking at an extra 140$ for 2 bumper brackets (though probably just the side with the impact). Best case it's just a bent bumper. Good to know, I'll go get a better look in the morning and compare the two sides.

 

When you loosen the 4 bolts from the bracket to the bumper there should be about 1/2" to 3/4" to adjust the up and down on both sides.

You are probably good to go with just a little massage.

 

WAIT!!! Don't pay $140 for just brackets.....

When I bought my truck the bumper was smashed... I drove it like that for a while, checking junk yards

I found a similar model Expedition w/ a good bumper on it. $100 cash and I had the WHOLE bumper, INCLUDING all the brackets, AND the guy there pulled it off for me and had it sitting there waiting on me....

So before you buy something online, check your local junk yards!

 

I bought two new CAPA brackets for $40 shipped

 

^^^^ That seems like a much better deal that the $140 above.

 

When I swapped an 03 front onto my 97, the bumper sat closer to the wheel on the driver side than the passenger side by a fairly noticeable amount. Just spaced it out with washers and called it a day. (Found out later when I totaled the truck, that it had been in a bad accident and the frame straightened once before) There is a lot of play in the stock bumper-to-frame mounting brackets to move the bumper up and down as well.

 

Updated with new pics/info. I got under it and found the adjustment brackets and it seems much better! It's level and significantly closer now, thanks guys! Anyone know about this weird decal though? I can't find anything online. You can kind of see it on the second picture (on the door).

 

Right, there is adjustments under there. Also, it's VERY easy to make them more adjustable if need be.

 

How so? There's still more of a gap than I would want. Do you mean just taking it off and routing it out so it will sit even higher? I'd like it to sit flush but as you can see in the picture it's as high as it will go and theres still a gap...

 

None of them sit flush. That's the way they sit. There's always going to be that small gap between the bumper and the grill shell. As long as its even across is what matters.