Like the rear body mounts within the rear wheelarch. the rear bumper mounts tend to catch lots of mud and water thrown up by the road wheel and consequently to rust out, resulting in a loose bumper (and an MOT failure even if the bumper doesn't move). Repair patches for this panel are widely available, though rather difficult to fit.
Begin by removing the bumper, then the rear wing, then scrape away the accumulated gunge from the vicinity of the mounting points so that you can see clearly enough to judge the extent of the rot. Then fold back the retaining tabs and remove the sound deadening material from the engine bay side, taking care not to spear yourself on any stray lengths of wire protruding from the material. A I.so remove the engine bay seal.
If you're not sure how strong the steel in the vicinity of the bumper mounting is then clean it bright and any rust hill be all too apparent. Cut the repair panel down to the smallest practicable size, so that, if you ever have to do this job again, you will be able to cut back to sound metal without exceeding the area of the repair panel.
Drill out the spot welds which hold the bumper bracket, and part the seams. Then offer up the repair panel and scribe around its edges before cutting out the rot. The author would recommend that the bumper is temporarily re-fitted to the fixed bracket on the other side of the car and to the repair panel. to ensure that the new bracket is positioned so that the bumper sits level to the rest of the car.
Begin by removing the bumper, then the rear wing, then scrape away the accumulated gunge from the vicinity of the mounting points so that you can see clearly enough to judge the extent of the rot. Then fold back the retaining tabs and remove the sound deadening material from the engine bay side, taking care not to spear yourself on any stray lengths of wire protruding from the material. A I.so remove the engine bay seal.
If you're not sure how strong the steel in the vicinity of the bumper mounting is then clean it bright and any rust hill be all too apparent. Cut the repair panel down to the smallest practicable size, so that, if you ever have to do this job again, you will be able to cut back to sound metal without exceeding the area of the repair panel.
Drill out the spot welds which hold the bumper bracket, and part the seams. Then offer up the repair panel and scribe around its edges before cutting out the rot. The author would recommend that the bumper is temporarily re-fitted to the fixed bracket on the other side of the car and to the repair panel. to ensure that the new bracket is positioned so that the bumper sits level to the rest of the car.
