Rear sag fixed + shimmed + proguard

[babbage]

Hey all. Over the weekend I firmed up my MM's rear fascia by installing two 1/8 thick 1" wide aluminum flat stocks one on each side. They shimmed the bumper up 1/8" higher -- the bars are siliconed in right under the rear tail lights. I bent the ends to have a bit of curve - pushed up on the plastic bumper hard then slid them in on each side in between the bumper itself and the factory metal support -- they took a lot of the sag away! I actually had paint crack dimples right where the factory metal support ends...


Then for inside the bumper I took some small aluminum angle iron and bolted in a piece to the inside bumper lip - the whole distance in between the (2) factory bumper supports.

Then I attached the above to a vertical piece of the 1" flat stock aluminum bent by hand and anchored to an adjustable aluminum jig I bolted to the inner metal bumper support. Height adjustable with a allen wrench.

Took some AMSIOL HD metal protect oil spray and coated all metal from the axels to the rear inner bumper

THEN I finally installed my Pro Guard I got from Reinhart. Because it goes back into the bumper area about 4" I had to re-bend my metal support.

Now its nice and tight (that's what she said?), rear doesn't droop anymore and I don't have to worry about ballooning plus the proguard is supported and braced. I figure the rear bumper sits about 1/8" higher up top near the trunk and about 3/4" higher by the lower bumper. Feels much more rigid looks better.

Pics available if anyone wants to see

[CBT]

Sounds sweet, post some pics of your handy workz for us to admire.:beer:

[Zack]

My sagging bumper fix. Been working great for 3 years now.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/4/DSC02952.JPG

[CBT]

Zippy-tie-a, mother ****er!!


My sagging bumper fix. Been working great for 3 years now.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/4/DSC02952.JPG

[fastblackmerc]

Yes, show us the pics!

[ImpalaSlayer]

i think he means under the lights, i did this a while ago, there is a thread somewhere.

[swordfish]

My sagging bumper fix. Been working great for 3 years now.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/4/DSC02952.JPG
Originally Posted by bob6364 http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?p=867603#post86 7603)
they can use a zip tie;)


I wouldnt go that ghetto. :depress:

what happen?:D

[jimlam56]

Yes, show us the pics!
Plus 1!!!
This has been bugging me for years.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Plus 1!!!
This has been bugging me for years.

in fact i believe it was in his post about it

[babbage]

My sagging bumper fix. Been working great for 3 years now.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/4/DSC02952.JPG

Yep, fixes the droop in the middle, but it still can balloon out at speed. If you really like it up and tight swivel the rear plastic anchors up and out of the way then zip tie those two supports higher as well. I tried that but I think it looked like crap. That is also not on grade for the work you have apparently done for others... It a single point - and with a setup like that you'd have to cut a notch in the proguard to make it fit correcty. Geesh I guess I expected better stuff from (especially) you zach. :rolleyes::puke:

[babbage]

Pictures. Here they are! I think It came out very good, but its not quite perfect. Better would be to have that first really tight and short 90 degree bend go the other way... I got all of the parts for free, except for the 1" flat stock.

http://www.nationalgunday.com/car/jig-allen.jpg

http://www.nationalgunday.com/car/crazy-bend.jpg
That part that goes back away from the bolt hole was done beacuse the pro guard goes inside the rear bumper by about 3"

http://www.nationalgunday.com/car/finished-pro-guard.jpg
http://www.nationalgunday.com/car/finished-pro-guard2.jpg
http://www.nationalgunday.com/car/support.jpg

Note the coated metal too - that's the AMSOIL HD metal protector. I coated everything that might rust with it. Compare to Zacks picture..
Thanks to Dennis Reinhart for the Pro Guard - this is where I got mine from: http://www.reinhartautomotive.com/

[CBT]

I like it.


Pictures.

http://www.nationalgunday.com/car/finished-pro-guard2.jpg

[Haggis]

HEY!!!! Your rake is missing a few teeth.^^^^

[CBT]

HEY!!!! Your rake is missing a few teeth.^^^^

lmao! someone is awake :P

[babbage]

HEY!!!! Your rake is missing a few teeth.^^^^
If I only had a lift like you! This job would be cake on one. Then you might have seen shovels!



I like it.

Thanks.

[musclemerc]

Good post Babbage! The bracket's ain't too shaby either. Nice Job!

[Zack]

Yep, fixes the droop in the middle, but it still can balloon out at speed. If you really like it up and tight swivel the rear plastic anchors up and out of the way then zip tie those two supports higher as well. I tried that but I think it looked like crap. That is also not on grade for the work you have apparently done for others... It a single point - and with a setup like that you'd have to cut a notch in the proguard to make it fit correcty. Geesh I guess I expected better stuff from (especially) you zach. :rolleyes::puke:

Its my own car and it does the job for no money.

I have a proguard on the other MM. As shipped, it is a total waste of money.
What you did does the trick, obviously with a lot more work.

[babbage]

I have some more or those jig things if you want one, then you just mangle 1 foot of flatstock. rigid, plus the allen fitting allows lots of adjustment to raise or lower

[bob6364]

Originally Posted by bob6364 http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?p=867603#post86 7603)
they can use a zip tie;)



what happen?:D

LOL...I was thinking the same thing....hahahahaa zip ties FTW!!

[Joe Walsh]

My sagging bumper fix. Been working great for 3 years now.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/4/0/4/DSC02952.JPG

Zack, I hate to sound like a jerk, but your solutions are often too complex, too time consuming and too expensive!

:P

[DOOM]

Has anyone in the C.A.M area done babbages fix???

[illwood]

Has anyone in the C.A.M area done babbages fix???

No, but I'm definitely thinking about it. I should pick up some flat stock aluminum and make up what I need.

Doom, are you in on it if I get some parts together?

[Egon Spengler]

Zip ties it is....

[fastblackmerc]

Thanks for sending the jigs.....

Have to wait until the rain stops.......

Yes I could have done the spit, duck tape, bailing wire routine, but I like my fixes / repairs to look professional if they are visible or not.