W123 rear bumper 'fix'... - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Mark DiSilvestro · #16 11-03-2013, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB3

another slightly different way if the rubber is shot-

My lower bracket on the bumper itself was broken, just like all of them it seems, and the rubber pad was also ripped and useless

I ground that out, and I bent two pieces of 3/16ths steel in U-shapes that matched the contour of the inside of the bumper

I then wheeled off the rest of the rubber pad and welded the U's to the bumper shock. Im sure you could bolt it same way though

looked like this ultimately-

So the shoc
Similar to the OP, only a pair of carriage bolt tops are visible, though top and bottom vs both on the bottom. Also I used stainless steel bolts

Also an excellent fix. I guess the top carriage-bolts are hidden by the bumper-skirt. But obviously requires careful measuring, bending & welding. So if the bumper eventually falls off my '82 240D, I'd go with the OP's solution.
My '84 Euro TD got an early W123 US sedan bumper to replace the mangled Euro version and match the US front bumper a PO already installed. So it has the 8mm factory carriage-bolt mounting instead of the welded aluminum of the later US bumpers.
Since then, I found a decent set of Euro wagon bumpers, so now thinking of going that way and re-installing the Euro trailer-hitch.

Happy Motoring, Mark

crybeard · #17 10-11-2015, 10:25 AM

Hey Airbus, thanks for the fix. I have an '84 300 CD Turbo, that got rear ended in some unknown hit and run when parked on the street one night after only a week of owning this car, which knocked the bumper off (sigh) and of course it wasn't insured yet. After inspecting the final damage of that "accident" those rubber bushings had been completely rotted away and were essentially smashed to dust. This fix doesn't even require those, and it just looks like it belongs there really. Still don't know what Mercedes was thinking with the original design of these, especially the way the trailer hitch is mounted to the bottom end of a half ass mounted bumper, but I digress.

In this hit and run accident, a noticeable dent now exists on the driver side rear corner at the tail light. Anyone know how to straighten this, give me a shout.

RML · #18 03-19-2017, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB3

another slightly different way if the rubber is shot-

My lower bracket on the bumper itself was broken, just like all of them it seems, and the rubber pad was also ripped and useless

I ground that out, and I bent two pieces of 3/16ths steel in U-shapes that matched the contour of the inside of the bumper

I then wheeled off the rest of the rubber pad and welded the U's to the bumper shock. Im sure you could bolt it same way though

looked like this ultimately-

Similar to the OP, only a pair of carriage bolt tops are visible, though top and bottom vs both on the bottom. Also I used stainless steel bolts

JB3: I am using your approach to do my bumper fix. What did you use to get such a nice bend and contour to the 3/16 steel stock? I do not have any metal working equipment so am thinking I will need to go to a fabrication shop to have the bend and the weld done. Or I might just have the bend done and use four bolts to attach the bracket to the shock assembly.

t walgamuth · #19 03-19-2017, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JB3

another slightly different way if the rubber is shot-

My lower bracket on the bumper itself was broken, just like all of them it seems, and the rubber pad was also ripped and useless

I ground that out, and I bent two pieces of 3/16ths steel in U-shapes that matched the contour of the inside of the bumper

I then wheeled off the rest of the rubber pad and welded the U's to the bumper shock. Im sure you could bolt it same way though

looked like this ultimately-

Similar to the OP, only a pair of carriage bolt tops are visible, though top and bottom vs both on the bottom. Also I used stainless steel bolts

Excellent work!

Simpler=Better · #20 03-20-2017, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RML

JB3: I am using your approach to do my bumper fix. What did you use to get such a nice bend and contour to the 3/16 steel stock? I do not have any metal working equipment so am thinking I will need to go to a fabrication shop to have the bend and the weld done. Or I might just have the bend done and use four bolts to attach the bracket to the shock assembly.

You can bend steel like that with hand tools easily.

Step 1: Make a scrapwood form. Just strew old plywood & 2x4s together until you have the right size block.

Step 2: Clamp one end of the flat steel to the plywood.

Step 3: Hammer it until you're happy with the result.

BillGrissom · #21 03-21-2017, 12:22 AM

Jeeze, can't you guys delete the images when you reply to a post? One view is enough.