rolled into someone that decided to stop for a second time merging into traffic awhile back...passenger side of front bumper tilted up...small dent in chrome as well...broke a few valence retainers too...
removed valence and been riding w/o one for too long...
I had already purchased an SS bumper cover and matching roll pan before the damage...then I got lazy and never fixed the bumper so I could install the cover...
I have been told by a few people that the twisting of the bumper should be fixable with new bumper brackets...not to try and replace the one(s) that I thought may be bent, but just replace all 4...so...I recently bought all 4 from e-bay...
my question is...is there a good chance that this will level the bumper back out?
I picked up my SS cover and roll pan yesterday from a guy in my hometown that was holding on to them for me...I test fit the cover last night and I can't wait to get it on now...
Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated...from the bumper issue to the painting and installing of the cover and/or the roll pan...
I've never done anything like this before...
Thanks in advance!

 

nobody???

 

so the metal portion off the bumper is twisted/bent? if so, you should be able to get it back into shape with a BFH. The good news is it only needs to be straight and not cosmetically intact since you are going to put the SS cover on it

 

Thanks for the reply...
There is a dent in the bumper, but the dent should have no effect on the bumper cover...it's just the way it's sitting twisted...I'll post some pics...

 

from front, right & left - as is...then test fit of cover - front, right & left...

 

Bend the bumper back so it's level, on the corners. Don't need to make it look pretty by any means just make it level so it can support the bumper cover correctly so it will look straight and have the factory look. Once the bumper is straight mount it up with the brackets you bought and line it up, you might need to bend the brackets alittle or get some washers to add spacing so it all looks even. You should think about moving the FMIC back and making a scoop for it so you can take advantage or the inlet.

 

As stated before...I'm being told that the new brackets will level it again...that the brackets are what give upon impact...which makes sense...I guess we will see...

In regards to the FMIC...unfortunately...there's really no way to move it back further w/o going lower as well...
a shallow scoop is a serious consideration already...I don't know if there is a matching billet insert for the large center opening or not...

 

A small tip I picked up is let the cover sit on the truck in the sun for a while while you're test fitting it. If it warps or bends slightly due to the heat take pictures of that spot so when it's ready to install you can add extra tape/adhesive/whatever to make sure it doesn't warp again.

 

Yeah, brackets are the first things to give in a accident but looks like your bumper got distorted a bit too. New brackets will only level it out if the bumper itself isn't twisted or bent like yours is. Just saying you might have to add some spacers or something to compensate for the slight twist in the bumper even after you hammer it out.

 

thanks for the heads-up guys...