broken tube bumper mounting bolt

[backyardbill]

One mounting bolt on my front bumper is broke off. Can anyone recommend a method to fix this?

[124JOE]

drill it out and put in a new one from front

[backyardbill]

Ok. Good idea.

[spider2081]

I just did that but just after I drilled the hole I realized it would have been easier to drill a tap hole and install a stud instead of a bolt. The material is plenty thick enough to tap. It was a little tricky welding the head of the bolt through the front of the bumper.

[backyardbill]

I drilled the stud out, and then clean through the front of the bumper. However, I did have to grind out a larger opening in the front of the bumper in order to insert a bolt. I also had to cut away a small section of the backup plate that kept the original two bolt plate from dropping into the cavity. Then I gooped the underside of the new bolt with JBWeld and inserted it (area was too tight to weld the bolt). The new bolt is nice and tight now, and if it ever spins on future dissambly, I can put a socket through the access hole to hold it. I'm happy with the results and it was a cheap fix.

I will add a photo later tonight for anyone else interested in this repair.

Thanks for the suggestions and help.

[Fiat88]

I drilled the stud out, and then clean through the front of the bumper. However, I did have to grind out a larger opening in the front of the bumper in order to insert a bolt. I also had to cut away a small section of the backup plate that kept the original two bolt plate from dropping into the cavity. Then I gooped the underside of the new bolt with JBWeld and inserted it (area was too tight to weld the bolt). The new bolt is nice and tight now, and if it ever spins on future dissambly, I can put a socket through the access hole to hold it. I'm happy with the results and it was a cheap fix.

I will add a photo later tonight for anyone else interested in this repair.

Thanks for the suggestions and help.

Sounds like the same repair the PO did on my car.