Rear bumper repair /1998 Nissan Maxima

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Probably several of you have been rear ended with the result being a
ugly bumper. If you have basic tools, i would like to encourage you
to fix it since there might be not welding or cutting-just bolting
and unbolting.

I got rear ended by a jeep going about 25 miles an hr while i was at
a stoplight

The damage to the rear bumper skin did not occur (except paint) but the metal bumper behind the skin was bent in. Also the trunk lid continued to close but was
less secure and the striker opener worked. There wreck created a larger gap between the left quarter panel and the bumper (1/2-5/8").

Changing out the metal bumper helped reduce the quarter panel/bumper
gap but didn't help the trunk lid fit much. We moved the latch down a
little and firmed up the trunk lid fit a lot better.

I got the parts at the junkyard for about $75 and the body shop would have
charged by about $1300. Of course they would have painted the bumper
but that doesn't seem like a good value to me right now.

When removing the parts, be sure to remove the nuts and bolts which hold
the bumper to the quarter panels which are INSIDE the trunk. There are a
lot which are obvious but these are not and are necessary to hold the bumper
to the quarter panel. I DID NOT have to remove the taillight lenses but you
might have to-the can be a pain because of the rubber sealant/gaskets so you
might have these on hand before starting.