Saggy Front End

[JimW]

It seems for 10 years, the front end of my car has held up nicely, but over the last 6 months or so, the front bumper is really started to sag. I read somewhere that there are retaining bolts that hold the front bumper in place and over time they no long hold up as they are supposed to.

Before I go looking into shops to get it fixed, I wondered if any other classic owners have looked into this same problem.

[kaykirk]

I have that same problem! I would love to get it fixed, but it costs way more than i can afford. I would try a really good fitting underwire bra.

oh, were you talking about your car?

[JimW]

Have you looked into costs? No underwire bras for me ;D but its a good temporary solution

And yes, I was talking about my car. If I push on the front nose, there is a lot of room for the nose to push back and align with the edge of the hood.

[kaykirk]

If I push on the front nose, there is a lot of room for the nose to push back and align with the edge of the hood.

No, I have not noticed this with my car, but I will check it out!

Good Luck

[JimW]

hahhaa, my eyes are opened, your first post went RIIIIGHT over my head ;D

[kaykirk]

hahhaa, my eyes are opened, your first post went RIIIIGHT over my head

sorry, couldn't resist

[Aurora40]

kaykirk said:

I have that same problem! I would love to get it fixed, but it costs way more than i can afford.

While expensive, at least it's a permanent fix. For some people, if the fix lasts for more than four hours, you have to see a doctor! ;D

[kaykirk]

if the fix lasts for more than four hours, you have to see a doctor!

OMG those commercials crack me up! my hubby and I were watching TV when one came on. it said something about "lasting up to 36 hours" we looked at each other and just started cracking up. yesterday I saw a new one, the guys were singing "viva Viagra" you know, like elvis...again cracking up. I don't mean to offend anyone, I am sure for those who need it they are glad to have it.

we really got off track here, can anyone help Jim out?

[Aurora40]

Jim, I definitely remember other people mentioning this, and the fix not being that hard. But I can't recall the specifics. I tried a quick search here and at Edmunds, but couldn't find anything.

[JimW]

Me too, I've hunted around briefly, I know someone fixed theirs and made mention of several retaining clips, or hanger that begin to give way over time.

anyone?

[rictus]

I have the same issue with my '95 and would be very interested in a solution as well.

[JimW]

One of these days I'll just go to a body shop and check it out.

[austinator]

Can you take a picture for me of what exactly it's doing? I've had the bumper and a lot of other front end body parts off before, so I might be able to help.

[JimW]

Perhaps I can describe it before finding a picture.

The front nose of the car is displaced forwards by about 3/4" from the hood now, the gap between the edge of the headlamps and the hood has gotten wider (probably good for air circ.) but lousy aesthetically.

I'll find a pic somewhere.

[JimW]

Found some that are 2 years old, its worse now.

img440.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hood2le3.jpg

img440.imageshack.us/my.php?image=hood1av0.jpg

[Custom88]

After looking at the service manual drawings for the Classic Aurora, the only thing I can conclude is that the sagging in the center of the bumper is attributed to a design flaw. The classic's bumper is only supported from the sides and bottom, not the top. The stress of gravity after a while probably is causing the bumper to become mis-shaped and sag like you're seeing now. A support system of some sort would have to be fabricated to pull the center of the bumper rearward as it was originally intended.

[95mushroom]

I believe it was OAMan1 who discussed this before. Is the bumper pulling away from the support foam underneath? I believe he said the bumper is glued into this foam and after time it pulls away. The fix is obviously to reglue it. The other thing that could happen is the nose takes some type of impact and the foam compresses or separates from the bumper bar.

[auroraborealis]

My front bumper is still holding strong as you pointed out the one and only time we met up for coffee. Time to do that agian sometime.

[JimW]

Ya, before it gets cold again ;D Lemme know when you wanna go.

[KliffsAurora]

I can't help but laugh everytime I'm on the Forum page and I see "Saggy Front End". Makes me chukkle every time. LOL

[centennialman]

jimw said:

Ya, before it gets cold again ;D Lemme know when you wanna go.

You gonna post something in the local meet section?

[kaykirk]

I still say a good fitting underwire bra should do the trick ;D

and by the way, the rear end is getting a little saggy here too! any suggestions?

[jeremy1980]

I was starting to wonder about a fix for the front end after some neighbor kids decided to walk on the front of my car to get to the other side of the garage faster. I saw footprints on that front bumper and just cringed.

[lanceslambos]

i shimmed mine up with paint stir sticks but they blew out after a few hundred miles.

[anandsihra]

I put some 2 inch particle screws through the foam in that end, and have had no problems whatsoever, knock on that beautiful, solid, rich real burl walnut accents..........uhhhh............ I mean wood.

It is an obsession.

[auroradon]

Hi everyone ... I had the problem in my 95 and the shop put some type of adhesive on the foam backing that it pulled away from. It seamed to work for till I traded in for my 1999 ... Now I just noticed the same thing happening again ... I am going to try some type of adhevise or maybe a lot of contact cement on both the foam and the back side of the nose bumper. ... I would like to know what otheres have done as well ... good luck ... Don

[JimW]

Ya, I took a good look at it, the front bumper is pulling away from the foam, that adhesive idea sounds like the best way to go ahead with this.

Must be some strong stuff, did they tell you what they used?

[webenergy]

I'd try epoxy glue. that stuff is solid when it sets. You'll need to keep the bumper in it's proper place while the glue is setting though. Maybe using a car jack with an old towel to protect the bumper from the metal jack.

[Randy T.]

Mines doing the same thing. Anyone have any luck fixing it?

[LSkrabut]

I used gorilla glue (other brands same stuff is available and cheaper). The stuff that is yellowish in color and takes water to activate it. Very strong stuff! Warning: It expands and hard to get off once set! Don’t get it to close to any outside edges. But surely does work!

I used clamps (6 of then I think, IMPORTANT do a dry run first) I had around the house. I gotten the bumper apart a touch, sprayed water into it. Used a flat, thin piece of wood, applied the glue down and inside as much as I could, avoiding the outside edge.

Move the bumper into position and clamped it for 4-8 hours. Insuring I wiped up any glue that might of oozed out right away and checking it afterward for the next 10-60 minutes, that stuff will ooze out for a short time period, water will remove it if done soon enough. But strong, very! Usually the bond will stay, another area will break off first.