risky business

Hi, as I stated in the title, I need help. I need ideas and solutions. I purchased a Tsunami Bumper months ago and had it fitted and painted. No problems then.

When I bought my car (used 66k miles) it was missing both front fenderliners and the undertrays that attach to the front bumper. With the stock bumper this was merely a cosmetic thing. The stock bumper never had any problems by being only supported by the 2 side screws and the screws under the hood.

I did not realize how much support came from the sides/underneath trays.

The tsunami bumper over time in the florida sun started to have a gap near the edges of the headlights and where the turn signal corners should be. I made the mistake of letting this go and go and go. It got worse and worse.

I tried fabbing my own brackets which would push the front bumper up and out (away from the driver seat and up as in the sky) This would stop the bumper from sagging worse and push it back into it's place.

This was quite a daunting task. It would be force Constantly applied and my construction plans where haulted at the test fitment when the bracket hit the tire at full lock.

since then i have almost given up, its just so frustrating to have it look the way it does and not know what to do about it. I have even taken it to body shops and because its polyurethane they just tell me it should fit like a glove and to just go buy the fenderliners from mazda.

I would do this, I see how they would stop it from sagging but my fear is that the damage is already done and they won't correct the problem, just stop it from happening in the first place.

I need something stronger, I need ideas on how to support this bumper, any ideas are welcome.

Thank-you for taking the time to read all this and I have also taken a video trying to show the gap thats been created. (sorry for bad quality. i only had my LG dare phone)


The video might take 20 minutes to work, i just uploaded it, i have to leave for dinner tho so im posting the link now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z_z4405P-M

tiltmode43

iTrader: (15)

You stated in the video all of the linings you are missing would cost a total of $500? That seems awfully steep!

Find an 8 at a junkyard and get those linings/undertray - you'll need them in the future if you do end up fixing this problem. You can also install them and bring it to the body shop to see what they think.

bose

iTrader: (5)

PM mazmart6, sheldon he can probably get you the pieces your missing.

nuke0907

iTrader: (2)

PM g3tr3ddy2gr3ddy.

risky business

ok, i am ordering the linings, however i doubt this will give the amount of support i require. any1 have any ideas on additional bumper support?

05rex8

iTrader: (7)

I've had this bumper for awhile and never had issues like this. However my car is garaged and does not sit in the sun for an extended period of time. Heat will cause certain polyurethanes to warp and sag. Usually when cooled, the urethane goes back to it's original state.

I can't tell from the videos, but did the body shop make 2 slits on the edge of the bumper to snap in to the factory mounting brackets?

If you look at the mounting brackets on the side of the fenders, they have 2 "teeth" that help secure the bumper to the side.

You may also want to PM TSUNAMISTYLES about this and show him what has happened to your bumper. He may be able to help.

mikeb

i have the same gap on my driver side
my passenger side is perfect

i have tried using big screws on the driver side but it just sags
i have a replica poly utherane ms front

i need a solution also bro

blackenedwings

I have the same issues with mine actually... it fit perfectly like a glove when I got it, over time the gaps have become more and more apparent. It's really unfortunate because I absolutely love the look of the thing. I was thinking of fabbing some kind of L-brackets or something to give it additional support, but mine doesn't look quite as bad as the OPs.

risky business

yeah i love the bumper as well, i just wish it didnt sag! blackened wings, it will prob get worse over time, mine has slowely gotten to being this way over the course of 6 months.

as far as these "teeth" that secure the bumper on the side, i have no idea where these are. so i guess not

the bumper is only being supported right now by the 2 screws on the sides where the turn signals used to be and the under hood bracket.

05rex8

iTrader: (7)

look at your stock bumper
where the clear corners fit in on the side, there are 2 slits
they snap in to the brackets on the fender

your tsunami bumper needs these slits so it stays on the stock bracket
I will get pics later if it helps....

05rex8

iTrader: (7)

ok here are the pics from my stock bumper

notice the 2 slits on the edge...you need these on the tsunami so it stays against the fender

shifty

iTrader: (1)

Ive been having this issue aswell ive cut the slits but it keeps popping out .
Im not sure what to do has anyone resolved this yet.