Putting rear bumper back on

[yitbos]

After two weeks, I'm finally ready to put my rear bumper back on now that it's been repainted. However, I have a question about a couple of things before I begin that I'm sure someone can help with.

First, there is dielectric grease in the light bulb sockets. Do I need to remove all of that and put new in since I'm replacing all of the tail lamp bulbs? They have probably never been changed. However, I'm afraid that when I put the new, long life, bulbs in that the greese will be on the contacts and not allow them to work. I'll definately test the lights before I put the entire thing back together. I was thinking of taking a Q-tip and just rubbing the greese out from the contact area.

Second, I tried to keep the light sockets in the correct location but I am not 100% sure if the two on the left side have gotten mixed up as I've been moving things around over the last two week and looking at other things. My question is, does it matter if I switch the two light bulb connectors on the left side or on the right side? I think that both of the left or both of the right tail lights flash when the corresponding turn signal is on, but I wanted to double check so I didn't put it back together incorrectly.

Thanks for the information. All of you have provided great advice and I greatly appreciate it.

John

 

[froggy47]

You could remove the old grease & replace with new or just add new, the old stuff won't hurt anything. It's anti corrosive. The elec. contacts will find their way thru the grease & provide anti oxidation protection elsewhere. That's how it works.


Not sure on the other q.

 

[Edmond]

So that grease is actually something that is useful?

John,

How about a small write up on the removal and installation of the bumper? Mine needs to be painted as well. I'm definitely changing the bulbs as a measure of not having to do it while the bumper is on the car. My bumper got scraped last fall.

 

[froggy47]

So that grease is actually something that is useful?

Yes.

 

[yitbos]

Edmond,

I'm not sure how small the write up will be but here is the synopsis.

I have an 84 along with the chilton book and the GM service book. Neither of which were very helpful.

1. Begin by removing the nuts on the lower part of the rear facia that connects the lower part to the upper part of the quarter pannel component. When the unit comes off, its the back top piece and the back and side lower piece. It's really one, large piece.

There are two nuts on both sides you have to remove and then remove the metal bars on the upper side of the facia lip

2. I found it easier to remove the tire and the wheel well covers and that gave easy access to the other parts. The power antenna was a pain in the butt at times though.

3. Remove the light bulbs from the rear, side lamps.

4. Reach way up to the back where the rear facia meets the fiberglass of the body. There is kind of a curved, L shape of bolds sticking through. You have to remove the nuts off of all of those. Many of mine were bent and I blame that on the poor workers who put it together. It would have been a lot easier if they were straight.

There are about 5 on each side I believe, maybe 6.

5. Once all of those nuts on the L shape section is removed, you need to go to the back and pull the bumper up from the bottom and pull it away at about a 45 degree angle.

Then you find the 7 or 8 screws that you have to remove. They are 7 mm and I used a craftsman socket on some (a small one) and a craftsman wrench that ratchets one direction. That made it much easier. I also found it easier if you had someone to hold it out for you. Or else your head and neck get very tired very quickly.

Before you remove the screws, remove the light bulb connectors on the tail lamps as well. Don't forget to replace the bulbs as they are a pain to get to if they fail later.

6. Remove all 8 screws and have someone support the facia so it doesn't fall to the ground.
Putting it back is the same but in reverse. However, I was ultra careful as I didn't want to scratch my new paint on the top section of the facia, above the black molding.

Good luck doing this. It took me a number of hours to get it off as the instructions were not very helpful. I found a few other lights that had to be removed along with some other screws along the way that hold the rear facia on.

Putting it on went much quicker. My wife helped hold it up for me and I probably spent about 4 to 5 hours total working on it at the mos. But it sure looks a lot nicer now that it's done.

John

 

[Edmond]

John,

Thanks for that write up! Looks like it'll be a day of fun for me.:L

 

[redc4corvette]

On the lights ,install your bulbes and turn on the lights .

Turn on the key right turn on see which bulbe comes on same for other side .

With key on put trans in reverse and see whick one comes on.