Technical Questions about bumpers

[onemanmade]

Hi folks, I know there is a guide (in Serbian) on how to remove the bumper, but having translated and read it, I still don't have the foggiest. Can someone explain how exactly to remove both bumpers?

Also (and this is an embarrassing question to ask) where is the front towing "eye"?

Sorry if these are silly questions folks!

 

[aquamarine]

Hi Cameron

There are no silly questions!!

Bumper removal is reasonably easy, you just need to be a bit of a contortionist. There are 6 nuts to remove in total:
- 1 within each wing (these can rust, so use some release oil and work back and forth - otherwise the holders can round off). You have to get your arm between the wing and the inner arch liner to get to them.
- 2 for each bumper bracket.
They're all 13mm and I find a socket or ratchet drive spanner best.

Front towing eye - not sure we really have one. I tend to hook a tow rope around the jacking point in the middle of the front panel. But of course we never need to tow our cars...

More likely, you'll be towing something else...

 

[onemanmade]

Hi Cameron

There are no silly questions!!

Bumper removal is reasonably easy, you just need to be a bit of a contortionist. There are 6 nuts to remove in total:
- 1 within each wing (these can rust, so use some release oil and work back and forth - otherwise the holders can round off). You have to get your arm between the wing and the inner arch liner to get to them.
- 2 for each bumper bracket.
They're all 13mm and I find a socket or ratchet drive spanner best.

Front towing eye - not sure we really have one. I tend to hook a tow rope around the jacking point in the middle of the front panel. But of course we never need to tow our cars...

More likely, you'll be towing something else...

Thanks for the information!

 

[panda1408]

Taking the arch liners out makes things much easier As David says the side mounting bolts can seize and then break the plastic mounting on the bumper, so be very careful when you try to undo them. In my experience if they break you will have a hard time getting the bumper to sit right again, which is very annoying!

I've never had to tow a Panda on a rope, but if I did I would probably go around one of the tie rod mounts, the central jacking point is fine but the tie rod mount seems a little more solid to me.

 

[dragonwagon]

Probably the least damaging way of removing the side mountings is to split the nut carefully with an angle grinder or better still a sharp nut splitter, then clean up the bolt threads and use new nuts on re assembly.

 

[firstcar-Y10]

I've never had to tow a Panda on a rope, but if I did I would probably go around one of the tie rod mounts, the central jacking point is fine but the tie rod mount seems a little more solid to me.

I have, and that's what I did.

 

[onemanmade]

Thanks for the help all!