[enjikari]

So I watched a video that even told me, taking down the bumper can be a hassle. I put on my big boy pants and attempted it. Admittedly it took quite some time to get the bumper dropped, separated, and diffuser added on. But after, putting the bumper back up LOOKED like it was going fast and fairly smooth. Except, for some reason the driver side would not align properly nor would it 'snap' back into place. The passenger side is fine, went on and snapped on, in place just fine. For some reason, driver's side won't. I tried to put the bolts in and hoped I could pop it into place/alignment once it was secured (specifically the bolt behind the wheel that meshes the two panels together) but that didn't work. I imagine I'm gonna have to either undo the driver's side and pull it out/try to put it back in, or worse drop the whole damn bumper... but I thought I'd post here in hopes someone has some history/help/insight to offer. Most of the research I find isn't looking good - apparently 6s are known for driver's side bumper alignment issues once removed


(edit: also I debated whether this belonged here or "Issues" - if need be, please move this post OR let me know and I can repost on another place)

[arpad_m]

I replaced my rear diffuser, too, and don't remember encountering a similar issue. That said, I didn't put any bolts in until I pushed all the clips back into place on both sides.

In this situation I would undo the driver side completely and check if a clip got bent or broke, or maybe the wiring harness isn't fully secured. Also, are you sure the diffuser section is perfectly attached and aligned with the bumper itself?

[enjikari]

I always feel like an idiot when I have to post follow-ups like this. I fixed it this morning, but I can't even really offer help/advice for anyone else who might experience this issue. So all I did was remove the one screw holding the two bumper panels together (the one behind the wheel), I pulled the bumper panel behind the wheel out, pushed it back in (while inspecting/observing all the tabs/slots - the seemed fine, no damage or issues), but it still wasn't in all the way and didn't "snap". I pulled it back out again, this time all the way to the middle of the bumper, then pushed it all back in..... and it's good now. Nothing actually snapped in, nothing felt any different going on/in - it just 'magically' lined up. Admittedly it's not PERFECT (my passenger side is still much better) but, it's not sticking way out.


Sorry folks. I guess my advice is - pull it off/snap it back on until it lines up/fits correctly


Thanks for the response, arpad_m!

[DeuceCam]

I'm too late but you can check the thread linked below for more info. There's a link to a Chevy TSB theirin that explains their take on the issue.

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=591718

[enjikari]

Originally Posted by enjikari

I always feel like an idiot when I have to post follow-ups like this. I fixed it this morning, but I can't even really offer help/advice for anyone else who might experience this issue. So all I did was remove the one screw holding the two bumper panels together (the one behind the wheel), I pulled the bumper panel behind the wheel out, pushed it back in (while inspecting/observing all the tabs/slots - the seemed fine, no damage or issues), but it still wasn't in all the way and didn't "snap". I pulled it back out again, this time all the way to the middle of the bumper, then pushed it all back in..... and it's good now. Nothing actually snapped in, nothing felt any different going on/in - it just 'magically' lined up. Admittedly it's not PERFECT (my passenger side is still much better) but, it's not sticking way out.


Sorry folks. I guess my advice is - pull it off/snap it back on until it lines up/fits correctly


Thanks for the response, arpad_m!

Ya know folks... as I was typing this response out the thought crossed my mind a few times:
"....maybe it's too soon to say anything? Maybe give it a week or two before you say anything."
I should have listened to my inner 3/10 mechanic conscious.
Guys and gals, I didn't even make it out of the DRIVEWAY before it popped back out. I simply pulled out and parked in my driveway to do a quick wipe down/detail and I noticed it. See my OP and pics - that's what it still looks like. I KNEW I didn't feel any snap or difference the last time it went into place. I just saw the lack of the huge gap and thought it was all good - thought maybe the reason I didn't hear/feel any snap was because of how I mildly-aggressively popped it into place. Nope, it's just not catching on that side. Again, the tabs and the slots look just fine, but they're either not catching or they're not going far enough in/holding in place.

Originally Posted by DeuceCam

I'm too late but you can check the thread linked below for more info. There's a link to a Chevy TSB theirin that explains their take on the issue.

https://www.camaro6.com/forums/showthread.php?t=591718

Spent some time reading this, thanks. Looks like my best bet is to take it to a body shop... I don't think the dealership will do a TSB repair, since I clearly just modded the bumper situation by removing the old lower bumper and adding a diffuser

[DeuceCam]

That's what I would do if you're over messing with it. Unless the dealer has a body shop (most don't), they'll likely farm out the repair to a body shop anyway.

Mine doesn't align well in that spot. I spoke with the local dealer - that has a body shop - about it, and their auto body rep didn't have good things to say about the issue, as it's common. He said, "these camaros are falling apart faster than we can fix them; if we fixed it, it would likely pop back out after sitting in the sun for a bit," then went on to say they're cool looking cars but the fit-and-finish is terrible (paraphrasing at this point). He's not wrong (for more reasons than this issue). It's sad.

Unfortunately at the time, I had just timed out of my 3 year bumper-to-bumper so warranty work wasn't an option for me.

Fwiw, the gap on mine grows in the heat/sun, noticeably more so in the summer. It doesn't help that I live in the Phoenix, AZ area

[enjikari]

Originally Posted by DeuceCam

That's what I would do if you're over messing with it. Unless the dealer has a body shop (most don't), they'll likely farm out the repair to a body shop anyway.

Mine doesn't align well in that spot. I spoke with the local dealer - that has a body shop - about it, and their auto body rep didn't have good things to say about the issue, as it's common. He said, "these camaros are falling apart faster than we can fix them; if we fixed it, it would likely pop back out after sitting in the sun for a bit," then went on to say they're cool looking cars but the fit-and-finish is terrible (paraphrasing at this point). He's not wrong (for more reasons than this issue). It's sad.

Unfortunately at the time, I had just timed out of my 3 year bumper-to-bumper so warranty work wasn't an option for me.

Fwiw, the gap on mine grows in the heat/sun, noticeably more so in the summer. It doesn't help that I live in the Phoenix, AZ area

There's a collision center down here that did my 6 right when she got front-ended by a truck backing up ("I didn't even see you! -.-"). I'll give them a call/bring her by and see what they say.


But tbh, the way you make it sound, and the 'long story short' I'm gathering from most research damn near is... "screw it, leave it alone, it will never fix properly". I'd hate to pay someone hundreds upon hundreds of dollars just for it to pop back out...


I'ma think on it.

[DeuceCam]

Attempting to align the rear bumper is on my list of things to do, even with all the discouraging info on the topic. (I still have to try for myself.) It probably won't happen anytime soon, though, due to the summer death heat.

Good luck with yours.

[enjikari]

So I've partially given up. No matter what I did, no matter how many times I popped the side/back out and back in, it never stuck permanently. So, I've... cheated.

I have some thicker black 3M tape. I pulled the panel out and laid the tape along the top of the bottom bumper (a little further inward, towards the care rather than out - so it's 'harder' to see), and slowly worked it all back together all while pushing up on the bottom panel. After I gently brushed some touch-up pain along the gap to further hide the gray color of the tape.

And at this point I'm letting it be. It's been a week or so now with a handful of miles/commutes, and it's staying stuck together, not popping out. To the untrained eye, all looks normal even up close. To anyone who looks keenly, there's a SLIGHT larger gap on this side compared to the other, and where the corner meets the brake light it is pushed out slightly. BUT... some battles I'm just choosing to walk from. I'm either gonna break something with all this effort I was doing, or worse I'd completely remove and re-assemble the bumper situation and cause something else to go wrong, not fix the issue, or worse...

I'm good with leaving here right as she sits.

[Dabjbr]

I removed my bumped to install a hitch. I could never get it to sit right at the same spot. I learned to ignore it.

[WhiteMale]

As mine is coming out of the shop after my crash, the rear bumper cover is supposed to have been 'refinished" (repainted) and I'm curious if it was a remove/paint/replace and if they got the fit better as mine was sitting proud of the RR as is so common.