Frame may be bent

connor grimes

connor grimes

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installing my new rear bumper today, when attempting to attatch the bumper-frame tie ins...they're way off. The brackets are square, as is the bumper. Outside of taking it to a frame shop to get it pulled ( probably not doing that) my thought was to just get some longer bolts and some washers to fill the void a little bit. Any thoughts?

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If I'm seeing what I think I am, in that both sides are are about the same amount off, I'd be way more suspect of the brackets having less than stellar tolerances (especially if they come from China) than the frame being bent. Is there any other indication of your frame being bent? Does it drive straight down the road? If you have someone follow you, does it look like it's running true, or does it look like it's crab walking? Do your tires wear funky?

If there are no other indications of a frame issue, I'm with mac, try the method you described.
 
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These appear to be Poison Spider tie ins like mine and if so, I think that is normal. My set fit the same and my frame is unmolested. I just got the bolts started on each side before tightening them down with no issues. I believe it’s by design to ensure everything pulls together when tightened vs leaving a gap.
 
connor grimes said:
installing my new rear bumper today, when attempting to attatch the bumper-frame tie ins...they're way off. The brackets are square, as is the bumper. Outside of taking it to a frame shop to get it pulled ( probably not doing that) my thought was to just get some longer bolts and some washers to fill the void a little bit. Any thoughts?

View attachment 539250

View attachment 539251
Click to expand...
Don't worry about it. But for reference heres the specs you can use with plumb bobs and a flat piece of concrete
frame.jpg
frame2.jpg
 
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Murf926 said:
If I'm seeing what I think I am, in that both sides are are about the same amount off, I'd be way more suspect of the brackets having less than stellar tolerances (especially if they come from China) than the frame being bent. Is there any other indication of your frame being bent? Does it drive straight down the road? If you have someone follow you, does it look like it's running true, or does it look like it's crab walking? Do your tires wear funky?

If there are no other indications of a frame issue, I'm with mac, try the method you described.
Click to expand...

Same thing I see. If the frame were bent inwards the same amount on both sides like that, it would be very obvious and also very difficult to do since that section of frame is held in place by the shock crossmember and rear crossmember. Almost impossible to bend it like the brackets show. My money is on the brackets having an issue.
 
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connor grimes said:
installing my new rear bumper today, when attempting to attatch the bumper-frame tie ins...they're way off. The brackets are square, as is the bumper. Outside of taking it to a frame shop to get it pulled ( probably not doing that) my thought was to just get some longer bolts and some washers to fill the void a little bit. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Mine were the same way.
Are you sure the brackets are square?
I ended up cutting the gusset, tightening the bolts, then rewelding the gap.
 
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Does anyone have any tips on getting a wrench in there for the bolts , can’t seem to get anything to fit at the right angle to tighten the bolts that attach to the frame section
 
connor grimes said:
brackets were definitely square, it has to be something with the frame
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Again, is there any other evidence of frame damage? It's hard to say what could be out of whack without looking in person, but frame damage seems highly unlikely.

@mrblaine knows his shit. I completely agree with his explanation of why it's almost impossible for the frame to be bent in the way you suspect it is. I think your best course of action is to do some measuring according to the frame diagram @Rickyd posted above if you need to prove to yourself that your frame is fine, then come up with a plan to secure your brackets. Spacers (washers, or whatever) between the bracket and frame would work, but cutting and rewelding would be better if you have that capability.

The only way I could see the frame possibly being out of whack the way you suspect it is, is if someone, at some point, cut the rear crossmember from the frame, purposely forced the ends of the frame rails outward (not easy to do), and rewelded the crossmember back to the frame, but for what possible purpose? Even if that was the case, I don't think your rear body mounts would work as designed because the repositioned frame rails would more than likely interfere with them. By looking at your pictures, your rear body mounts appear intact as designed by the factory.
 
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connor grimes said:
brackets were definitely square, it has to be something with the frame
Click to expand...
The rear crossmember has two dimpled rectangles that the ends of the frame tube sides butt into. There is very little margin for error there. You can pull the rear bumper and check easily. There are holes that would show if the frame were welded wrong to the crossmember. That and I can see in one of your pictures that the frame end is exactly where it is supposed to be for at least one side. If the frame end is very much outward from where it is supposed to be, you won't get the lower half of the body mount installed.

The amount of angle difference when extrapolated out would put the frame arches hard into the sides of the tub.

What is more likely is your new bumper has pulled the crossmember wings outward towards the rear which tweaked those reinforcement brackets to look the way they do. Or, you missed that when you installed the bumper and didn't notice it from previous damage.

I'd be more concerned about the bolt strength than getting those brackets to fit. A2 70 bolts are not enough stronger than Grade 2 to warrant their use in a rear bumper application.

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