Front Bumper Lip Sag

[96/z26]

Hey guys,

I wonder if you could tell me how to pick up the sag on the front bumper on my white Z. It appears to sag in the middle and tip forward.

The car has never been in an accident and the front bumper has never been struck on a curb. But it appears that its saggy when I compare it to my red Z. Maybe im crazy but can you see what Im talking about by looking at the photo's?

Second thing, The piece of plastic under the headlights between the light and the bumper appears to bend and the ends. It's not happening on my red one. Do any of you have this issue also?

Is there any way to pick up the sag in the front bumper? (All the brackets are there in the right place).

I attached a few photos for you guys to have a look and one of my red Z to compare.
One last thing, the grill piece between the lights. There is a gap under it from the bumper and not as much on my red one.
I know these might sound nit picky but what are your thoughts?

Thanks!

Ron!

[GTU89]

The plastic under the headlights and grill on mine are bent as well. Maybe something to do with sitting in the sun?

[themadness]

well crap! i was going to ask this the other day b/c mine does it too. my father in law suggested a shim of some sort.

[3X00-Modified]

Build a new lip support from metal and it shouldn't sag.

I'm planning on making something up for mine eventually.

[themadness]

Build a new lip support from metal and it shouldn't sag.

I'm planning on making something up for mine eventually.

can you elaborate a little?

[3X00-Modified]

two flat plates and three rods, or whatever shape, to replace the plastic that's currently there... just build it from aluminum or something. If you drill out the rivets in the bottom of the bumper you can remove the bracket that's there that holds up the lip and duplicate it from something stronger.

[ErichZ26]

Build a new lip support from metal and it shouldn't sag.

I'm planning on making something up for mine eventually.

having problems parking a Z04 car? They only sag if you whack them.

[3X00-Modified]

No I am not you wise ass. My original bumper was cracked from before I got it... my reinforcement is fine, But I'd like to have something that will not flex by just the air flow. Also finding non cracked reinforcements is getting harder and harder. The Z I just bought has un-cracked bumper but one of the posts on the outer edge is broken, seeing how the bumper is not damaged in any way I'm guessing that's from flex while driving the car.

[DTMAce]

This works too, and its not very involved:







And it looks stock. See page 9 of my 94Z thread for more info.

[3X00-Modified]

pretty much exactly what I was talking about.

[DTMAce]

Basically just holds the shape. Mine was made from stainless material, so no rust stains. The top piece you can't see is underneath the plastic support, the rod connecting the two was just the right size to fit in the "V" of the support.

Originally I was going to try to fab up a complete metal insert... haha This was Dad's idea. Simple and it worked. I still have a straight lip to this day.

[ErichZ26]

No I am not you wise ass. My original bumper was cracked from before I got it... my reinforcement is fine, But I'd like to have something that will not flex by just the air flow. Also finding non cracked reinforcements is getting harder and harder. The Z I just bought has un-cracked bumper but one of the posts on the outer edge is broken, seeing how the bumper is not damaged in any way I'm guessing that's from flex while driving the car.

High speed driving is causing Z04 cars to grin?
I don't think so. Its from running them into curbs and snow piles. I have seen Z04 cars flapping in the breeze but that is from not having all the plastics under.

[Barry]

Mach1 lip snowplowing and hitting curbs during unfortunate ebrake maneuvers. But you do have to park different with these cars, they have a ton of front overhang. Base/gt/gtu kit of more forgiving believe it or not.

[Barry]

[3X00-Modified]

No I am not you wise ass. My original bumper was cracked from before I got it... my reinforcement is fine, But I'd like to have something that will not flex by just the air flow. Also finding non cracked reinforcements is getting harder and harder. The Z I just bought has un-cracked bumper but one of the posts on the outer edge is broken, seeing how the bumper is not damaged in any way I'm guessing that's from flex while driving the car.

High speed driving is causing Z04 cars to grin?
I don't think so. Its from running them into curbs and snow piles. I have seen Z04 cars flapping in the breeze but that is from not having all the plastics under.

Well the car doesn't go in the snow and there are no marks on it from hitting any curb so believe what you want but driving to Bfest is what brought the crack back to my lip after it was repaired when the car was painted. The original reason for the tear I do not know because I didn't do it but it came back from the air flow pushing down on it. I had to put a piece of aluminum below the lip on either side of the split to hold it together so it wouldn't get any worse.

And if you think air flow doesn't split or crack bumpers... research what happened to GM's new Camaro bumper when it came out.