Hey my car is in the body shop and the rear bumper brace(Or whatever it's called) is flaking into rust. A new one is 104 bucks, and 170 after labor, and 4 new bolts at 5 bucks a piece. I was wondering if there would be a cheaper place to get them.

I would head over to a junk yard and pull the part myself, buy the bolts and install myself if possible, much cheaper, most places will only charge for the rough weight of the steel as these parts are not mechanical, and there are lots out there. Look into it, you will at least be able to find the part for them, cheaper then new, usually just as good!

Well, one problem is getting the bolts off. I was told they would need to be torched off. That I couldn't do in a junkyard.

Are you talking about the plastic support brace . . . or the metal support brace that the plastic one is bolted too?
The first picture if of the plastic suppor brace that is for 10 MPH and under crashes.

This is a picture of the actual metal support brace that is welded to the frame.

If it's the metal support brace that the plastic one is supported to . . . let me know where your getting it for $104 because I though GM discontinued those and yearone.com has nothing.

Sean

They are held in place by 4 bolts and you can easily access the nuts from underneath the car just abobe the exhaust pipes if you have a dual pipe (driver and passanger side) system. Unless these bolts are badly rusted you can easily remove them, if they are badly rusted just use a braker bar on the nut and try breaking the bolt off. New bolts you can get at any hardware store for under $1 each.

The brace is metal, as it is flaking off from rust.

If I broke the bolt off, I don't have a tap set if I were to drill the bolt out.

If I were rear ended right now, their wouldn't be much support back there.

The guy in the body shop looked up the price of the part in a book. I'll ask him about it Monday(17th).

I think I'll wait alittle bit to explore my options instead of spending 170 bucks right now.

If you break the bolt off (underneathe the nut) the bolt will just fall out or you might have to tap it lightly. Can't remember what the nut is called in English (I'm Swedish) but it's a curved head and mounts in a square hole to lock it self while you turn the nut.

carrage bolt

How much would a used brace go for?

So it's a $104 and they are charging you $170 to put it in. And it's 4 bolts. Man that's $66 in labor. My shop would pretty much do it for free.

Can you please tell me where you got it for $104 because I can't find anyone that sells it. Let me know. Thanks!

BTW: Jlarsson thanks for the info on the 4 bolts. I see them now. I guess I must of overlooked them, I never really got a chance to really look at it yet anyways. From the looks of it thoe nuts are on there pretty good.

Sean

It's a bit tight to get to the top 2 but with a ratchet wrench or similar you can get to them.

I have the # for the place at work. I can get it to you tomorrow. The bolts would be around 5 bucks a piece. So that's 46 bucks in Labor. I'm gonna try it myself, but first find the cheapest place I can get it from.

The camaro brace and firebird brace were different part #s, but are they interchangable?

The place is called Keystone Automotive (414) 463-1019


Here's a place that sells used ones.

http://www.restoreandcustom.com/firebirdparts.html

wow that place has some great prices. Too bad they have basicaly no 91-92 formula or trans am parts (i need front and rear bumper) btw is ther a diff between the 91-92 formula and trans am bumpers?

The formula and Trans Am bumpers are different. In my sig the black car is a Trans Am. The closest car is a 90 Formla, it has the same plastic design. Hawks may have what you are looking for. Their link is at the top. F-body motorsports.com(I think that's their website) may also have something.

but how do the bumpers differ between the 91-92 trans am and formulas. Does the front include fogs, is the rear a diff shape, and so on...because it seems like all formula/TA's that i see from 91-92 have the same bumpers

have you guys taken a look at certifit . I bought a new, clean rear bumper reinforcment for my camaro from those guys for $36. No plastic, just metal so I'll have to drill the rivets out and do a transplant. J/y wanted 70 with the plastic cover and I am sure the piece would have been in less than ideal condition. Apparently on these cars they always rust out.

another place worth checking out is www.paddock.com , but I am not sure what they have for TA's

paddock.com is related to video in Kansas.

paddock.com had me stumped. I tried www.padock.com and found it. Hmmmm . . . I don't think that's it either.

ok, how about http://www.paddockparts.com

I really need to update my database

yup, I had to replace mine, cost me about $98 plus a few bucks for the bolts.

2d, where did you get the bolts, I didn't even look for those yet

I assumed you could get them through the dealership. I'll try to find out money, better yet, I'll get the part # from gmpartsdirect.com

I assume you can get a lot from the dealer, but they were going to charge me 10 bucks a piece for 4 exhaust bolts. That's just

Of course that was Honda, but now it makes me think twice before I have to go to a dealer.

actually I bought some differential fluid at 30 bucks a bottle, and when I asked GM mechanic, what is this stuff, he told me it is just 75w90 (or 90w75) fully synthetic fluid. Advance auto sells the same stuff for the same application for 3 times less.

well I live in Canada, got them at Canadian tire. You can get carriage bolts at any hardware store.