I have had a problem with my foglights being misaligned with their slots in the bumper with my 1988 Trans Am GTA. The car seemed to have this issue when I bought it, I never really noticed it. The fog lights seemed to sit too low and are partially "blocked" by the bumper. Anyway, I replaced the bumper cover (not because of this but because the paint was flaking off and it had some cracks) and the issue is still there. Is there anything that I can adjust or reposition to rectify this problem? or has anyone dealt with this same problem with their T/A or GTA?

I attached some pictures to show you what I am talking about.

 

the other side....

 

The bumper itself seems to align ok with the rest of the car....

 

Well first off make sure that the fog lights are mounted correctly. All the bolts are tight and there are no wierd spacers between the fog light and the "bumper." If everything is correct then you will have to "adjust" the bumper they mount to. Here is what I did: take off the lower ground effect that is in the corner ahead of the wheel. Take the fog light off and now you have access to the tin bumper. Now take a floor jack and jack up on the bumper. It should bend fairly easy. Do it slowly so you do not go too far. Just do one side at a time, and you might have to add a little weight (i.e. You) to the nose of the car to make it bent as far as you want.

Jake

 

What "tin bumper" are you referring too? I'm kind of apprehensive about bending stuff to make it align right. I shouldn' have too (??).

I hate bodywork

 

The "Tin Bumper" is really called the Impact Bar. If anything hits the nose of the car the Impact Bar is the first piece to bend. It is thin sheet metal so it crunches before the frame horns.

Anyway, the method I mentioned above will work fine the Impact bar is light enough material it will bend before anything else. If you wanted to do it right, you can take off the nose, and the impact bar and bend the mounting tabs back to factory. But I think that leaving it on the car is the easiest way.


---Or they do sell new impact bars if you don't want to bend yours

Did I say bend I meant "Adjust"

Impact Bar Circled in RED

Jake

 

wont bendig the impact bar make it weaker? & why would the lights move down?

 

it looks like your missing a bolt or two that hold it up on the top of the assembly. i just recently changed my fogs and forgot those on one side. but if your sure you got em all then mabey thats what the problem is that support bar??


dont know why my comp goes crazy sometimes but can a mod delete the post follwoing this one please. kthanx

 

it looks like your missing a bolt or two that hold it up on the top of the assembly. i just recently changed my fogs and forgot those on one side. but if your sure you got em all then mabey thats what the problem is that support bar??

 

it looks like your missing a bolt or two that hold it up on the top of the assembly. i just recently changed my fogs and forgot those on one side. but if your sure you got em all then mabey thats what the problem is that support bar??

 

The Impact Bar is what the fog lights mount too therefore..

Impact Bar Bent = Fog light misalignment

In the pictures of your car you can see the metal that the fog lights mount to through the holes in the nose. You should not be able to see it. I have attached a picture of my car after I bent the Impact bar back up where it should have been.

Bending the Impact bar will not will not weaken it. It is just a piece of tin that protects the radiator in a light crash. If you take the front corner ground effects off you can see that it will not hurt it to bend it back up where it goes.

 

thanks for clearing that up 86Tuned_port. i didnt know that.