Carhelp Please

[Dan]

I'm not much of a car person, but I like to think I'm pretty handy in general. I've got a '91 Honda Civic hatchback. It's a 4 speed manual transmission, for it's age it's in very good condition.

The problem is that the rear bumper bracket is nearly rusted out. Several bolted connections have broken so that the back right side is kind of floating a bit, and if I hit a big bump it will clunk against the frame. Looking underneath, I see that all of the winter salt kicking up behind the wheels has eaten through it pretty badly.

So how do I find a new one and how much am I looking to spend on it? More than $500 is probably not worth it for a car this old. I've picked up the Chilton manual from the library, and I figure I can install it myself unless some special tools are required, but I am clueless about the best place to buy from or what exactly to call it. A quick look of local autoparts websites shows that they don't stock it. I'm not sure if anyone is making this part anymore. Is Ebay worthwhile? Should I go to a body shop and ask for them to order me something?

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Do you have a breakers yard equivalent over there? Places which take cars and break them down for parts and sell them cheap. Since it's just a bracket, you don't need a super expensive new replacement and a local breakers will be a more reasonable price.

I have no idea how easy it is to fit, but I can't imagine it being too hard unless the rust has covered the bolts etc. Probably some car forums / google which could help you more? My rear bumper has like 4 big bolts on the underside holding it on which is easy to take off if you have the right sized ratchet / spanner.

 

[Dinnesch]

Buy a bicycle. Cars suck.

 

[MJ12]

Why don't you ride a bike for once in your life, lazy ass.

 

[Krynn72]

Buy a bicycle. Cars suck.

Are you really telling Dan to buy a bike?

Like Glenn said, theres probably some scrap yard or something that took some non functional cars and broke them down for parts. See if you can find a local one. eBay might be a decent alternative, but you'd have to pay shipping and might get charged more than if you were to find a place in person.

 

[FrostedxB]

Browse some car sites for an OEM kit.

I'm looking around on google and there are a TON of aftermarket kits, but nothing close to an OEM bumper. Probably a a little too old to find original parts in good condition.

Edit: http://passwordjdm.com/JDM-EF-88-91-Civic-Hatchback-SiR-Rear-Bumper-P1919C107.aspx

 

[Vegeta897]

Dan has done more with a bike in a month than you will do in your entire life.

 

[Raziaar]

Show me the CarFax report!

 

[Robbo]

Wreckers, and if they're a good one they will ring around for you to see if they can find it somewhere else.

 

[Dan]

Browse some car sites for an OEM kit.

I'm looking around on google and there are a TON of aftermarket kits, but nothing close to an OEM bumper. Probably a a little too old to find original parts in good condition.

Edit: http://passwordjdm.com/JDM-EF-88-91-Civic-Hatchback-SiR-Rear-Bumper-P1919C107.aspx

I don't think I can afford that. Maybe I'll try asking the body shop, or checking the wreckers. I'm not sure how I can tell if something will be compatible.

 

[Bad^Hat]

Dan has done more with a bike in a month than you will do in your entire life.

Man this would be the perfect opportunity for A Bike to show up again...

*waits patiently*

 

[sixteenth]

Have you checked your blinker fluid?

 

[Krynn72]

Man this would be the perfect opportunity for A Bike to show up again...

*waits patiently*

Last Activity 09-10-2008


Has it really been that long since he last posted?

 

[StarBob]

Do you have a breakers yard equivalent over there? Places which take cars and break them down for parts and sell them cheap. Since it's just a bracket, you don't need a super expensive new replacement and a local breakers will be a more reasonable price.

I have no idea how easy it is to fit, but I can't imagine it being too hard unless the rust has covered the bolts etc. Probably some car forums / google which could help you more? My rear bumper has like 4 big bolts on the underside holding it on which is easy to take off if you have the right sized ratchet / spanner.

They call them junk yards here... but yeah if you're just looking for some random piece - especially a body piece like that - your best bet for cheapness is a junk yard. It's a little old but I figure any decent junk yard would have it. I doubt any special tools are required for something like that though. The funny thing is that it's a bitch to get the right size bolts for Japanese cars it seems. I had bolt my muffler back in and I bought a kit specifically for Japanese car fixtures that had various nuts and bolts... and not a single one fit the fixture properly. I ended up finding a random one in a toolbox that worked out well.