'02 Front end damage

Hey Folks, I'm a new member here with a problem with my '02 Tacoma. There is a good bit of damage to the front end of it. Can anyone help me with a few questions?

I haven't decided yet if I'll attempt to do the repair my self or get a shop to do it, but either way I think I should source the parts. Shops around here charge a premium for parts they source and I'd rather just pay the shop rate for work. I was looking at front bumper assemblies, but I'm unclear as to what I actually need, there's a lot more to it than just "bumper" it seems. The damage appears to be all cosmetic, the bar underneath the plastic skirt appears to be intact and undamaged.

So, could someone clue me in on what to search for on the bumper section? Should I consider an aftermarket part?

Also, I have some basic car maintenance/repair experience, but nothing with body work. I have changed sensors, breaks, a clutch etc on my vehicles, but never anything like this. Would this be worth attempting my self? Are there any pitfalls I should watch out for?

Thanks for any help!

Pics:

 

i'd pull the bumper and take a good look at the rebar behind it....it might not "look" damaged now but you'll know once you take it off

doesnm't look like it's anything too serious, might be able to get away with a new bumper and grille.....i don't know how far down the rad support goes but you could probably just bend that back if needed

totally doable on your own....as long as the frame is still perfectly fine

 

It really comes down to how pristine you want it to look I guess. Completely agree with vantaco, but your panels may need to be replaced as well. You might be able to just bend out that edges a bit and it'll look ok, but it just depends how pristine you want it to be.

They're just bolt on, so really not a big deal to replace, but they will probably end up being your biggest expense since you'll probably want to paint them as well (paint before you attach - much easier). New paint will never look like old paint though, so if you want it to be perfect, you'll also need to get the rest of the body painted as well.

As for your bumper, personally, I'd go with an aftermarket bumper. It'll end up being a bit cheaper, as well as hold up much better.

 

Hi - thanks for the replies. What should I look at as far as an aftermarket bumper goes?

 

You're so lucky to justify getting one of these

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/re...-96-04-relentless-fab-plate-style-bumper.html

 

Just depends what you like and how much you want to spend. First option is tube or plate. Tube tends to be cheaper if you're only looking to save money. Then you have options like the light hoops, winch capable, light mounting, recovery points, etc. Its all just up to what you like and what you need.

 

This!

Thinking this will be my next mod. I love that bumper.

 

You would look like a fool in a little 2x4 truck with a plate, imo. Get a stock replacement from a junkyard or ebay.

 

ebay