Help with Rear Bumper Alignment

TLDR: Does anyone know how to realign a rear bumper that is pushed in on one side?

Hello, I'm new to the form but I promise I used the search function first and can't find what I'm looking for in the 3rd Gen forums. So I'm sorry if this has been answered somewhere before.

Backstory: I had a valet parking guy back my 3 week old truck into a tree. The scratches are very minimal but the bumper is pushed in on the right side. The collision guy at the dealership said that nothing under the truck was bent or broken so he estimated $825 for replacement and painting of two parts of the bumper due to the scratches. The restaurant wrote me a check for $925 instead of filing the claim.

I'm not worried about the scratches at all because I'm going to have this truck for a long time and small scratches are bound to happen but I do want the bumper straightened out. It would be great if I could fix it myself or pay someone a small fee and put the rest of the check towards the bed mat, nerf bars, and bike rack I've been wanting!

Has anyone had to straighten/align the bumper on their 3rd gen? Is there a how to guide out there or any Youtube videos that I'm missing while searching? I have looked under the truck for a total of about 30 minutes, loosened and messed with then re-tightened a few bolts but I cant figure it out (I have 0 auto repair/work knowledge).

Thanks for any help or ideas you guys provide. I've really enjoyed this forum for the last 3 weeks since I've owned my first Tacoma.

 

There are lots of different bolts under there but I can't figure out which ones might need to be unscrewed. I got scared while loosening the bolts so I decided to make this post. As for brackets, there are none that just pop out to me but honestly I'm not good with auto repair and may not know what I'm looking for.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/removal-installation-of-rear-bumper.41023/

Does this help? If yours looks like this under there, maybe try loosening the 2 bolts on each side and readjusting.

 

Ok Been there... done that... you need a new bumper and the parts under it, then paint then install.. gonna cost ya a shit ton of coinage, then after that butt hurt some other asswipe is going to fuck your asshurt some more.. you'll probably end up with a heat attack.. wait for the cure.... wait for it.......










PLATE PUMPER - FTMFW

A new plate bumper is going to be a shit ton easier to install than the POS plastic craptastic stock bumper AND look a lot better.... thank me later. Problem solved.

 

I don't think it's out of alignment, I think it's bent. That being said it doesn't look bad at all. I'd probably leave it. However if you want it bent back take a ratchet strap and strap it to something solid. Use it to pull the bumper out. If that still doesn't work you may have to move the truck a bit while its strapped to something that won't move to pull it back a little. But you have to be careful because too much and your screwed

 

Uh oh, I really hope that's not the only option. There is nothing that I nor the guy at the collision center can find that is cracked or bent at all in any visible spots. But in case that is what has to happen do you have any recommendations for good looking plate Bumpers? I'm definitely not the type that likes big gawdy things but might be okay with something if it has a semi stock look or appeal to it.

 

Just did this over the weekend for the same reasons. The only way to do this properly is to remove the bumper from the truck. There are bolts underneath the step pad. It is very hard to remove the step pad while on truck. You will end up breaking off the tabs on the step pad either way you try, so have a new one on hand. Basically there are 4 bolts on top and 2 bolts underneath that mount the end assembly to the center section of bumper. The two bolts underneath are accessible you could try loosening them and pulling end out. Looking at your pics my guess is you will need to remove bumper from truck to correct this.

 

I REALLY like the pelfreybilt rear bumpers. I doubt you'll need to replace it though.
http://www.pelfreybilt.com/16-tacoma-rear-standard-plate

 

You sure it got pushed in? My left side sits further out than my right side from the factory. When i go for my first oil change im going to have them push the left side in to match the right.

 

And .... the plastic POS bits are streatched and some will be BROKEN.. Plate bumper FTW... it it what it is... OP you will feel A LOT better with some real steel back there. I know... I did it. Same shit same shine-ola.

A polished turd is still a turd, just sayin...Oh and thank me later..

 

Good lord dude, he gets it. Maybe he doesn't feel like spending that entire check on a rear bumper when he can loosen a few bolts and readjust the one he's already got.

 

Thanks, so your damage looked similar to mine and you just needed to remove the bumper and reinstall it? If that is the case I'll most likely just need to take it to a repair shop and have them do that for me.

 

I'd put a come along on it to see what happened, and if that didn't work, I'd do a plate bumper also. I'm just waiting to get rearended so I can get one.

 

I do think that looks pretty good. It could be an option if I cant get this fixed pretty cheaply.

 

Yes they used to both be even. But I have seen people with that problem on this forum. That is what makes me think that it could be as simple as removing and resetting the bumper or loosing some bolts and pulling it back out.

 

Mine looked just like yours. I spent three hours total removing bumping and replaced the step pad, upper metal plate and end inner support. The plate and support did not appear to be damaged, but the insurance paid for them so I put them on. You'll you need a new step pad for sure. It aligned correctly when I reinstalled.

 

Had similar happen to my bumper when new. Pretty easy, just pull on it some.

 

@Skongosa OP If I had a check for 975 and a banged up bumper I would most likely replace with a plate bumper. I don't think you'd regret it down the road. However, I understand wanting to get bike rack asap so you can hit the trails.

 

I actually have a case file with Toyota, because of the gaps on either side - mine has been like that from the factory too. Even the truck they had in the show room was worse than mine. I told the service manager I want to see the schematics of how the bumper should fit together. I told him Toyota doesn't just make a truck & throw a bumper on it - there are specs to say how it should fit, ie spacing/gaps.
Still waiting to hear.

 

Update: took it by a small body shop near my work called Joe Bumper. Got it fixed for $75. Said they just took the step off and loosened and readjusted the right side. Looks perfect again and I got to pocket $850 of the claim.