Cant get rear bumper back on!!!!!

I took my rear bumper off and painted it black. It wasn't too hard getting off(a little tight) but now when i go to put it back on it doesnt line up by about a quarter inch. It looks like one of the lips on the bumper that mounts to the inside of the hangers is bent outward slightly, but i dont see how thats possible. i didnt drop it or anything and it came off fine so how could it be so off now? Ive been slamming it with a hammer trying to get it to budge, but nothing. i dont know what to do anymore. any advice? Has anyone experienced this at all?

 

Thats what I said when I went to remount mine too. You need to have someone hold up one side and just push it till it fits between the two mounting plates or get out a mallet and hit the plates a couple times until it fits. Try to start mounting it by pushing it down (in between the plates) from the top instead of dead on. Hope that made sense for ya. Youll be good.

 

I thought coming from the top seemed right too after staring at it for about an hour lol. but i prob should have someone helping me haha, im just impatient and tried to do it all by myself. Thanks for the help!

 

yessir