Removing Back Bumper, But Not the Cover?

[85 Cutlass Brougham]

Is there a way to remove the back bumper without pulling or damaging the bumper cover? I ask because I managed to shear off the bolts that hold the bumper shocks and exhaust hangers about 6 inches back from the end of the frame. I also have completely sealed the tail lights and side markers to the car for a dry trunk, and would like to avoid repeating those steps. I am using Monte Carlo SS stock exhaust hangers and need to use that bolt to install them securely. I may just try a drill and an easy out, but I hate those things and find them aggravating. If I pull it, I can clean off the top of the threads, and maybe even get the top with some vise grips. Anyhow... Suggestions?


(Why was I doing this? I had originally hung the exhaust system with a variety of generic hangars back when it was a pizza delivery car, and was not happy with how it hung. It was lower on one side and did not look symmetrical. I was also lacking any form of hanger at the cat, and so that section was too low as well. The MCSS hangers will let me cut off their clamps and weld the upper portion to the pipe, thus making the polished stainless tailpipes look much cleaner. Plus, they will give me an even height off the bumper, thus making for a neater appearance.)

 

[username]

Are you talking about the urethane bumper cover? To the best of my knowledge you can drop the rear bumper without taking the rear side marker lights loose and the bumper cover off you will have to massage it out though(pull up on the urethane). There are some fasteners on the top inner side of the bumper to the cover like 3 maybe 4 .

 

[Blake442]

I think I'd just drill out the broken bolt, and re-tap it instead of pulling it apart.

it's easier to get it off without the cover on there, but here's what you'll have to do...

First, put a floor jack under the middle of the bumper with a towel on it or something to help protect the finish of the chrome.

Next, undo the four nuts on each side where the reinforcement meets the bumper shock.
Now, you'll only have a little wiggle room, but pull the bumper back, and with a needle nose pliers, break off the retainer washers that hold the studed insert in place inside the bumper. Once those are loose, you can knock them inside the bumper reinforcement, and then slide the bumper straight down.

And of course, with the bumper off, it makes for a good time to find an aluminum reinforcement if your car does not have one already...

 

[mr evil]

Only way I was able to do it without removing the cover was to cut (sawzall) the shock part of the mount behind the frame mating surface after the 3 nuts are losse/removed. The problem is the shocks, if you can get it unbolted it wont slide out and down because the shocks hang up inside the rails.
Mind you this is on cars with really corroded hardware and shocks that don't work anyways. Trying to unbolt the support side of the bumper didn't work as the nuts/bolts just spun because they were seized.
Taken 2 off in the past month and I hated it

 

[3XBrownCutty]

I had to replace my rear bumper when I first got my car, and it's not possible to remove the bumper without unbolting the cover...