Dang Bumper Tabs! Again?!? Permanent Solution Time

I have a problem. Well, two actually:

(Driver's side isn't so bad. But the front tab WON'T stay in even after replacing the OEM mounting bracket. And the whole seam isn't anywhere close to parallel.)


(Passenger's side is really bad. I tried epoxying in a metal clip to get things to stay in place, but it's a no-go. I'm going to sand that off and spray it with color-matched paint.)

I've been wrestling with these things for a while. I think my FMIC setup (with UR crash bar) is part of the problem and is applying pressure that makes things not want to sit quite right. I've seen those button/o-ring setups, but I don't like the appearance so much, and I don't think they'll fit the bill in terms of being strong enough/capable of holding the bumper orientation I want. In related news, I got this in the mail today:

This appears to be a much better solution offered by http://moveoverracing.ca/ . The Genpu kit is ~$250 (with the options/anodizing/shipping I chose). I think the Genwon only runs ~$150. I went with the understated black latches, but they offer aluminum, red, and blue too, IIRC. Here are ones installed on a CWP Pu:

Here's what the brackets look like underneath:

Each latch is rated to hold hundreds of pounds, so with 4 total, I should be able to get my bumper to sit exactly how I want. The hardware included tons of shims/adjustability to get things exactly how I want. And this kit is a god-send for folks who remove their bumpers frequently because the latches don't degrade like the flimsy bumper clips/receiving tabs do.

Now I just need to do the install, LOL. It may be a few weeks, but I'll post updates.

 

This looks like a copy of @Raider 's bumper kit with a metal brackets. Ouch @ that price.

 

Yeah, I hear ya. But I got so sick and tired of messing with it and having the bumper pop out of place every time I drove "spiritedly" that I went to some body shops and got estimates for a "permanent" solution. The quotes were in the $250-$300 range, and they couldn't guarantee me that it wouldn't just pop out again. Additionally, they said that I'd have to leave the bumper alone, which isn't feasible. I need to have access to my intercooler, piping, WMI pump, and all sorts of other things down there. I needed functionality, and this seemed like the best solution and for the same price.

Have any pics handy, @Raider ? One of the key things I like about this particular kit is it'll lock things in place on all 3 axes: up/down, left/right, and forward/backward. With the proper amount of shimming in place, I should be able to get super-exotic level fit/finish in terms of having everything sit exactly according to my preference in the x, y, z axes.

 

So it's just mini quick latches plus a metal plate? You can buy those for $25 a piece and make your own.

http://m.summitracing.com/parts/qul-ql-25-s?seid=srese1&gclid=CLTs_LSxr8sCFVEWHwodkcYOIQ

 

It's almost literally the same as raiders with the addition of a metal bracket you dont really need and a premium price point.

 

Yeah, the key is they've designed it for our specific cars, so it takes a lot of the fiddling out of the equation. Also, the brackets are strong enough to keep everything in place, but not so much so that they won't break away instead of tearing the bumper skin in half if something gets snagged very hard.

I'm all about DIY in certain instances, but I wanted an already-sorted solution for this. I really can't stress how soooooooo sick I am of dealing with this. I'm just ready to be done.

BTW, the billet finish ones are only $215 for the Pu. Anodizing adds cost. As does shipping.

 

Canada! Gah!

 

Indeed! Gotta support our friendly, northern peeps like Alex from Stratified, etc!

 

Those brackets make it a LOT easier. The latches are still $$$. I wonder if it means no fenderwell bolt needed. I really wanted to get that to happen. New bumper is fitting like crap and I need to put latches on the new bumper. If I can get bracket-only that make help it fit better.

 

I second this! I already have my latches from the first go around, but the metal brackets would make it that much nicer.

 

Well, as the Owner/Admin of a quickly growing forum with tons of Speed owners, you may have some pull with them. I've spoken with MoveOverRacing about this a lot, and they're really trying to get their name out there in our community (both Genwon and Genpu). With your influence relative to Mazdaspeeds, maybe you can compel them to offer a brackets-only option.

Just an FYI: the brackets are NOT rock-solid. I definitely wouldn't call them flimsy, but they're not milled, thick billet aluminum or anything. MO Racing did this very intentionally for the reason I mentioned above: specifically so that the bracket would give before the bumper skin tears if something catches the bumper really hard. Replacing a bracket is much less dinero (and far less time-consuming) than getting a whole new bumper skin and transferring everything over to it (panels, accessories, fog lights, etc.) Reinforcing the brackets, if wanted, or asking them to cut them out of thicker stock may be an option too.

 

I emailed them this afternoon

 

They responded. Although on their website, they do not make a Gen1 bracket. They told me to use the factory holes. And no OEM bracket at all. The holes are square. It's obvious they did not look into it. Pretty disappointed. Guess it's back up to me to make the separate fenderwell bracket. If I make it, it would end up being something you have to hold onto the bumper with the fender liner peeled for unlatching and latching as there is not a lot of support when pressing in to release/lock.

Fun.

 

Dang...

 

Yeah, no kidding. They tried telling me their bigger thread having latch posts would work. I am not so sure. But I gotta do something, bumper is fitting like crap.

 

Will probably get these when I take off my bumper next time. It's starting to not stay in.

 

I found that doublesided tape worked for this rather well on my car, but I have a pair of push lock ones I'm going to try to add later on in my build.

 

I used the 2x tape with 3M adhesion promoter. Works once, then need to redo each time. I did not want to drill holes into the new bumper, but it is looking that way. I hope to fab up the fenderwell bracket prototypes soon, then see who wants to make em in bulk for me. My fab skills are a Dremel, vise, and hammer. Ideally would be better made.

 

I really need to pick up something soon. I've went through 2 pairs of the OEM mounting brackets, and it's still keeps popping out from time to time. $200+ though for that is a bit on the high side though.

 

I'm hoping to do this in the next month. Gotta coordinate with my dad, and he's swamped until May. Argh...