TSB for Rear Facia Fit 23-052-05

[crhemi]

Originally Posted by joey

I had the same results. Either the repair fixed nothing, or the dealer didn't do the repair. I thought the dealer didn't do the TSB (as they claim they did), but now your experience makes me believe the TSB does not fix the gap, to the tolerance of 2mm, or 5/64in. Before and after pics.

BEFORE


AFTER TSB

Wow looks like the differance between night and day! Lol.

[C-Man]

I forgot to mention, I had the TSB done a while ago. When I did Jerry M's fix today one side had the bolt, and the other had nothing, no bolt or plastic rivet.

[frank29]

Durn you guys Until reading this thread I didn't notice the gap; after reading this thread it is bugging the heck out of me. Everytime I see my car my eyes go to the gap. Off to Home Depot I go.

[srt42]

Jerry,

I want to thank you for sharing this info. I completed mine today and it looks better and is sturdier than stock. Kudos to you and this procedure!! Here are the BEFORE and AFTER photos respectfully:

Originally Posted by Jerry M.

I had also replaced that plastic rivet with a nut and bolt, but all that did was pinch up the bumper at the bolt location. This still left the unsightly gap under the tail light.

I then went to home depot and bought an 1/8 x 1 inch aluminum angle and cut 2 pieces at 6 inches long. I drilled a hole in the middle of one side to secure a carriage bolt. I then stuck on some rubber bumpers at each end.

When in place the aluminum helps to lift the bumper under the tail light.

[JGarten]

I too will perform your execellent "TSB", hopefully this weekend. After viewing your closeup shots "looking up through the vent opening" in post #20 of this thread (on page 2) I had a thought: why is the carriage bolt inserted with the threads "up" into the trunk compartment instead on "down" into the concealed space beging the vent? Is it a matter of clearance behind the vent cover? If so, would a shorter bolt say 1/4 x 1 vs. 1.5 help or is there only enough clearance for the bolt head with the vent installed?

[GoofyTimL]

Here's a note on this homemade TSB fix for the bumper sag. I think this may be limited to '05 model and possible early '06 models of the 300. I think this certainly will fix our '05 although I haven't taken out the trunk liner on that vehicle to see what kind of plastic rivet or whatever is holding (rather NOT holding) the quarter panel up to the metal frame.

However, I just look at my '06 Heritage because I thought the driver's side was sagging just a little (as indicated in my previous post to this thread). I know... I'm slow. Anyway, I don't think this solution can be applied easily to my Mar.'06 build because there is already a bolt there (not a plastic rivet), and there is some sort of reinforcement underneath which holds the nut to which the bold in tightened. Unfortunately the reinforcement ends at the bolt and extends forward, not rearward when the gaps are most exaggerated when they occur.

I did find that my driver's side bolt was not as tight as I thought it should/could be, but that really didn't appear to help the "minor" gap that I have perceived. The nut-holding reinforcement on the under side makes it impossible to use the "bolt hole" to apply a different bolt and an angle piece (or flat piece) to extend support rearward.

[joey]

Originally Posted by GoofyTimL

Here's a note on this homemade TSB fix for the bumper sag. I think this may be limited to '05 model and possible early '06 models of the 300. I think this certainly will fix our '05 although I haven't taken out the trunk liner on that vehicle to see what kind of plastic rivet or whatever is holding (rather NOT holding) the quarter panel up to the metal frame.

However, I just look at my '06 Heritage because I thought the driver's side was sagging just a little (as indicated in my previous post to this thread). I know... I'm slow. Anyway, I don't think this solution can be applied easily to my Mar.'06 build because there is already a bolt there (not a plastic rivet), and there is some sort of reinforcement underneath which holds the nut to which the bold in tightened. Unfortunately the reinforcement ends at the bolt and extends forward, not rearward when the gaps are most exaggerated when they occur.

I did find that my driver's side bolt was not as tight as I thought it should/could be, but that really didn't appear to help the "minor" gap that I have perceived. The nut-holding reinforcement on the under side makes it impossible to use the "bolt hole" to apply a different bolt and an angle piece (or flat piece) to extend support rearward.

My car was "fixed" (not) with the TSB bolt. The pic below is the TSB bolt.
My guess is the factory is now using the same bolt, which doesn't fix the gap problem.

TSB Bolt

[Deep Lava]

Finally fixed my bumper after having the TSB done 7 months ago. The TSB stopped the gap form widening but didn't close the gap. The angle iron fix worked great. Thanks Jerry M.

1st picture: Before TSB
2nd picture: After TSB (notice not much difference)
3rd picture:Angle iron fix

[Dennis808]

Deep Lava, looks like you did a really good job. Mine's been bugging me also. I might have at it in a few weeks

[FIXER]

My early '06 has the dreaded rear sag. I pick up the 2 bolts and nuts listed on the TSB just today and now I find a much better way to do the job. Thanks for sharing your home fixes that far exceded the dealer's idea of the job done right.

Dave