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2008 Gmc Bumper Upper Plastic Trim Gap

lrymal

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lrymal Senior Enthusiast

lrymal

Posted
Posted

Howdy, everyone. Quickly put, the gap that exists where the bumper plastic trim piece is really bothers me. I went to my dealer and he showed me that nearly half of his stock has the same gap, and others look absolutely perfect. Do ya'll think this can be eliminated by adjusting the bumper? I was going to try that, but can't figure out how to loosen the bumper on the horns. The bolts are loose, but it won't budge. Haven't tried loosening the tow hooks, yet---d'uh!

 

Below are two images. One image is a "perfect" GMC, from the GMC site. The second image is of the gap on my truck.

 

349697184.jpg

 

349697182.jpg

C. Charles Hahn Senior Enthusiast

C. Charles Hahn

Posted
Posted

Well looking at your truck, I can see the passenger side gap is larger than the driver's side gap.... I'd see if the dealer body shop can tweak it a bit to at least make it even. May not be able to eliminate it completely. It's not the best as far as showing the gap, but here's my '08... also close but not 100% perfect:

 

SIERRA_2.JPG

03blackz71 Senior Enthusiast

03blackz71

Posted
Posted

mine has the same center gap but I have learned to live with it. But when I put my body lift on I will play with the bumper a little to see if I can correct it.

lrymal Senior Enthusiast

lrymal

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Ranch hand full replacement bumper :lol:

 

Have thought about it.... grinnnn

lrymal Senior Enthusiast

lrymal

Posted
  • Author
Posted
mine has the same center gap but I have learned to live with it. But when I put my body lift on I will play with the bumper a little to see if I can correct it.

 

Think realigning the bumper would be way to line it all up? I'm still trying to figure out how to loosen the bumper. I'm thinking it is the bolts in the frame horns, and the bolts in the tow hooks.

Zembonez Senior Enthusiast

Zembonez

Posted
Posted

Park it with the wheels straight on level ground and see what it looks like. The upper plastic is attached to the body (which is on rubber mounts) and the bumper is attached to the frame. Any twist or non level surface can alter the gap.

lrymal Senior Enthusiast

lrymal

Posted
  • Author
Posted
... I'd see if the dealer body shop can tweak it a bit to at least make it even. May not be able to eliminate it completely. It's not the best as far as showing the gap, but here's my '08... also close but not 100% perfect:

 

Thanks for the photo!

 

Yours looks good to me---at least the photo does.... I might take the truck to the dealer, although he'll cheerfully show me that most of the trucks on his lot are out of alignment as well. I went there after hours and was surprised to find that.

lrymal Senior Enthusiast

lrymal

Posted
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Posted
http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=85298 :lol:

 

I searched for Bumper in thread titles only. If this doesn't do you, there are other results there.

 

I ran into that thread, but skimmed it too fast. I'll give it a try. Not quite sure, from the top photo, where that single bolt is, but I'll give this a try. Thanks for doing the search. I appreciate it.

tobias Senior Enthusiast

tobias

Posted
Posted
http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=85298 :lol:

 

I searched for Bumper in thread titles only. If this doesn't do you, there are other results there.

 

I ran into that thread, but skimmed it too fast. I'll give it a try. Not quite sure, from the top photo, where that single bolt is, but I'll give this a try. Thanks for doing the search. I appreciate it.

 

 

NP. :fume:

 

Honestly though, the picture in the marketing materials looks to me to be the same as the way they are in real life. It's just a highly contrasted image so it makes it look tougher to see. I doubt you will be able to get the gap much closer though I am sure you'll be able to get the gaps symmetrical.

 

Good luck!

lrymal Senior Enthusiast

lrymal

Posted
  • Author
Posted
.....I doubt you will be able to get the gap much closer though I am sure you'll be able to get the gaps symmetrical.

 

Good luck!

 

I appreciate it... just that some GMCs at my dealer's lot are "perfect" with an exact gap, from side to side, including the center in between. Pathetic for me to be so anal about something.

Porter_ Enthusiast

Porter_

Posted
Posted
Honestly though, the picture in the marketing materials looks to me to be the same as the way they are in real life. It's just a highly contrasted image so it makes it look tougher to see.

 

i agree with this. every new sierra i've seen has that gap. i would imagine it is necessary to accommodate the body flexing relative to the frame.

 

edit: ah i see you are looking for a more symmetrical gap, not to eliminate the gap completely. in that case i agree with Zembonez, look at it while parked on a level surface and see if the problem still exists.

lrymal Senior Enthusiast

lrymal

Posted
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Posted
...ah i see you are looking for a more symmetrical gap, not to eliminate the gap completely. in that case i agree with Zembonez, look at it while parked on a level surface and see if the problem still exists.

 

Yes and I didn't make that clear. The surface at the GM dealer is about as flat as anybody's. And trucks parked next to each other have different spacings for the gap, including several with perfectly symmetrical gaps, from passenger to driver's side of the bumper. Others are like mine with typically a larger gap in the center.

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