I've just got my new...

[MadOnVaux!]

...rear bumper brackets today from Autovaux (along with quite a few other small bits that i needed, gaskets, bushes, etc)

Ive heard people say to give the brackets a good coat of paint before they go on to stop them rusting like they do, but these look to have been paint dipped or powdercoated, it's certainly not bare metal.

So is it worth still giving them a going over with hammerite or suchlike?

[craigyboy]

Thats the way they were when the cars were new mate
i would give them a coat of hamerite.once that coating
starts flaking they rust quickly

[v6 steve]

why not get them powdercoated then youll not need to worry about them again

[rich30mex]

Nothing lasts forever but the way to look at it is if there the original ones they have done a good 15 years so these should do the same

[MadOnVaux!]

Thats the way they were when the cars were new mate
i would give them a coat of hamerite.once that coating
starts flaking they rust quickly

Ahh ok, i wasnt sure if the originals were bare metal, coat of hammerite or two it is then

[MadOnVaux!]

why not get them powdercoated then youll not need to worry about them again

Its an idea, although abit pricey really to say they are going to be pretty much hidden, hammerite'll do

[MadOnVaux!]

Nothing lasts forever but the way to look at it is if there the original ones they have done a good 15 years so these should do the same

Yeah i know, and i reckon mine will be originals as they were abit rusty when i got the car in 2004, and have been on it since 1995, so a good 17 years, these new ones will possibly outlast the car

[GreyDJ]

After painting them give them a coat of Waxoil just to make sure

How much were they?

[calibre ray]

spray them with stonechip or schutz. job done

[MadOnVaux!]

How much were they?

£8.92 each including VAT

[GreyDJ]

Thanks.

[MadOnVaux!]

Finally got round to fitting them today, everything was going well, bumper came off ok etc, old brackets split and pretty turned to dust lol, but I couldnt get the old nuts and the bits of bracket off where it mounts to the body!!!

Totally rusted solid, wouldnt even let me get a socket on them as the metal on the nuts had expanded with rust and just rounded off.....got my Sealey multi-tool out ( Similar to Dremel, but better) to attempt to cut the remains off, but couldnt get the cut i needed due to the limited space

It's is going into garage tomorrow for service and clutch etc, i'll have to ask them to get the bits off if they've time!!

I F*&KING hate cars!!! lol

[Allys Cally]

i was doing the droplinks on the wifes astra the other day and had the problem that the nut wouldnt come off either, i found my trusty nut splitter came in very handy

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-PCE-BROKEN- ... 1e7228abde

[MadOnVaux!]

Nut splitters are handy things, but i couldnt get it in there due to the way the nuts are and the way the bracket is shaped ....I would have cut them off if i could have got in.

Last time i did drop links on my Calibra, the lower nut was rusted solid, but it twisted and sheered off, thakfully lol.

[bodgetastic]

I have a set of these and work very well (other brands probably available) although im sure the garage will be able to get them off easily enough.....

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp ... ir=catalog