Topic: 65 Rear Bumper Bracket to Taillight Panel Sealant - San Jose

[J_Speegle]

This question came up a couple of days ago and after going through all the research I thought I should share my findings with the membership here.

The questions was -

1- Was there sealant applied between the taillight panel and the rear bumper bracket and the unibody (taillight panel)?

2- Was it applied to the outer surface (attached to the rear bumper bracket before assembly) or as a sealant "washer" on the back side of the mounting bolt washer surface?

While we're in the area

3- Same questions about the rear bumper bracket, the body and the mounting bolt

And as a side observation - Did the mounting hardware change during the production year?

So as usual (just based on the number of available examples) I started with San Jose production.  More than happy to look at both or either of the two plants so that they do not get inserted here in this thread

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[J_Speegle]

Guess #1 and #2 both run concurrently

So will just start with looking at the exterior surfaces of the back of the car for evidence and work into the trunk area


Remnants of sealer squeezed out between the body and rear bumper bracket



Remaining body sealant around the mounting hole for the rear bumper bracket. Apparently workers didn't torque this one down as much as others



Cake or round/disc shaped sealant applied to the area around the rear bumper guard hole


So if it was sealed around this side no reason to also seal around the interior surface of the panel with other sealant discs or  sealant washers applied to the back side of the retaining washers.


Though this is from another year (sorry don't have an original  freshly pulled off an unrestored car) here is one bracket with visible sealant discs applied. May have NO bearing on the discussion or is related

[J_Speegle]

Now moving to the inside of the trunk. What I found was an inconsistent pattern around the mounting bolts. Some with a fairly even amount around the washer, most with an inconsistent bead and some with no visible sealant. My conclusion at this time is that on some cars the sealant was introduced (a little or allot) through the mounting holes and as the washer rotated during the install (if it did) it spread out the sealant and distributed some in a fairly even amount, on those where they didn't we ended up with more sealant on one side or area and on cars where not allot of sealant was pushed through there was not enough to squeeze from the center to the outer rim of the washer to show anything.  But bottom line there was no premade washer or disc of sealant applied to the back side of the mounting washers or what we would be seeing would be much different at this plant and this year.

Examples

E-1 5RT09C1508xx. Only a small amount on the top edge



E-2 Same car as above No sealant on the top edge




E-3 5R07C1670xx Appears to be no sealer visible at either hole/point shown



E-4 5R08C1817xx Just about nothing at the bumper guard Uneven around both bumper bracket bolts



E-5 Same car as above 




E-6 5R07T1874xx In this case what looks to be a nice even bead of sealant around the inner mounting bolt at least at the top edge



E-7 On the same car as above. Looks like little to no sealant on inner bumper bolt on the drivers side but nice large amount of sealant around bumper guard bolt at least on the top half



E-8 Same example - different angle




E-9 5R09K201xx No visible sealant around the two bumper bracket holes



E-10Same car as above




E-11 5R07A2094xx Inner passenger side bolt is maybe 60/40 sealant



E-12 Same car - Drivers side. No visible sealant around the inner and bumper guard mounting bolts. Outer bolt as some but not allot




5R07A22724xx Some around bumper bracket bolt - none at bumper guard



Have more but choose ones that were clearer for this pass through

[CharlesTurner]

Seen rope caulk on the bumper brackets to body and then what appears the same on the attaching bolts.

[CharlesTurner]

Outer pic from same car.

[J_Speegle]

Seen rope caulk on the bumper brackets to body and then what appears the same on the attaching bolts.

Think that might just be what was squeezed through the hole when the bracket and bumper were pressed up to the taillight panel and held tightly against the body while the bolts were started and tightened. Sort of over kill (waste of time and money also) for both. Plus it isn't consistent or showing up in all examples

[CharlesTurner]

Think that might just be what was squeezed through the hole when the bracket and bumper were pressed up to the taillight panel and held tightly against the body while the bolts were started and tightened. Sort of over kill (waste of time and money also) for both. Plus it isn't consistent or showing up in all examples

I've thought the same, but not sure how we get the full circle as seen in the pics.  I have one that shows some of the 'squeeze out'.

[J_Speegle]

I've thought the same, but not sure how we get the full circle as seen in the pics.  I have one that shows some of the 'squeeze out'.

Part of the discovery. We don't have full circles on many. More chance if the washer hangs up on the bolt as its tightened and in turn the back surface of it spreading out the material is a fuller pattern on some. Have done that many times when sealing bolts in specific places to distribute the goop