Bumper absorber

1602 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by briano1234, Mar 4, 2019

rsbidinger

Discussion Starter · Nov 29, 2018

Good afternoon! So, I had someone back into the front bumper of my ‘80 Rabbit.

One side is pushed in and the other is sticking out. It seems as if all I need to do is loosen the mounting bolts up and straighten it out by hand, but was told the ‘absorbers’ are a one-shot deal. Is that true? I’m not even sure where to find a replacement.

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briano1234

· #2 · Nov 30, 2018

That was my understanding as well, but there was a thread on the tex or the defunct 152, that they drilled a hole in the bumper shocks and Pushed the bumper in closer to the frame... Cheap and effective mod.

The other fact is that I don't have a ETKA that has the partnumber for them, but you could email www.partsplaceinc.com and see if they have one laying about as they do sell pulled parts as a Scrapper.

There is also a place that sells rabbit parts out of Iowa (Iowa City?)

ebay
Drivers side
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VW-VOLKSWA...6:g:-h8AAOSw~RRbcxt9:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true

passenger side
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VW-VOLKSWA...h=item260a12c4bb:g:GccAAOSw1yJbcxxI:rk:6:pf:0

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rsbidinger

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 30, 2018

Excellent!! This is very helpful. Thank you Brian. I found some on eBay as well but for some reason didn't stumble across these you found. Exactly what I need. Thanks again!

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James Seahill

· #4 · Dec 3, 2018

Way Out auto salvage in Arkansas is also a source for older VW parts

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mobycat

· #5 · Dec 5, 2018

Here are a couple more links: (The part number in the listing appears to be incorrect. You can see the part # on at least one of them in the picture):

Right:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RH-Front-R...-75-80-VW-Rabbit-Mk1-171-807-150/282538451595

Left:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LH-Front-R...-75-80-VW-Rabbit-Mk1-171-807-149/311901596527

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Gearshift39

· #6 · Mar 2, 2019

I realize this is an old thread but I have a question someone might be able to answer about these bumper absorbers. I purchased an 82 Rabbit early this week. i put it on my trailer,strapped it down good and headed home with my little car. It sat over night on the trailer. The next morning I noticed some oil on the trailer just below the rear corner passenger side bumper. I didn't think much about it but today after it had been sitting in the garage a couple days I found some thick oil in the same location under the bumper on the floor. I used the tie down brackets on each corner of the bumpers to haul the car home. Do these bumper absorbers have oil in them? If so I have damaged one somehow.

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rsbidinger

Discussion Starter · #7 · Mar 2, 2019

Congrats on your new purchase!

Yes, the absorbers have oil in them—though, the oil didn't come out of mine until I removed it from the bumper and placed it upside-down in a box overnight. There's a tiny hole on top of the absorbers where the oil dripped out. Not sure if this is a refill or breather hole?

Regardless, I think it'd be strange if the oil is coming from there since yours is still installed. Despite one of my absorbers getting compressed, it din't leak oil until after I removed it from the bumper and flipped it upside down.

My suspicion is your leak is coming from somewhere else, but I could be wrong. Perhaps someone else could shed some insight...

Gearshift39 said:
I realize this is an old thread but I have a question someone might be able to answer about these bumper absorbers. I purchased an 82 Rabbit early this week. i put it on my trailer,strapped it down good and headed home with my little car. It sat over night on the trailer. The next morning I noticed some oil on the trailer just below the rear corner passenger side bumper. I didn't think much about it but today after it had been sitting in the garage a couple days I found some thick oil in the same location under the bumper on the floor. I used the tie down brackets on each corner of the bumpers to haul the car home. Do these bumper absorbers have oil in them? If so I have damaged one somehow.

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briano1234

· #8 · Mar 2, 2019

Rear corner is either the bumper shock or the Brakes.
There is no other fluid in the rear save those two.

Next time use the Towing Eyes that are behind the rear valance.
It isn't unusual for folks to Drill holes in the shock, then back the car into a wall to compress them for a closer fit.

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Gearshift39

· #9 · Mar 4, 2019

I've hauled many cars and the Rabbit isn't a big deal to haul. I used the tie down brackets on each corner. The oil is leaking out of the bumper shock. At first I though it might be fuel leaking but after looking, it's obvious where it's coming from. I'm just trying to understand why. Unless it was slightly compressed and was pulled out when I tied the car down to the trailer. But how would that cause a leak?

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briano1234

· #10 · Mar 4, 2019

Gearshift39 said:
I've hauled many cars and the Rabbit isn't a big deal to haul. I used the tie down brackets on each corner. The oil is leaking out of the bumper shock. At first I though it might be fuel leaking but after looking, it's obvious where it's coming from. I'm just trying to understand why. Unless it was slightly compressed and was pulled out when I tied the car down to the trailer. But how would that cause a leak?

Because the bumper shock is 37 years old, and the Tubes were probably rusted a bit.
If the bumper is compressed, and or pulled out a wee bit, the rusty bits will cause the seal to not sit and leak.

What, when, where and why aren't the issue. It is leaking and it needs to be replaced.
If you look under the rear, there is one tie-down usually on the drivers side near the muffler, and then there are the Hard Body point under the rear valance that are square with holes in them, which is what you are to use as they are on the FRAME of the car, and you risk minimum damage. The Front has 2 towing eyes.

Chalk it up to life lessons learned...."Been there done that, and won't do it again?" as I usually say. Then after a few selective swear words are invoked invoked...well more than a few, as it usually starts "How, can I be so fecking Stupid..." or "What the heck was I thinking...".

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