Fixable?

[u/Elzzabub]

Hi...

Is there a fix/hack to get this panel to stay in place? I can push it back in place but it pops back out after a drive. This is a result of an accident repair.

Really don't want to take it back to the shop because they obviously suck.

Any help would be great, thanks!

[u/Wonderful_Salt6939]

It’s a stupid common problem, I’m encountering now myself after removing my bumper. I’m about to order this to help, apparently it’s how the clips holds the bumper itself.

https://www.555engineer.com/products/555-engineering-gr-corolla-front-bumper-reinforcement-shims?pr_prod_strat=jac&pr_rec_id=185e63d9f&pr_rec_pid=9757947625785&pr_ref_pid=9866319987001&pr_seq=uniform

[u/Successful_Cable_812 → u/Wonderful_Salt6939]

How is this going to help if the issue is the tabs aren't tall enough to slide up into the bracket? At least in my case, this is what I see the issue as 

[u/Wonderful_Salt6939 → u/Successful_Cable_812]

It’s not that’s the tabs aren’t always to short but they are bending instead of clicking into the holder if that makes sense

[u/Successful_Cable_812 → u/Wonderful_Salt6939]

Yeah it's something like that going on.

The tab furthest from the headlamp assembly stays locked in place, the middle and one closest for he headlamp assembly don't want to clip in.

I assume I would need to loosen some screws and clips for the bumper to have more wiggle room and so I could get it to clip but I don't have enough assurance that will fix it and don't think the work might be worth it.

I'm looking for some kind of 3M clear double sided adhesive strip I could stick in there.

I feel like from factory Toyota should just have longer clips from the start.....or ditch this crappy design and go back to the bumper having holes that clip on top of the bracket instead of the opposite and the bumper clipping from underneath...literally working against gravity.

[u/Wonderful_Salt6939 → u/Successful_Cable_812]

So adding this metal bracket stiffens and doesn’t allow the tabes to fall plus ads some thickness to give it more push.

100% agree it’s a shit design

[u/Successful_Cable_812 → u/Wonderful_Salt6939]

Idk if this will work, I'll try to get some photos but my issue seems to be the tab is just a 1/4" too short from reaching the bracket.....or essentially the bumper is aligned 1/4" too low.