loose SA front bumper
 

The left side of the bumper moves up and down maybe 5cm, enough to make noise. I checked the nut at the end of the bumper, to the left of the radiator and it's tight. The bumper shock absorber seems to be securely fastened to the bumper itself. What could cause the play in the bumper?

you might as well just take them off and sell them to trochoid...

lol, probably not the answer he was looking for Kevin. I'm not that familiar with how the SA bumpers bolt up compared to the FBs, there are differences in the shocks. The SAs have an external spring, where the FBs don't.

The FBs have 2 bolts that bolt to the frame horn and a nut on the end of the shock inside the engine bay. Then there is 1 long bolt that holds the bumper to the shock. Check and see that all of them are tight, along with the spring. If it still rattles, check the bracket that is riveted to the bumper itself and look for any parts that the bumper may be contacting due to vibration.

Maybe i can clarify trichoids comments on the "bracket riveted to the bumper" - the piston assy is attached to (ie, is part of) a flat plate on the FRONT, this mounts to the subframe by 4 10mm bolts. this subframe, actually a pair of metal plates extending the full length of the bumper, is then attached to the bumper proper with... 8-10 10mm bolts. Check to see if the piston is attached tightly at these 4 bolts to the subframe. Maybe get under the bumper and observe as someone lifts the bumper up and down?
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska

Thanks for the clarification Stu. I wasn't sure of the differences between the SAs and FBs.

thanks, stu. I didn't realize there was that much to it. I'll have to take off the grille and get under there to look as someone moves the bumper.

:)
Just had mine all apart getting the front end bits repainted... happy to Spread the Love
Simply job really!
Stu Aull
80GS
Alaska