Hello:

I am having a heck of a time finding a Drivers Side Rear bumper end & side for my 96 XLT aerostar. Someone clipped me at a stop sign. but it looks like the two pieces just broke apart and no other damage to the van.

Any Idea where i can find these parts Used or new. I am searched everywhere, or so i thought.

Thanks.

 

Have you tried one our sponsors, rockauto.com? If you can't find it new, you may need to find it in the used/salvage parts sources.

 

sounds like you have the Extended body 3-piece rear bumper. Those are difficult to find new, no longer made, and the short ones are also getting hard to find. Try local salvage yards. I found a 1997 short body with perfect front and rear bumpers and I grabbed them. To my surprise they are not hard plastic but a flexible material which does not crack when impacted.

 

The rear piece is supposed to be able to absorb impact of up to 2.5 mph. The sides are just decorative, and fits onto the rear like jigsaw puzzle pieces, and held together with a bolt. The side pieces are very fragile, as are the bits on the van that hold them in place. You so much as sneeze on them hard and they break.

 

The hardest piece to find is the rear center section, as they get the most wear & tear. Someday, I'd like to mod a late 90s front Ranger bumper, and rear Ranger/Explorer step bumper to fit, and do away with as much plastic as possible!

 

Thanks so much for the advice guys. I think I have tried everywhere you mentioned. Will keep looking.

Another question: I have just about all the pieces from the crash. Is it possible for someone to patch them all together. Does not have to be perfect, I can mount it back and get it painted. It's a great van , just hate that piece missing.

Thanks

 

Of course it is possible. There are epoxies for plastic that also serve as filler. That is how I rebuild plastic parts in my cars. I also add reinforcement material behind the part being repaired, usually a metal piece, once the repair is cured, it is stronger than the original part ever was. After that is done, then it's sanding and primer until perfect.

 

Jose A.

Thanks for the info, I am sure I could do it, just a time thing. I might just find someone to do it for me.

 

You welcome. The ones I see in salvage yards are always destroyed. It is ironic that I can get any part needed for my old Jags in the USA, but hardly anything for my 1997 Aerostar.

 

I saw a drivers side end at the local pick a part today want me to check a price?

 

Jovibuilt:

Oh my i am so sorry for the delay, Can you check that price for me.....Thanks

 

I had the same problem on my 2nd cousin's 95 xlt extended. The ends are intact but the center has been damaged and duct taped back together.(Where they found a tan colored duct tape is beyond me)
I was wondering if you could cut a standard bumper and still use the sides?
Your best bet would probably be to repair the side piece as best you can.
After spending a lot of time on the mechanical stuff, that duct-taped bumper really bugs me.

 

Good idea, I think yes, you can use the center section of a standard bumper and graft the extended sides to it.

 

The center section of the extended van have these attachment fixtures for those side pieces:



The ends sort of snap in like jigsaw puzzle pieces and fastened with 2 bolts into the speed nuts.

Since the bumpers for the shorty vans are molded as a single piece that includes the stubby side extensions, they would not have this structure. But you can always try to improvise.