Rear bumper shock absorber
 

I know that the part #'s for SS and regular absorbers are different... What I need to know is, can you grind the 'tits' off the absorber and make it fit an SS bumper cover??? I know that the bodies on both are the same.

History & plans:
I backed into a lady at the Dollar Store and tore my rear (regular) bumper cover clean off; it was hanging by the clearance light wires. I backed exactly square into her left rear wheel. The 'tit' on my bumper knocked a square hole in the top of her hubcap. Amazingly, there was no other damage to her car except the hubcap. My bumper cover got scratched badly, and tore out all of the mounting holes. All of the tin on my HHR was unscathed. The body shop said they could repair and paint my bumper for $664, labor and paint.
Since I had previously done a 'mastectomy' to my front bumper ('cause I couldn't stand the 'tits',) and I can get an SS bumper fairly cheap from Rock Auto, I figured I might as well 'upgrade'.
Since I have $500 deductible, and I don't want a 'mark' on my insurance, I won't turn in a claim. I'm gonna just pay to have the SS cover painted. I will install it myself. I think the whole fiasco will cost me about $600 for an SS.
Badges?, no, I ain't gonna put on no stinking badges!!! Not trying to fool anybody, anyway...
Mo

One word....Styrofoam...that's what the impact attenuating foam is made of.

So you can "go to town" on it quite easily.

Probably can be done - assuming your regular absorber isn't totally messed up from the impact. A new 'SS' rear impact absorber is around $88, list price BTW.

Insurance companies seem to be able to get "used" and repaired covers pretty easily, maybe you can too. I'd check the salvage yards before committing to Rockauto. Would not recommend a damaged foam piece though. And don't forget to try selling your old cover to the salvage yard or any body shop, torn, ripped, damaged can mostly be fixed, its just a chunk of rubber. There is even a market for "found on the road" bumper covers.

There is?

Well that's it then, time to give up this lawyer gig because bumper covers are the new state flower of North Carolina.

There has to be four or five of them laying on the berm of I-85 each morning heading into Charlotte.

Pick them up and go to the local body shop that has an insurance rep on site. It's probably good to know the make/model/year, but check Ebay you'll find lots of repaired covers for sale.

bumper megastore
 

I have been in contact with them. They have not gotten back to me yet with a definite answer.

Thanks for resurrecting a 10 year old thread. At least this one made me think of Mike and his humor!

Well it's been 10 years so I would call it quits.

who is them? What was the question you needed answered?