'11 460 - Bumper coming off

[FLWookie]

The GX we just picked up for my wife is in excellent shape except for the front bumper. Its starting to come off on the passenger side under the headlight. I tried pushing it back in thinking it just came unclipped but that doesn't seem to hold up.

I'm looking for photos or guidance on how this bumper is attached and what I may have to replace before I pull it off (she would absolutely hate having to drive it without the bumper cover for any period of time, even with a county wide lock-down in place). Does the cover attache to a clip or fastener then get snapped onto a corresponding fastener? I also need to replace the passenger fender liner since it looks like it came loose and got worn away by the tire at some point. I zip-tied it in place for now to keep it from rubbing further.

TIA for the advice.

 

[KJ6IRM]

It’s a common problem with the GX.

EDIT: my passenger side is that way too.

Front #Bumper / #Fender #Gap - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

GX - 2nd Gen (2010-2023) - Front #Bumper / #Fender #Gap - I've had this problem since I bought my GX. I'm guessing the original owner bumped into something or maybe it's a defect? I used to be able to push it in and it would stay for awhile but eventually the plastic tabs wore out. I pulled down...

www.clublexus.com

 

[r2m]

Check here for manuals for your GX. There should be a link to a website that will have a factory manual for everything.
It will be post No. 2: GX 460 Manuals

 

[ChiTown]

If it's been in a minor bender the isolators for the main beam can push over just a tad and it will load the clip under the headlight a little too much. My 11' had the same issue just on the LH side.

 

[FLWookie]

Check here for manuals for your GX. There should be a link to a website that will have a factory manual for everything.
It will be post No. 2: GX 460 Manuals

That was the first thread I read. Also own an LX470. I'll dig into the TSM for more help.

Thanks.

 

[FLWookie]

It’s a common problem with the GX.

EDIT: my passenger side is that way too.

Front #Bumper / #Fender #Gap - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

GX - 2nd Gen (2010-2023) - Front #Bumper / #Fender #Gap - I've had this problem since I bought my GX. I'm guessing the original owner bumped into something or maybe it's a defect? I used to be able to push it in and it would stay for awhile but eventually the plastic tabs wore out. I pulled down...

www.clublexus.com

Thank you. I always forget about ClubLexus and GXOR.

 

[jmanscotch]

My 2010 is doing the same, drivers side.

 

[KJ6IRM]

I've given up on it. It just looks like this all the time now. I don't need a heavy winch bumper either.

 

[FLWookie]

Wow, its amazing how wide spread this problem is.
I'm going to remove and examine the extent of the damage to my bumper and see if a bracket or adhesive solution is feasible. I have access to machine shops and all the variants of VHB through my work. If i can come up with a long term solution to the problem we can roll it out as a DIY for the community.

Thanks everyone.

 

[heynickhere]

Wow, its amazing how wide spread this problem is.
I'm going to remove and examine the extent of the damage to my bumper and see if a bracket or adhesive solution is feasible. I have access to machine shops and all the variants of VHB through my work. If i can come up with a long term solution to the problem we can roll it out as a DIY for the community.

Thanks everyone.

There is a thread on Lexus forum where a bunch of us posted photos of our bumpers. someone on there reported to Lexus and sent the link a few months back.

 

[KJ6IRM]

There is a thread on Lexus forum where a bunch of us posted photos of our bumpers. someone on there reported to Lexus and sent the link a few months back.

Has he heard back from Lexus? Did anything become of it?

 

[FLWookie]

I saw that. It looked like a “thank you-come again” situation.

 

[heynickhere]

I saw that. It looked like a “thank you-come again” situation.

Yep. Pretty much.

 

[FLWookie]

Ours completely came apart so i had to come up with a fix that would hold it in place until we can afford a new bumper or come up with a more elegant solution.

Upon examination my thought was that a VHB application would not adhere well because of the grid features on the black bracket.

So my thought process was to bond a flat surface to the grid area then i would be able to apply VHB to that surface and to the forward section around the forward bracket bolt hole. I removed the bracket to make life easier and scuffed the plastic with 80grit then cleaned all surfaces very well with acetone.

This small piece of aluminum was bonded on with Gorilla epoxy that i had laying around.

Then i applied VHB and bolted it back in.

 

[FLWookie]

I underestimated how little gap there was between the fender and that face. If i were to redo this i would countersink the plate for the VHB. As it stands it pushes the fender out a bit, but there is no way its coming off now unless I want it off. Wife isn't totally thrilled but i'm a function over form kinda guy.

PS anyone know what these two spare plugs in front of the radiator are for? One is capped off and the other isn't.

 

[KJ6IRM]

PS anyone know what these two spare plugs in front of the radiator are for? One is capped off and the other isn't.

One is for the front camera, the other is for the millimeter wave radar for automatic cruise control.

 

[heynickhere]

View attachment 2348911

I underestimated how little gap there was between the fender and that face. If i were to redo this i would countersink the plate for the VHB. As it stands it pushes the fender out a bit, but there is no way its coming off now unless I want it off. Wife isn't totally thrilled but i'm a function over form kinda guy.

View attachment 2348913
View attachment 2348915
View attachment 2348917

PS anyone know what these two spare plugs in front of the radiator are for? One is capped off and the other isn't.
View attachment 2348918

Good work! I might have to do this eventually sadly. I try not to look at it haha.

 

[r2m]

One is for the front camera, the other is for the millimeter wave radar for automatic cruise control.

May be a stupid question, but I wonder if that could be "plug-n-play" if one gets the camera and radar?

 

[KJ6IRM]

May be a stupid question, but I wonder if that could be "plug-n-play" if one gets the camera and radar?

That's a nope on both unfortunately. I bought a front camera and have it plugged in, but it does nothing. And there's a whole lot that goes into adding ACC.

EDIT: Here's what it takes to add ACC: Retrofit OEM Radar Cruise - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion

 

[OCGX]

5th Gen 4Runners have a similar problem. Toyota created a TSB for it TSB-0049-20 where they replace the bracket and use heavy duty 3M fastening Velcro.