i got rear ended last week by some idiot probably on cell phone. waiting for his insurance adjuster to check my damages this week. i told his insurance to cut me a check instead of taking to body shop. my question is since im going to get new after market bumper anyway and probably have another shop fix it for less. the frame look ok, but the rear bumper reinforcement took a hit. it looks fixable but i would rather replace it. the shop that im going to have it fix recommend i get new reinforcement bumper piece. what you guys think? i look on amazon, ebay, and rock auto but can't seem to find the reinforcement bumper. anybody have link where i buy one at?

 

Junk yard. $22.95 at my local Pull-a-Part.

 

That is the rear cross-member, it is spot welded to the end of the "frame" rails, you can either cut one out at the junk yard and weld it in, fab something up, or fix what you have. It also looks like the end of your "frame" rail and bumper mounting holes/"ears" are slightly damaged, but probably nothing a hammer and pry-bar or porta-power can't fix, though depending how bad that rust is you may be better off cutting that out and welding in a replacement as well. Normally the bumper and mounts would fold to absorb the impact before the cross-member and "frame" rail was damaged, but it looks like that area may have been so weakened with rust that the cross-member and end of the rail absorbed the impact before the bumper mounts did (hopefully that rust doesn't extend farther forward into the rail, or you may have major issues).


The XJ doesn't really have "bumper-reinforcements" since it has steel bumpers, "bumper-reinforcements" are generally used on vehicles with plastic/foam bumpers and take the place of the steel bumper.

 

oh thanks for clearing that up. the rust is only on the pass side like in the pic. the rest of the rear cross member is fine no rust or damages. yeah exactly like you described when i look under there that was the only area rusted that's why it bent when it got hit. the ears hole was slightly bent. i'll just have the shop cut out the damaged part and weld me new piece.