Sorry, some more questions!

I’ve just noticed that there are two large washers and a seal on one bolt and nothing on the other side.


Would I be right in thinking that it should be washer and seal on the outside and another washer inside the boot?

Topcat Tomcat wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 2:16 pm Would I be right in thinking that it should be washer and seal on the outside and another washer inside the boot?

This is a puzzle. On my 1993 216GSi, the order is: One large zinc yellow passivate washer followed by a same-diameter hard rubber washer put on the bumper stud first before fitting, then when the stud goes through the body, there is a same-size large washer on the stud put on from inside the car followed by a smaller washer (still penny-washer sized!) and then the nut. Same for both bumper studs. This is the configuration I came up with looking at Rover's schematics. I think you can still get either the larger or smaller washer - I'll check.

On my low-mileage 216SLi which has never had it's bumper removed (until I did this a few days ago) there are TWO of the large washers on both studs (!!) followed by a rubber washer of the same size on both studs, then when the bumper is fitted to the car, just the nuts go on - there are no washers at all inside the car!!

My SLi washer configuration is therefore (I think) the same as your photo. It's strange because yours is an earlier car and my SLi is a 1995 model. So the two large washers followed by a rubber washer seems to be the consistent configuration Rover used. Yet My 1993 216GSi definitely had both large and small washers fitted from new inside the car, so they must have done something different that day at the factory.

BTW - fitting washers onto the studs inside the car is a pain - not so much the fitting but when you remove the bumper, the washers have a tendency to fall out and slide down, then rolling behind the boot trim so you can't get to them without stripping the boot. I'd say just a nut on the inside of the car is the answer and seems stock/standard anyway.

Make of that what you will.

Edit: The smaller washers that I've got on my GSi are available - part code: GHF315 (its Rimmer Bros replacement part for the original but still an ARG part). The rubber washers are also available (JPC8092). From: https://rimmerbros.com/Item--i-GRID002479. Look at the schematic - it makes sense to me that there is the smaller washer inside the car according to the schematic, but as I said - they're a right pain when removing the bumper!.

That is odd! I just assumed that the previous owner had put them wrong. I can think of any reason why you would need two large washers on the outside!

Once again, thank you for your comprehensive reply. Very helpful as usual!

They are meant to sandwich so you can form a seal

RoverRevival wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 6:27 pm They are meant to sandwich so you can form a seal

I know I’m slow ( ), but why are the two big washers on the outside?

Topcat Tomcat wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 7:38 pm

RoverRevival wrote: ↑Tue Aug 02, 2022 6:27 pm They are meant to sandwich so you can form a seal

I know I’m slow ( ), but why are the two big washers on the outside?

Load spreading either because the bolts have to be very tight, so to stop panel distortion - or the same but then considering an impact. Two washers won't bend so the impact will definitely be spread over the washer area on both sides.

Could also be for spacing purposes, i.e. someone discovered the bumper was rubbing on the body and you know Rovers are supposed to be a nice quiet drive, so perhaps they chose to do it this way?

I noticed something on the door inner release handles a while ago. People think the later cars aren't fitted or built as well as the early year models because the plastic handle escutcheon is clearly spaced away from the door cards leaving a fair gap. But if you check and compare, they were fitting a different plastic nutsert (thicker front face) in one of the three locations for the screws that hold on the release handle (and the escutcheon is fixed to the handle with a single screw). This causes the handle to be spaced ever so slightly further away from the door than if three slim nutserts were used (as on the early cars). The escutcheon sits proud as a result and there's definitely no contact between the escutcheon and the door card, so there's no possibility of a trim-to-trim squeak developing.

Interesting. What I did notice when dismantling the R8, was how well it was put together and substantial the trim compared to my 1998 Tomcat.

Having said that, until I dismantled it seven years ago, there wasn’t a single squeak or rattle to be heard.