Removed OEM steel bumper; what is this part for?

[Yellow Cake Kid]

Hi,
I am in the process of installing a new rear bumper on my JLUR, so I removed the rear OEM Steel Bumper on the Jeep yesterday evening.

I was not 100% sure what bolts and nuts to remove to assure that the bumper came off without catching on one last connection, but it came off easily after removing the obvious attachment points.

I have a question about this particular set of bolts and threaded tab. I had assumed that it was an attachment for the bumper, but when were pulling the bumper off the tab with the two welded on nuts fell to the ground.

So, I am questioning whether this part was sandwiched around a piece of the bumper, holding the center of the bumper to the frame, or if the tab was up against the frame, in the proximity of the bumper, but not actually connecting to it.

I guess it does not matter, as they will not be used in the replacement install, but it annoys me that I did not observe where the tab was placed. It fell out before I could understand its function.

I have looked in the online parts catalogs, and found the shapes in the illustrations, but can not deduce what they are for.

What is the purpose of these parts?

Thank you!

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[Yellow Cake Kid]

...probably not a self tapping screw

 

[hoag4147]

Did you have a tow hitch? Believe goes with hitch mount.

edit - or when you don’t have tow hitch, this holds bumper.

 

[GATORB8]

I think @hoag4147 is right. The bolts look the same as the bracket I removed that bolted through the rear frame crossmember. This is from my plastic bumper no tow.

 

[hoag4147]

I think @hoag4147 is right. The bolts look the same as the bracket I removed that bolted through the rear frame crossmember. This is from my plastic bumper no tow.

That’s it but different for plastic compared to steel bumper.

 

[Yellow Cake Kid]

Hi,
I did not have the tow hitch. The bolts were in two of the four holes, in the frame cross member, that the tow hitch would be bolted to.

The bumper has an integrated L bracket with large square pass through holes, which I assumed these bolts went through, but it does not look like the tab with the welded nuts was on the side that would have sandwiched the bumper to the frame. It looks like the tab was just pressed against the frame cross member as a coincidence. In other words, I don't think I had to remove it to pull the bumper off, but once I did I created the confusion in my mind.

...Just don't know.

Thank you for taking an interest and offering helpful ideas.

 

[BDinTX]

I believe it is a spacer where the receiver would go if you had the factory tow package. When I added my Mopar receiver afterwards I took that part out, the receiver slid into its spot, then added two additional bolts to holes outboard of the ones those occupied.

 

[GATORB8]

Hi,
I did not have the tow hitch. The bolts were in two of the four holes, in the frame cross member, that the tow hitch would be bolted to.

The bumper has an integrated L bracket with large square pass through holes, which I assumed these bolts went through, but it does not look like the tab with the welded nuts was on the side that would have sandwiched the bumper to the frame. It looks like the tab was just pressed against the frame cross member as a coincidence. In other words, I don't think I had to remove it to pull the bumper off, but once I did I created the confusion in my mind.

...Just don't know.

Thank you for taking an interest and offering helpful ideas.

I had to remove mine for my RR HD bumper to fit, but since yours it flat you may be able to throw it back on if it floats your boat.

 

[Yellow Cake Kid]

I wiped off some of the clay and found the part number.

Genuine Mopar Bumper Mounting Spacer 68298924AB

Thank you everyone.

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