I recently had a low impact front end collision that has collapsed the energy absorbing dampers on my 280zx. There is only a little damage to the bumper itself but does anyone know how to free the dampers up?

On the American cars that I have owned the bumpers usually popped back out on their own a few days after a minor collision.

I suspect that you could carefully pound on the back side of the bumper with a hammer (using a wood block to protect the bumper) and the damper would eventually return to its original length. (Allowing the bumper to return to the stock location.)

A bottle jack should work as well.

Thanks Walter - I'll give that a try. Luckily the bumber has no great damage so if the dampers pop back out it should look like its old self. Thanks again

HI ! i think you need to change your front bumper , then your problem solve it.