Front impact strip install oddity

[WMichelsen]

I am re-installing the front impact strip. Oddly, it is not going on as (I remember) it came off.

There seems to be way too much stress pulling the rubber in so the screw will engage the quick-nut. The quick-nut is inserted as far as it can be, and even if it could insert more, the bumper metal is right at the edge so it wouldn't matter. The screw/nut are off by about 4mm. The rubber is not hitting the bumper bolts, there's plenty of room there. The same issue is happening on both sides.

Any ideas what might be going on? I'm stumped.

[A930Rocket]

Two thoughts: Maybe the rubber strip shrunk? Can you put it in the sun to stretch it?

Any chance the speed nuts got changed out?

One more thought, can you get a different speed nut that is longer?

[WMichelsen]

Thanks for the ideas, Rocket. I really appreciate it.
If the rubber shrank, I would expect the long length to be affected more than the smaller corner, but I'll evaluate.
I'm 99.9% certain the speed-nuts are the ones I removed. When I disassemble, I take the HW and put it back in place on the parts (if possible) to keep everything together and organized.
I don't think a longer speed-nut will work. Directly under the outer (inner?) edge of the speed-nut hole in the pic is the bumper metal. Even if it could move, the screw would hit bumper aluminum.

I'll take the strip off, and flip it over. I think it is up/down reversible. Maybe.. somehow.. it fits different if I flip it??

[Lyle O]

The rubber is pretty pliable and stretches easily. I have taken it off and on many times, and you have to pull on it and it will reach. Also be sure to lubricate the plastic retainers to make the rubber stretch (they need to slide to allow for the rubber to stretch out longer). Start all the way from the beginning and pull a little bit at a time to make it easier...