Removing and Installing Bumpers
- 1). Remove any turn signals and fog lights from your bumper. This will typically involve unplugging the lights from behind and removing the mounting bolts or screws on either side of the light housing. You might also have to remove the lenses with a screwdriver to access the mounting bolts in the housing.
- 2). Locate and remove the screws or bolts securing the upper and lower grilles to the bumper. The grilles might be mounted to the bumper cover itself but also might be attached to the radiator core support or frame.
- 3). Locate and remove the bolts that secure the bumper cover to the car. You'll typically find these bolts around the cover perimeter and in the grille openings. Look inside the wheel well, around the bottom of the bumper cover, around the headlight housings and along the radiator core support. You may need to remove the headlight housings to access any bolts that are behind them. With the bolts removed, have an assistant help you to pull the cover free.
- 4). Locate the large bolts that secure the bumper to the frame. You'll typically find two or three bolts where the bumper attaches to the frame, and two or three bumper-support brackets along the bottom. Slide a floor jack under the bumper to hold it and remove the bumper bolts. Cars and trucks with exposed metal bumpers will utilize round-headed carriage bolts; remove the carriage bolt nuts behind the bumper and pull the bumper free.
- 5). Transfer any light housings and trim components to your new bumper. Installation is essentially the opposite of removal but hand-tighten all of the mounting nuts and bolts before tightening them with a wrench. Have your assistant help you to square up the bumper on the car's body before torquing the bolts to specifications.
- 6). Install the bumper cover in the reverse order of removal. Have your assistant help you lift it into place and align the cover's mounting holes with those on the car body. Install the top-center bolts first, but do not torque them. Install the lower-central bolts next, then work your way outward toward the wheel-well bolts. Torque all of the bolts to specifications.
- 7). Install the light housings, grilles and trim pieces onto your bumper cover. Plug in the light housings and recheck the cover for proper alignment.
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