Taking off front bumper?

ak

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Has anyone taken off their front bumper? Is it easy to do? From the service manual it seems like all you need to do is remove some bolts and the corner lights. If you have done it or seen it done, I'd like some pointers. thanks

-ak
 
ak said:
Has anyone taken off their front bumper? Is it easy to do? From the service manual it seems like all you need to do is remove some bolts and the corner lights. If you have done it or seen it done, I'd like some pointers. thanks

-ak


I had to remove the lower front bumper and when doing so, I had to loosen the pretty much the whole front bumper. Although I didn't remove it completely, I'll see if I can help somewhat.
From what I recall, you need to raise the front end, removing the wheels helps. And then pull the vented part of the wheel wells back. You might want to keep some extra push tabs handy, as they seemed to break off due to age. Once you can see behind the vented portion of the wheel well, you should see 3, maybe 4 horizontal bolts. These should hold the front bumper to the fenders or front-end support. Once you remove these, the entire front end loosens up. That's as far as I needed to go because from there I could get the lower piece off. You probably need to loosen something up top by the radiator also.
Hope this helps...
Z
 
It's in the service manual, but I don't remember the page numbers. Straighforward but a pain.

I did this to install mesh last summer.

1. remove and disconnect both front turn signals
2. lift front end
3. remove both front tires (you don't have to but it makes it much easier)
4. remove both front wheel well liners (again, you don't have to but it makes it much easier. If you don't, you'll at least have to loosen them both in the front so you can fold them back about halfway)
5. There are two or three 10 or 13mm nuts to remove from inside each fender well
6. remove the external temp sensor from it's front bumper mount just in front of the radiator
7. unplug the horn
8. remove and plug the windshield washer pump tube
9. now you can actually remove the last bolts holding it on, there are three on either side, about 14-15mm I think.
10. once it's loose, lift gently but firmly upwards and it should come off with some wiggling. Be ready because it weighs about 40 lbs and have something like an old cover or something soft on the ground to put it on. Once off, it's "unstable" and doesn't want to sit upright on it's own and will want to tip over, which will scratch it. (ask me how I know!)

Reverse these procedures to put it back on, and remember now is a good time to clean out all the leaves and crap that accumulate in front of the radiator, check your AC tubes, straighten and fix any of the plastic underbody pieces, etc.

Good luck and I hope this helps! Find and print the pages in the service manual, they help a lot.

Don
 
Hi Don. Thanks for the info. I'm going to try the mesh also and that's why I was wondering plus I need to get the front bumper repainted anyway.
 
Taj, yes, they're there somewhere on the site. I posted them a couple of months ago. Do a search on "mesh" and if you see my name there, they should be the ones.

Basically I installed the mesh after removing the bumper by just cutting it to fit flush against the rear of the bumper, in exactly the shape of the stiff plastic shroud which routes air straight into the radiator. I cut a small hole to route the temp sensor out, and affixed it with some clips. Done. I got the fairly rigid aluminum mesh from McMaster.com and just trimmed it. I like the rigid better because it looks and STAYS flat.

Let me know if you don't find the pix and I'll take some more for you... The car is here today.

Don
 
DonDavis said:
Taj, yes, they're there somewhere on the site. I posted them a couple of months ago. Do a search on "mesh" and if you see my name there, they should be the ones.


Found it, thank you.
 
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