Classic Rear Bumper Removal

[boris b]

This is what i was doing when all and sundry were at knockhill . Prior to me going in for a backshift as well....

First it would be better to put the rear of the car up on axle stands . I never did it , but it would make life a tad easier...

This is what the underside on mines looked like.

There are plastic clips situated at the rear of each wheel.These are quite brittle and require the centre to be prised down.

Needless to say that they break , i ended up using mole grips to pull them right out.

This is what they look like.

There is a plastic screw fitted at the top of each wheelarch. Please give it a spray with WD40 prior to attempting to loosen. The head of the screw is soft and has a star head. DO NOT apply upward pressure with the screwdriver, this will ruin the head. Put your hand inside the wheelarch and push down on the screw tip to lower it instead.

This is it removed with the retaining clip.

Disconnect the rear registartion lights from the brackets. I never needed to as can be seen. I need to source a couple of new ones and registration light lens...

There are 3 bolts holding the frame on each side. You will need a heavy duty 17mm socket, ratchet and medium size extension.

These bolts go into captive nuts which you have no access to. They are not held on that well, as i found out.

One of them came away and started turning. The only way to get it out was my brother in law holding the bolt head with mole grips and me using a hacksaw to cut the bolt... Not an easy job..

Prior to loosening the bolts put the socket onto the extension and place on each bolt in turn. Give it a bloody good hammer to loosen the threads.

On the nearside is the exhaust hanger, 2 bolts on this and 1 just inwards.

This is the drivers side.

Once you have all the bolts off, pull outwards on the bumper at each wheel arch. Especially if you have flaps fitted to it.

Hold under the bumper and lift it up slightly , push forward a wee bit. This will lift the bracket lip away from a hook inside the subframe as can be seen here..

Pull the bumper away and hey presto.... here you have it..

To remove the remaining plastic clips, use something to hit the reverse side here.. This pushes the pin through.

Then use long nosed pliers to prise it wasy from the bumper. This save breaking them

This is what mine looked like .

And the new one ready to go on

Obviously do the reverse to put it back on

Edited March 28, 2008 by Boris B

[euan_r]

well done stopping to take pics. i can never be a***d, usually raining too. the fiddly plastic clips with nut moulded inside must be for the corners of front bumper.

[boris b]

Thought seeing as i was doing it i might as well photograph it .

At least that way other folk can see how to do it themselves rather than pay £30 and hour labour or whatever they charge.

[bigbev]

feeling your pain mate.

one of my number plate lights was out I took one look at the state of the bolts and decided somebody else was best placed to remove it. I replaced the number lights as well. Cost me around £20 for the unit which just bolted straight on and plugged in. seem to make sense giving the state of them and the easy fix....

[jodie typeRA]

nice1 kit well done for getting stuck in

hope you got a plaster for ya thumb those clip/scrw thing are murder ah..

great step by step with class pics

[boris b]

nice1 kit well done for getting stuck in

hope you got a plaster for ya thumb those clip/scrw thing are murder ah..

great step by step with class pics

Cheers matey...It was pretty sore hitting my thumb with that 2lb hammer i can tell you....

never swore once..... Just lots of times

[Subarstar]

Well done that man!

Good idea taking pics m8.

I'll need to do a similar job to mine soon as well I fear, so thanks.

[turbo2000wagon]

I've just finished doing my front one, it wasn't quite in the same league as your back one but was almost all the way through in the middle and that's on an MY99. I zinc undercoated the new one and then wax oiled it as I don't fancy doing it again any time soon.