BK Front Bumper Removal

[WaggyBoy]

I have a pretty sizable dent on the side of my front bumper and want to hammer it out from the inside (which seems like the only effective way to do at this point)
I already did some searching and have not found any DIY for a front bumper removal. My apologies if there is, but during my search i have not found it.

Is there a DIY for a front bumper removal around, or can anyone help out with how to do this? I'm so used to just unscrewing about 6 bolts on my Honda, but this is a bit different, and even looking at some service manual wasn't really much help for me. My apologies if it seems like only i am having trouble with this, but i'd much appreciate any helpful info with this. :lol:

[csweston]

i have the files showing how but im not sure how to post it. You can pm me your email and i can send the files over that way.

[anothernord]

Basic overview:

Remove:

Headlights
Grille
Fog lights (if applicable)
Undo the 4 bolts underneath holding the bumper onto the bottom of the front frame
Undo bolts on the very bottom corners of the bumper at the wheel well
Pull back wheel-well liners
Undo the sneaky screw hold the upper corners to the fenders
Pop out all the ...err popper clips holding the cover to the bumper
Yank it off!

[Huffer]

Don't hammer your bumper - find a really big vat or trough, and fill it with really hot water (keep it hot if possible). Drop the bumper in it, and it'll slowly reform itself.

[WaggyBoy]

i have the files showing how but im not sure how to post it. You can pm me your email and i can send the files over that way.

e-mail sent via pm. thanks for offering to send over the files bro

[WaggyBoy]

Basic overview:

Remove:

Headlights
Grille
Fog lights (if applicable)
Undo the 4 bolts underneath holding the bumper onto the bottom of the front frame
Undo bolts on the very bottom corners of the bumper at the wheel well
Pull back wheel-well liners
Undo the sneaky screw hold the upper corners to the fenders
Pop out all the ...err popper clips holding the cover to the bumper
Yank it off!

thanks for the typed description, this at least kind of helps me visualize what's got to be done.

[WaggyBoy]

Don't hammer your bumper - find a really big vat or trough, and fill it with really hot water (keep it hot if possible). Drop the bumper in it, and it'll slowly reform itself.

Wow, i never really thought of that. I may try this if i can find a vat or trough where i live, which is a very urban city. Actually, i've never really seen troughs here, but if i can find one, maybe i'll do that. Thanks for the suggestion bro.

[Huffer]

You can also try a heat gun. The bumpers are plastic, and in high heat will become more malleable. You have to be careful not to overheat one area and crack the paint, hence the trough/vat. This is something that some of the bodyshops USED to do.

[WaggyBoy]

i have the files showing how but im not sure how to post it. You can pm me your email and i can send the files over that way.

I have received the files via e-mail. Thanks csweston, it's much appreciated. I'll try to remove the bumper when the weather gets alittle warmer.

[chuckthefuk]

You can also try a heat gun. The bumpers are plastic, and in high heat will become more malleable. You have to be careful not to overheat one area and crack the paint, hence the trough/vat. This is something that some of the bodyshops USED to do.


Your bathtub + boiling hot water + dish washing gloves = reformed

I like how you said USED to do since back in the day a bumper cost over $800 to replace :-D

-Chuck

[Huffer]

^^ yup, back in NZ, my Impreza wagon required some repairs to the front bumper after hitting a possum, and I was one of those kinds of owners that kept coming into the shop unannounced. :)

[WaggyBoy]

Wow, your suggestions are awesome guys. At first i really didn't know how i would go about doing this, but as i get more and more ideas from you folks, the more and more this thing starts to seem feasible. You folks really are helpful and i appreciate that.

[chuckthefuk]

Enjoy SLi and you won regret spending hours reading builds and random threads...

-Chuck

[chuckthefuk]

Oh btw heres your factory service manual
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20753 (http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20753)

[WaggyBoy]

Oh btw heres your factory service manual
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20753 (http://www.sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=20753)

yep, got it. thanks chuck

[WaggyBoy]

Thanks everyone, for the help, it's very much appreciated

[azlegacy]

I have a large dent on the corner, hope the heat gun does it . But if not ill just have to find an outback bumper !