okcjeeper

Ok I want to remove the rear factory bumper.. I know there are 2 bolts that hold it to the 2 mounts so 4 bolts total there. Those are a pita to get to uhg.. Now the mount is mounted with 4 bolts on each mount and looks like the shackles are int he way of a couple. So my question is this.. Anyone have any tips for removing it easily without damaging it? I want to take it off so I can paint it.

dangerousdavid

just be careful....put rags around the area that you think you might hit with a wrench.

okcjeeper

All I can say is the design in mounting the factory bumper is umm stupid.

dangerousdavid

i used a swivel headed ratchet wrench to get mine off...i can't remember what size it is...but that should do the trick

okcjeeper

It's either 14mm or 13mm..It's just going to be a pita is all.

dangerousdavid

well if you want.....you can bring it down here...i'll latch onto it with my winch and pull it off for ya!! lol

Abovetimberline

if you are just trying to get the bumper off,you can get to the top 2 bolts from the plastic strip between the bumper and back hatch,and the 2 torx on the bottom.

winston427

The 8 bolts that hold the bumper mounts to the body are 15mm. The shackles should have no bearing on removing the bumper since the bolts have no nuts on the back side. They are bolted straight into the body of the Jeep. I have taken mine off and reinstalled it multiple times, as well as pulled at least 5 in the jy. The biggest problem is the bolts being seized by rust and the heads snapping off. All of the ones I have pulled at the jy had at least 4 of the 8 bolts break. PB Blaster is a good friend in these situations.

LazersGoPEWPEW

I'm about to do this too. I've been thinking of just taking my angle grinder and cutting through it to make it easier. Is this a bad idea?

I don't plan on reusing it once I take it off.

MasterShakeXJ

i cut through one to make it easier, but if you wanna reuse it at some point or sell it i wouldnt recommend cutting it. open the tailgate and take off that plastic piece, once you take that off the bolts are much more accessible.

ema

there's this Repair Bumper Repair Kit at that site. I would suggest that you get one so the repair would be a lesser burden.

84supersport

I've been doing mine lately too. It didnt have one when I got it so I finally got one to put on. Taking it off I just had to break the bottom bolts there was so much rust on them. I bent my jy ratchet. Luckily my buddy brought his craftsman ratchet. The top one we just went in from the bottom with the ratchet. Theres not room for much swing but its possible. As stated above, the shackles dont prevent you from getting the bolts, just make sure you have shorter ones on hand if you have lift shackles when you reinstall. When reinstalling the bumper, its easier to loosely mount it to the mounts and the throw a couple bolts in the body through the mounts. I couldnt get my hand in there to get the top bumper bolt started with the mounts already bolted to the body. I never tried removing the plastic strip. I was afraid I would break it.

JSwamper

If you just want to remove it to paint it,,,


I'd say, why go through all that trouble, and just mask everything off and paint it still attached