Trimming stock bumper
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,245
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey (Milltown, Lavallette, and Wayne)
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
I'm having trouble figuring out what's goning to give me the cleanest cut on the bumper. Has anyone used something to trim the bottom lip of the front bumper and the end caps? If you have pics that would be a huge help!!
Thanks, Ryan
Thanks, Ryan
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,127
Likes: 12
From: 9000 ft, CO
Year: 1999 XJ
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0L
The bottom plastic and endcaps come undone if you remove the hardware on the inside of the bumper. No point in cutting them. Otherwise, use a grinder with a cutoff wheel or sawzall.
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Louisville KY
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L HO I6
I dont know if i'm following what you're looking for but heres my stock bumper. I want to box it on the sides with some metal of the same thickness down the road.
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i took the endcap off the jeep warmed up the plastic with a heat gun and used an olfa knife with a new blade. i'm referring to the 99 and up endcaps. the middle piece of plastic is attached to the bumper with some crazy *** rivets. i had to drill those out. it cleaned up and simplified the front end of the jeep i think.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,245
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey (Milltown, Lavallette, and Wayne)
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
i took the endcap off the jeep warmed up the plastic with a heat gun and used an olfa knife with a new blade. i'm referring to the 99 and up endcaps. the middle piece of plastic is attached to the bumper with some crazy *** rivets. i had to drill those out. it cleaned up and simplified the front end of the jeep i think.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,245
Likes: 1
From: New Jersey (Milltown, Lavallette, and Wayne)
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L I6
This is what I was going for, but keeing my flairs for now.


Last edited by JerseyJeeper; Dec 29, 2009 at 09:48 PM.
I trimmed mine last night and used a grinder. The plasic was a tad frayed looking, so I cleaned it up with a flat file.
Like you , I want to keep my stock flares, so I just slightly trimmed so that the flares would still look ok and line up with the endcaps.
Like you , I want to keep my stock flares, so I just slightly trimmed so that the flares would still look ok and line up with the endcaps.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Williamsburg, Ky.
Year: 1999 Sport
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Here is my front bumper with ends cut and end caps slid in with the bottom cut off. I used a sawsall and utility knife. Used masking tape to outline where i wanted to cut compared bothsides and cut.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Williamsburg, Ky.
Year: 1999 Sport
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
The bumper was cut just beside the brackets about 1/4". You also have to remove horns and flip the bracket to clear the end caps, and you have to remove the triangular brackets from fender to radiator support. All of this is if you would like to make it look like the pic. If not then just cut the end caps like explained. Good luck and post some pics.
I used a dremel tool. I used tape to line out the path of the cut, then just slowly cut it. If you set the dremel too high, you melt the plastic. After cutting and dry fitting the ends, I used a file to get rid of the stray stuff. I then made fine trimming adjustments with a lead knife (used for cutting lead cames for stained glass).
Don't have pictures here at work. Sorry.
Don't have pictures here at work. Sorry.


