16 Tacoma bumper cap removal

One plus ... if you ever decide to go back to chrome you can just peel off the plastidip

 

I just spent a couple of minutes underneath the rear bumper looking at how the center cap and end caps are attached, and what I found is that you don't want to pry the center cap up from the top, you want to squeeze the plastic springs clips for the center cap and push up on them from the bottom. I did this to one of the double clips on the end of the center cap, and the clip easily pushed right up through the bumper frame releasing the end of the center cap.

There are a couple of the double clips that are going to need a pair of extra long needle nose pliers to get to, but releasing the center cap from the bumper should be very easy, and some of the plastic clips are single sided and some are double sided, but the process to release them is the same. So what you want to do is start at each end of the center cap and start releasing the clips from each end working your way to the center.

I'm selling some used custom motorcycle parts I have that will pay for one of the black end caps, then I plan on selling the two chrome end caps to pay for the other black end caps and hopefully have a few extra bucks left over, but now that I see taking the bumper apart will be pretty easy I want the factory end caps.

The cheapest I've the black end caps for is at ToyotaPartsDeal.com for $162.34 plus $21.21 shipping and no tax, and estimated delivery time is two days.

 

I think it was free shipping ? Pm them on here to be sure.

 

I've got a set that I decided not to install on my Quicksand that I want to sell for $175 and free shipping. PM me if you're interested.

 

I just ordered the black end caps from Camelback Toyota Parts for $165 shipped, and I should have them by Friday. So now I'm going to sell the chrome end caps which are less than 2 weeks old and in perfect condition.

 

That's sounds about what i paid. I sold my chrome ones to a guy on here for $100 because I just wanted them gone.

 

My black SR bumper caps are going to be delivered latter today, so as soon as the sun comes up I'm going to go out and start taking bumper apart and get the chrome cap removed which I'm going to sell, and have the bumper all ready to put back together with the black caps when the show up.

I'm going to take some step by step pictures of the process and post them up. I also ordered a set of the chrome raised Tacoma letter inserts from Tufskinz for the tailgate to go along with the all black bumper mod which I think is going to look pretty good.

 

After reading the bumper removal instructions posted up by mxwrench which are great, I though I would share how I went about disassembling the rear bumper to install my new black end caps

1. Remove license plate

2. From underneath the bumper remove the (8) push pins on the end caps and the two for the center cap.

3. From underneath the bumper depress the steel tabs that secure the trailer wiring plug socket to the bumper and push it out and disconnect the wiring connector from the socket.

4. From underneath the bumper, depress the plastic tabs on each side of the license plate light housings and push the housings out of the bumper. With the light housings pulled away from the bumper release the electrical connector from the housings, then pull the wire and connector back through the hole in the bumper so they don’t get damaged when removing the center cap.

5. There are a total of 14 integral retaining clips on the center cap that secure it to the steel center cap support plate. So from underneath the truck use 10” flat blade screwdriver to pop the plastic retaining clips out of the steel center cap support plate starting from each end and working towards the center of the cap.

Once you have all of the front row of retaining clips free, from the outside start at each end of the cap and gently start pulling up on the cap until the rear row of retaining clips pop out, and this takes a little bit of force. Once all of the retaining clips have popped out the steel center cap support plate, Lift the center cap and remove it.

6. Remove both end caps and the inner end cap supports as an assembly by first loosening the two M8 bolts down in the recess on the steel center cap support plate, and then remove the 4 M8 bolts on each end of the steel center cap support plate that are threaded into the inner end cap supports.

Now from underneath the truck remove the two M8 bolts that attach the inner end cap supports to the frame. The side caps and inner supports can now be removed from the bumper by pulling up on the steel center cap support plate enough to allow the two locating pins on the inner end cap supports to come out of the locating holes.



7. Remove the two push pins from the ends on both of the end caps. Now carefully pry the S/S toothed retaining clips off of the tabs on the end caps, and a hook tool works well at pulling the toothed retaining clip off. To finish releasing the end caps from the inner supports, using a small flat blade screwdriver release the two plastic retaining clips that are part of the end caps. The end caps can now be removed from the inner supports.

8. Install the new end caps back onto the inner supports by inserting two retaining clips into the square slots on the inner supports and snapping them in place. Now install the two push pins back into the holes on the ends caps. While keeping the end caps pushed in against the inner supports, using a screw driver or needle nose pliers, push the S.S toothed retaining clips down over the tab on the end cap that stick that sticks through the slot on the inner support.



9. Install the end caps and inner supports back onto the frame and the steel center cap support plate. Replace all the M8 mounting bolts and snug them down finger tight, then check the alignment of the gaps on both end caps to the body are both the same, than tighten all of the M8 mounting bolts securely.



10. Install the center cap by first making sure that the two hook tabs on the back face of the center cap hook behind the locations on the inner end cap supports, then allow the center cap to sit on top of the steel support plate. From underneath the truck use a flashlight to verify that all 14 retaining clips are located over the square holes in the steel support plate, and if not move the center cap around to get all of the locating pins aligned to the holes in the plate. From the top side simply push the center cap down starting from the center and working you way out to the ends.

The center cap will literally almost fall into place with about 5 or 6 easy pushes on the center cap, and you’ll be able to visually see if the center cap is completely locked back into the steel support plate

11. Connect the electrical connectors back onto the license plate lights and trailer wiring plug and install them back into the bumper.

12. Install the license plate.

All in all for having never done this before, it was very easy to do, and I love the looks of the all black bumper against the super white paint over the stock chrome end caps.

 

Thanks for posting up the images and disassembly steps!

 

I must be missing something, as my rear bumper doesn't have headlights on it.

 

Having issues with # sonars.

Gave up for now. To frustrated.

Any help for sonar removal would be appreciated. I may be missing something but these things will
Not budge.

 

On number 3. It says to disconnect the wiring connector from the socket. Is this the wiring connector???

 

No, the trailer wiring if you have tow package. It plugs into the back of the 7 pin connector

 

This thingy?

 

Yes

 

Yeah I managed to pop it out of its socket but I can't seem to disconnect it.

 

Any help in the sonar sensor removal. Only thing I'm hung up on.

 

Push the connector in like your plugging it in, when you have it as forward as possible press the release tab and then pull back to take it off. That should work

 

So you're saying to press the steel tabs and pull it back instead of pressing forward?

 

No. Push the connector in, then press the release tab and pull the connector off