Removing bumper panels

I'm trying to swap my chrome bumper panels for painted ones and it seems straight forward, but I'm having trouble getting the two tabs at the top to push out. If anyone has done this I'd love some tips. Thanks!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/16-tacoma-bumper-cap-removal.404082

 

I presume you've seen this, but forwarding just in case. This is on my list as I'm going to do a DIY bedliner spray on the chrome bumpers as well.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-3rd-gen-today.399305/page-2368#post-14459532

Let us know any tips/ tricks you figure out to removing the troublesome clamps.

 

The search button is so nice, you should check it out and do some digging. Took me 30 secs to find this.


https://youtu.be/4NOcjusRQe8

 

That's awesome dude. It took you 30 seconds to find a video of a guy who broke the clips that the OP is having a problem with. Super helpful.

 

Go underneath, you'll be able to see the two chrome tabs. Use a flathead screw driver and depress them and push out slightly.

 

Don't think the clips are broken. There's a alligator clamp (don't know what else to call it) that clamps down on part of the bumper cap. It's impossible to put back on unless you take apart the whole bumper. Not worth the time.

 

Taking apart the bumper's not that bad, and I wouldn't want some janky rattling bumper caps on a new truck. To each his own I guess.

 

My issue is that the outside lip of the chrome bumper is under the main bumper. So I can't really push out the chrome tabs. It's looking like I'll need to remove the black section as well.

 

You have to pull the plastic bumper up with some force, there are two tabs that you can push from underneath as well. This will help you get a grip of the bumper

 

I found it easier to remove the middle section of bumper as well,a dn then you can pull the end caps right out

 

At least I gave him specific info instead of your super helpful link to another full thread. Super helpful.

 

That would seem easier. I ran it by the service dept. at the dealership today and they said it was likely a three hour job and that the middle plastic section would probably break in the process. That didn't sound right, so I just said no thanks. I've got some awesome color matched end caps, but at this point I'm thinking of just dipping the chrome ones. That's definitely not my preferred solution though.

 

Definitely not 3 hours. I was done in about an hour or so using a write on here. I'll see if I can find it. Let me k ow if you have questions

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/16-tacoma-bumper-cap-removal.404082/page-2

Here's the link. This is what I used and it worked out

 

Awesome. Thank you.