Step bumper insert removal

"there are no stupid questions..."

Yeah, well, we'll see about that.

Has anybody popped that center insert out of there? The two bolt covers on either side pop off to reveal the hex head of a bolt. Simple enough. I cannot get the center to pop off by getting a knife blade under it, I don't want to damage it. So how does it come off and what will I find under there? I have a project in mind this MAY help with...

 

I just bought some of those to replace my missing ones....just snapped in..maybe exacto knife blade something narrow.

 

cant get to it from below, the receiver is too close. there is a hole in the plastic shroud from the bottom. I just don't wanna destroy that insert is all, If i believe it'll pop, I'll go at it.

 

If you pop the 2 square pieces out, I think there's screws under there that hold the plastic piece. I've never removed mine, but maybe it would be easy to remove the whole piece and then pop the round plug out.

 

Pop the square peices , remove the plastic anchors out remove the two 10mm bolts from underneath slide off the bumper and you can easily remove the center peice

 

I hadn't even noticed those squares. Thanks for calling them out. What I did though was just went for it with the pry route. And sure enough, simply more robust tabs on that center piece. Like the bolt covers next to it, it just pops off.

Here's what you'll find. Solid cast metal, 1 7/8" thick. couple of ridges, but no threads or anything. Again, there is barely room below this and above the receiver itself to access it, or in my case, put a nut and washer on the bottom of a bolt. Still, thought I'd document this in case somebody comes along with the same question later.

 

My covers fell off, in guessing in the car wash. Does anyone know where I could get new ones? I didn't Google because I'm not sure what to call those...

 

I wonder at the design. Pre-receiver built for a rudimentary bumper mounted hitch ball?

 

this

 

I just removed my rusty hitch after getting the frame replaced. And i also thoght I could put a ball mount there. Not sure what the bumper is rated for

 

Yes.