UNL1MTD Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 I'm such a noob. My front bumper is bent from a PO hitting a pole, its not bad, but I got a spare one so I figured while I'm doing the fender, might as well. I am halfway through removing my front bumper. In an effort to avoid the torx bolts for now I went to the bumper brackets and started removing the three bolts. Two just came off which was a bonus, but the last snapped the clip nut on the other side. After a bunch of spinning I got lucky with a pair of needle nose pliers and it came off. So my question is, what is everyone doing to avoid using the clips once they reinstall the bumper brackets? I can't honestly justify using these clips when I would prefer a nut with a washer on the end. What size bolt fits stock and how are you getting a wrench on the top inside nuts? I figure this has been done countless times before, might as well gets some advice from the people whom have done it before. -Sean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjeff87 Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 That's why there's clips on there, because it's a bit hard to get a wrench in to hold a nut on the other side. I can't say what others have done, but I modded my bumper to accomodate a set of late model towhook/brackets. The brackets replace the factory bumper brackets, and the top bolt that holds the bumper on faces straight down from the top, instead of from the rear (which hides it on older models and you can't get a wrench on it either, without taking off the brackets from the framerail). And I replaced the two front clips with the factory L brackets for the towhook brackets, that have weld-nuts. Jeff Image Not Found Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duner Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Run down to your local auto store and pick through the help section. You should be able to get new clips as well as bolts if you need them grease them well when you bolt it back together. They are on there because it's difficult to get the wrench on a nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rokhound Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 i don't no if this would work but weld a nut to the back side and call it good or is that not an option. Just a thougth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracker Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 All of the speed-nuts broke on a bumper I removed at a junkyard. They were cheap and easy to find at the parts store. We don't really have rust in California but I put a spot of grease on the new ones anyway. I might have welded full nuts in there if I had the time- and had a welder, and knew how to weld, and really felt that it would be necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UNL1MTD Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 I guess i didn't even consider these speed nuts to be readily available as I haven't seen them on anything else I've worked on. I'll probably just run with replacement clips for the stock bumper. Thanks for the input. I'll definitely put on some anti-sieze as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWLONGSHOT Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 I just replace them with new ones I get from NAPA, in 3/8 X 16 size. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UNL1MTD Posted March 23, 2007 Author Share Posted March 23, 2007 The true noobness of this post is evident now that I have removed the front bumper and clip. There really is plenty of space to reuse/use speed clips for the front brackets once the bumper is off. And it would really make sense to remove the bumper from the brackets then remove the brackets from the unibody. Instead of just removing the brackets like I did. Thanks again for the help and patience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I always take XJ/MJ bumpers off at the unibody. Those bolts aren't torx and aren't as likely to be seized. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jage Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 The true noobness of this post is evident now that I have removed the front bumper and clip. There really is plenty of space to reuse/use speed clips for the front brackets once the bumper is off. And it would really make sense to remove the bumper from the brackets then remove the brackets from the unibody. Instead of just removing the brackets like I did. Thanks again for the help and patience. I've been known to cut the ends off the bumper just outside the brackets to avoid the whole conundrum. Then you can skip the torx and the bracket bolts are easy to reach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyComanche Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Mine too. Image Not Found Until I got rid of it. Stupid tow-hooks get caught on everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oizarod115 Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 i've never been able (on 2 diff jeeps) to get the brackets off the bumper. always taken the bumper off at the unibody brackets and all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duner Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 I did not realize that getting the bumper off was such a problem - rust is not too bad in the south but just to throw some help for those of us working with hand tools. My dad told me he had a friend who would buy a project car every year or two and then enroll in the autobody repair course at the local community college - he uses all their equipment plus stores his car there during the duration of the course - so you really don't need a shop and 100k in tools - it's thought anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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