front bumper removal
06-10-2006, 04:10 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: 06-10-2006
Location: norcal
Posts: 2
front bumper removal
hey what's up everyone, i had a very very minor accident the other day and knocked the headlight a little out of alignment
anyway, i was going to remove the bumper cover, but i must be missing a screw somewhere, i got the 2 on both sides by the radiator, the one by the front wheels, but it seems to be caught on something, i couldn't believe that you have to remove the quarter panels just to get at the lights?!?!?!
i searched around, but couldn't find a how-to on the front bumper removal, would someone mind giving me a hand or pointing me in the right direction?
thanks
Mike
anyway, i was going to remove the bumper cover, but i must be missing a screw somewhere, i got the 2 on both sides by the radiator, the one by the front wheels, but it seems to be caught on something, i couldn't believe that you have to remove the quarter panels just to get at the lights?!?!?!
i searched around, but couldn't find a how-to on the front bumper removal, would someone mind giving me a hand or pointing me in the right direction?
thanks
Mike
06-10-2006, 04:34 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: 05-03-2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 855
here's a HOW TO I received from "Mr. Mod" CJ Krause when I first joined here:
I have removed the front bumper
you have to take off the 4 screws to the left and right of the middle of the radiator.
then there is i screw and 2 fender push pins in each fender well
and there is 2 under the bumper that have to be removed right by each fender well
there are tabs by the headlights and and i used a very small flat head screwdirver to work it loose. you just have to watch it.
I have removed the front bumper
you have to take off the 4 screws to the left and right of the middle of the radiator.
then there is i screw and 2 fender push pins in each fender well
and there is 2 under the bumper that have to be removed right by each fender well
there are tabs by the headlights and and i used a very small flat head screwdirver to work it loose. you just have to watch it.
06-11-2006, 07:23 PM
#5
Thread Starter
Join Date: 06-10-2006
Location: norcal
Posts: 2
Originally Posted by HHR PNOY
here's a HOW TO I received from "Mr. Mod" CJ Krause when I first joined here:
i was able to take off one tab, but the other side just wouldn't come loose...that guy must have used one hell of a thin or small screwdriver to get it loose
06-11-2006, 11:13 PM
#7
New Member
Join Date: 05-15-2006
Location: So Cal
Posts: 20
Bumper Removal
Just had the front bumper cover off an HHR to do flames on the car. CJs correct remove the 4 screws at the radiator area, one each side in the wheel opening bumper cover fender area. The 3 push in clips in each fender wheel that attach to bumper cover and the clip at wheel liner at lower front bumper cover. Put slight outward pressure on cover at fender/headlight area use a thin bladed flat screw driver to release clip that attach in slots in the cover. Once they start to come loose they come loose quite easily. I've had both the front rear bumper covers and they both attach with the same type of clips. Trust they will come loose. They headlight adjustment screw is accessable thur the inner fender apron inside the engine compartment.
06-12-2006, 09:46 AM
#8
Member
Join Date: 05-31-2006
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 57
Originally Posted by mx187
hey what's up everyone, i had a very very minor accident the other day and knocked the headlight a little out of alignment...
Mike
Mike
(with the HHR... for all youse wise guys out there..) Anyhow, did your bumper pad crinkle up in your accident? I was thinking about trying to pull my bumper cover and straighten out the shock material that's under it. (It looks like that's the only thing that's making the cover not re-align itself -- it sets a little proud under the right corner of the hood grill.)I don't know how fast I was going. (I took off too quick behind someone turning right on red.
) But there wasn't any metal that was damaged, and the variance in the bumper cover is almost unnoticible. It felt bad from inside, and I was expecting bad stuff happened. She took it like a champ, though!! 
06-14-2006, 06:36 AM
#9
Member
Join Date: 05-31-2006
Location: Lansing, MI
Posts: 57
I pulled the cover last night. Sorry I didn't get pics. I was typing out a long verbal description of the parts, when I realized that it would probably be more confusing than helpful. After you remove the screws and pop out the pins (I found it best loosen them with a small screw driver, then use a pair of chain nose pliers to pry/twist them out), then the clips in the area around the headlights and the wires for the fog lights and side markers will be holding it on. There are two long/deep tabs at the inside and outside corners on each side (these tabs keep downward pressure on the cover). The hidden edge of the cover slides into a metal slot/channel in the fender and slots in the cover slip over catches in the bottom of the channel. The flat bladed screw driver is used to push down on the catches. If you pull down on the cover, you'll see the catches. It seemed to me that if you can push in, and up on the cover, then pull out on the cover, they ought to be able to clear those catches. When I got the first side loose, I saw that at least a couple of those slots were cracked. Not broken out, but there was a crack on one side or the other of the slot.
Putting it back together was simple. Just pushing it back into the channel.
I was able to get shock absorber material re-arranged, but the inside bumper was flattened on the side that took the impact. So I'll have to see if I can't find that part online. The bumper cover itself seems to be a double walled setup (maybe they're all that way), so I couldn't reform the bumper pad for myself.
One last note (in the never ending post... at least for me), when the bumper cover comes loose, it's gonna hit the ground. You probably want to make sure it lands on something soft. Everyone here who does this stuff all the time probably expects that sort of thing, but i didn't. Next time I'll have a blanket down, or make sure I'm far enough forward so that it falls on the grass.
Good luck with yours!
Putting it back together was simple. Just pushing it back into the channel.
I was able to get shock absorber material re-arranged, but the inside bumper was flattened on the side that took the impact. So I'll have to see if I can't find that part online. The bumper cover itself seems to be a double walled setup (maybe they're all that way), so I couldn't reform the bumper pad for myself.
One last note (in the never ending post... at least for me), when the bumper cover comes loose, it's gonna hit the ground. You probably want to make sure it lands on something soft. Everyone here who does this stuff all the time probably expects that sort of thing, but i didn't. Next time I'll have a blanket down, or make sure I'm far enough forward so that it falls on the grass.
Good luck with yours!
10-16-2009, 01:12 PM
#10
Join Date: 01-28-2009
Location: Markham, IL
Posts: 1
Me too!
I just rear-ended someone Friday (with the HHR... for all youse wise guys out there..) Anyhow, did your bumper pad crinkle up in your accident? I was thinking about trying to pull my bumper cover and straighten out the shock material that's under it. (It looks like that's the only thing that's making the cover not re-align itself -- it sets a little proud under the right corner of the hood grill.)
I don't know how fast I was going. (I took off too quick behind someone turning right on red. ) But there wasn't any metal that was damaged, and the variance in the bumper cover is almost unnoticible. It felt bad from inside, and I was expecting bad stuff happened. She took it like a champ, though!!
(with the HHR... for all youse wise guys out there..) Anyhow, did your bumper pad crinkle up in your accident? I was thinking about trying to pull my bumper cover and straighten out the shock material that's under it. (It looks like that's the only thing that's making the cover not re-align itself -- it sets a little proud under the right corner of the hood grill.)I don't know how fast I was going. (I took off too quick behind someone turning right on red.
) But there wasn't any metal that was damaged, and the variance in the bumper cover is almost unnoticible. It felt bad from inside, and I was expecting bad stuff happened. She took it like a champ, though!!