What's up ladies n gents, koolkevin1107 here with another writeup. I have been asked this question over a dozen times and have seen it posted all over the place. This is a How-to on removing your bumper and installing a license plate bracket. I have a Password:jdm one but this goes for all L shaped brackets. Here we go!
Disclaimer: The following is provided as a GUIDE ONLY, and neither myself, nor FITFREAK.NET take any responsibility for the outcome of someone else doing the following. You follow these steps at your own risk!
First, locate the bumper clips in the engine bay. There are 4 of them. U stick a screwdriver in the notch and turn. The center will pop off, then just remove the clip.
Here is the next part. Most people get totally scared about unclipping the bottom portion of the bumper because they think there are soo many clips n screws when actually all u have to do is remove 4 clips and 2 screws from the bottom. I have identified which ones u need to remove, u don't need to take out any more because these are the ones u need. Take a look:
The first ones are the ones at the ends of the bumper by the wheels. These are the LONGEST clips. When u realize u take out the clips, u'll see there are 2 sizes, long n short. Most of em are short but these end ones are the only long ones. NOTE: The clips on the bottom of the bumper might be a little difficult to take out because debris gets in between it. When u do remove them, i recommend washing them to get the debris out so they are easy to install.
Here is under the bumper. When u look, u will find 2 phillips screws (with washers) located underneath the foglight areas and 2 clips going towards the center. Also, make note on which underpanel sit on each other because when u put the bumper back on, you have to overlap the splash guards. The ones attached to the bumper go OVER the big one located under the engine.
Next are the 2 screws at the ends of the bumpers where the bumper meets the fender. Again, only 2 screws (1 on each side). These do NOT have washers.
Here is the last "scary" part. The bumper is clipped on along the bottom of the bumper and fender. If you have never removed the bumper, the first time u try it's on there pretty tight. Just pull hard towards u and they will unclip. Don't worry, use a lil elbow grease.
Sport people! Continue with instructions. Base people, skip this step.
Remove the foglight housing. Take a 10mm or phillips screw and take out the screw. REach in and unclip the foglight. For the first couple times, this is VERY HARD so if u can't do it, grow some muscles
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Perfect! now the bumper should come right out.
Next, review the license plate relocator u have. I got the cool jdm tyte password:jdm one but u can use the cusco or any generic aftermarket ones u see on ebay, they all do the same thing.
That little metal piece goes inside the bumper to make it stronger.
Now mount the license plate to the bracket and dry test to see where you want to locate it. Couple reminders:
- Don't let the back part of the bracket touch the front face of the bumper. Leave it some space (1-2mm should be good) or else u'll have a scratch in your bumper
- If you are going to mount it on the drivers side, do not move the bracket so far over that the license plate blocks the "air channels" next 2 the foglights. Those holes are there to feed fresh air to the intake
- People w/ foglights, don't forget to leave some space so u can fit a screwdriver to remove the screw for the foglight.
Newayz, once u toy with where u want it mounted, take a sharpie and mark it underneath. Take a drill the same size as the bolts and punch 2 holes. They don't have to be perfect as long as it goes through because remember, nobody will see it once the bracket is mounted. This is a shot from the bottom of the bumper looking up:
This is the shot of the inside of the bumper:
USE LOCKTITE! I recommend going to pepboys or kragen n getting some BLUE non-permaent locktite. This is a fluid that when dries, it doesn't allow the bolts to come loose, but can be opened using regular tools.
Now re-install the bumper. If u see it's hard to go on the side that u installed the bracket, take off the bumper and look at the bumper support, sometimes the bolts are catching this foam piece. Just notch it where u see the indentations. I only had to notch the passenger side when i installed the bracket on my friends car, but mine didn't need notching on the drivers side.
Install is reverse of removal.
PERFECT! now u have a JDM tyte license plate relocator!
Hope i educated everybody. Remember, If you guys liked this thread, please give me some rep points. It's simple. On the first post, there is a little gray character in the top right corner of the post (next to the post number and "permalink") click him and click agree. thanks again guys! Oh btw look out for a LOT more writeups from me, especially a BIG one that everybody will want to see
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