I'm in the process of removing the front bumper on my 97 GTS to replace the headlight assemblies. Anyone have a good method of getting the flat top buttom fasteners out without ruining them. I understand there is a special tool but am hoping someone has used something common is its place that works. Thanks for any ideas.
Front fascia/bumper removal-special tool?
- Thread starter Shelby3
- Start date
SapphireGTS
Enthusiast
I hate when car builders use these pieces. I didnt have much luck with these 1 way fasteners. You will probably get frusterated and rip them off - then you can go to Pep Boys and buy DC replacements.
I had some luck getting a few out by using the scisors end of a wire stripper/crimper. DONT TRY TO PUT YOUR FINGERS UNDER THE FACIA TRYING TO PRY THE PIECE OUT. YOU WILL CRUSH YOUR FINGER.
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it will look like this under there.I had some luck getting a few out by using the scisors end of a wire stripper/crimper. DONT TRY TO PUT YOUR FINGERS UNDER THE FACIA TRYING TO PRY THE PIECE OUT. YOU WILL CRUSH YOUR FINGER.
Thanks for the picture. Got them all out, only a few in one piece though. Used a hand version of a **** tool with a forked end and it worked well on the ones you can reasonably get at. Glad to hear replacements are available at Pep Boys. Found all kinds of road trash inside including I think a few body parts, probably from Corvettes..........
SapphireGTS
Enthusiast
hahahaha. Yeah. I power washed the front and the inside of the Facia. I should have left the front off. May help me with my cooling issues.
prodiver
VCA Member
Most automotive paint supply places carry these fasteners also.
NCVCA
Enthusiast
You can also get them at Lowe's hardware stores. I didn't think you needed to remove anything first to remove the headlights...
Jerry Dobson
Enthusiast
NCVCA,
Yes you do have to remove the facia to get to the headlights. I don't remove any of them. I leave them in place and take the four bolts out. This is the easy way. This leaves the bumber attached to the facia.
Shelby3,
You are replacing the headlights? MAKE SURE you mark their location on the standoffs. They slide front to back and have shims under them. Catch22, you cant set them unless the facia is on, and you cant get to the bolts with the facia on. So if you mark them first, it will be easier. If you are reading this too late, you may have to take the fog light out after the installation to get to the bolts. This is hard to explain with just typing here.
Jerry Dobson
Yes you do have to remove the facia to get to the headlights. I don't remove any of them. I leave them in place and take the four bolts out. This is the easy way. This leaves the bumber attached to the facia.
Shelby3,
You are replacing the headlights? MAKE SURE you mark their location on the standoffs. They slide front to back and have shims under them. Catch22, you cant set them unless the facia is on, and you cant get to the bolts with the facia on. So if you mark them first, it will be easier. If you are reading this too late, you may have to take the fog light out after the installation to get to the bolts. This is hard to explain with just typing here.
Jerry Dobson
NCVCA
Enthusiast
I do know you can get to the 4 bolts by removing the tray in front of the intake. This removes the bumper AND the bumper bar. Removing the fog lights while on the car is a #$%^&*(.
Jerry, Thanks, you have mail. Crap, it sounds as if there is an easier way to get at the headlight
assemblies that doesn't involve removing the fascia from the bumper. I haven't got to the headlight
assemblies yet so I will be able to mark their position and shim condition. The adventure continues......
assemblies that doesn't involve removing the fascia from the bumper. I haven't got to the headlight
assemblies yet so I will be able to mark their position and shim condition. The adventure continues......
GTS Dean
Enthusiast
It is NOT NECESSARY to remove the fascia from the fiberglass bumper to remove it from the car!!!!!
There are 2 carriage bolts per side of the car that attach it to the frame horns, along with the row of bolts below the core support and those at the edge of the wheel well. Two of the carriage bolts must be accessed from behind the fascia - through the rectangular blockoff panel ahead of the radiator. You cannot see these bolts, but they are 13mm and you can feel them, running parallel to the centerline of the car. The other pair is accessed from the upper front fascia openings. There are 2 pairs per side here, but I can't recall which ones you must unscrew, so do both. The hood release latch also has to be unscrewed from the fiberglass support.
If you do it my way, the entire fascia and bumper support, plus their backing plates come off as a complete, unitized assembly.
Do a search for front fascia removal by username GTS Dean. I wrote an exhaustive explanation of the process a few years ago.
There are 2 carriage bolts per side of the car that attach it to the frame horns, along with the row of bolts below the core support and those at the edge of the wheel well. Two of the carriage bolts must be accessed from behind the fascia - through the rectangular blockoff panel ahead of the radiator. You cannot see these bolts, but they are 13mm and you can feel them, running parallel to the centerline of the car. The other pair is accessed from the upper front fascia openings. There are 2 pairs per side here, but I can't recall which ones you must unscrew, so do both. The hood release latch also has to be unscrewed from the fiberglass support.
If you do it my way, the entire fascia and bumper support, plus their backing plates come off as a complete, unitized assembly.
Do a search for front fascia removal by username GTS Dean. I wrote an exhaustive explanation of the process a few years ago.
That's what I get for following the shop manual.......... Now I'm going to have the fascia painted while I have it off so there is some return for the effort. That way I can become anal about scraping the fascia once again. Bumper guard on order from Roe Racing.
