How to remove limited trim from front bumper?

[silver4est]

I need to remove the wide flare from the front bumper to respray it, but not sure how to take it off

Thanks

 

[fixxor]

I believe there are 4 nuts holding it on. You will have to reach up there to feel where they are, I used to small wrench for the top ones. Kind of a pain in the ass.

 

[Mark_BC]

I think you also have to grind off some rivets

 

[silver4est]

Rivets also? Damn I was hoping this was gonna be easier

 

[fixxor]

There is a rivet connecting the flare to the mounting plastic bracket, but if I remember right you dont need to drill that out of you take the nuts off the back side.

 

[Mark_BC]

There is a rivet connecting the flare to the mounting plastic bracket, but if I remember right you dont need to drill that out of you take the nuts off the back side.

Right I think that was my issue, the nuts were rusted and spinning the bolt in the plastic so I had to grind it off.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Maybe it depends on the year. On my '97, there are no rivets, just the four 10mm nuts. Although if I recall correctly, when I pulled the flare off a '99 to see if it would fit mine (it didn't), there weren't any rivets on it either.

Edited - well live and learn, apparently there is supposed to be a rivet there, as well as a seal. Mine has neither, darn. https://parts.villagetoyota.com/sho...1997&ukey_trimLevel=14036&searchString=bumper

Edited again - OK, I had a look at mine, it has both the rivet and the seal, phew. However, both the seal and the rivet come off with the flare, i.e. the rivet simply attaches the internal mounting bracket to the flare, not to the bumper. You do NOT need to remove that rivet to remove the flare. Just remove the four nuts inside, and wiggle the flare until it comes out.