rear bumper step trim removable?

[riverwolf]

Specifically, I'm talking about the step cushion looking piece on the top of the bumper right beneath the hatch door. It appears to want to separate, but the FSM doesn't show it as a separate piece...only the bumper cover as a whole is removable.

Back story. After 7 years, this step piece appears to have a bit of wax or soap buildup making it look faded...or maybe it really is sun fading, but it has more the appearance of wax on plastic trim. First stage will simply be to try to clean it, but even then, the color is not really enough contrast with the Galactic Gray and silver center trim for my taste. I'm thinking of some spray on bedliner to make it black. However, I don't trust my masking skills enough to spray it on the truck and I'd rather not go to the hassle of removing the whole bumper.

TIA.

-Brent

 

[toto]

If it's like other Toyota models, the bumper step pad is glued on to the bumper cover.

 

[liqourish]

its one peice. i remember the guy at the shop try to take it off to paint my new bumper. had to paint around it. (well at least for the 08's)

 

[riverwolf]

its one peice. i remember the guy at the shop try to take it off to paint my new bumper. had to paint around it. (well at least for the 08's)

The '03-'05s had 3 piece bumper covers with a center piece and two end caps. Beginning with '06, Toyota switched to a one piece bumper cover, but the attachment to the vehicle itself appears to still be the same...only the '06+ cover can't be separated into the 3 pieces.

The step cushion is also the piece that attaches directly to the body for the center of the cover. It definitely has a seam where it meets the "aluminum" fascia that forms the center section of the bumper and almost assuredly started life as two separate pieces. It's possible the two pieces were plastic welded together to form the center section. Since the step cusion piece is the main attachment point for the whole bumper cover (6 bolts into the body), I don't image some sort of trim adhesive being strong enough on its own to form that bond. Either way, I'm losing hope that I can just remove that piece for painting.

-Brent

 

[riverwolf]

A couple of photos might help clarify my description..."borrowed" from Edmunds. In the first photo you can see how that step cushion bolts the bumper cover to the body.

 

[liqourish]

its one peice. i remember the guy at the shop try to take it off to paint my new bumper. had to paint around it. (well at least for the 08's)

like i said for the 08 Are 1 Peice. ( good god im ripping my t4r.org sticker off)

 

[riverwolf]

like i said for the 08 Are 1 Peice. ( good god im ripping my t4r.org sticker off)

I don't get the attitude, but to respond in kind...

I appreciated the data point, but I also clearly pointed out in response to your post that the '03-'05 bumper covers are different than the '06-'09, which would include your '08 example. While I didn't explicitly state I have an '03, I thought the "After 7 years..." comment along with my signature made it pretty obvious. FWIW, the Edmunds' photos were also of an '03...notice the lower reflector lenses that disappeared, probably with the arrival of the one piece cover in '06.

At least some good news. I spent a few minutes with a tooth brush and straight Dawn and the cushion at least looks like new. I still think it would look better in black, but for now at least, it looks clean instead of faded from whatever residue it had accumulated.

Cheers.

 

[Uneek]

Apply some 303 Aerospace to help perserve the bumper pad and prolong the "look" a bit longer. The best part is when plastic parts protected with 303 beads water when wet.