How to remove rear and bottom rear quater bumpers? VN

[joe seinfeld]

Thought it would be easy enough, before i knew it i had removed a sh*t load of nuts that didn't need removing so without going further i thought i'd ask.

Trying to install a VN SS lip kit if anyone wants to know why I'm removing it

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Two bolts inside the boot, a couple of screws in the wheel arch, pull the sides out away from the body and then slide the whole bumper off backwards.

[joe seinfeld]

Two bolts inside the boot, a couple of screws in the wheel arch, pull the sides out away from the body and then slide the whole bumper off backwards.

Cheers for that!

I got the 2 in the boot. Will i be able to get to the ones in the wheel arch with the wheels on? and is it the bolts in the wheel arch that hold on the side panels?

[hi_ryder]

i know the vp's is just the 2 nuts in the boot then pull it back and it slides right off... didnt know the vn's has other screws....

[somefool]

nope the Vns are the same as VPs

[joe seinfeld]

hmm well I've done those two screws, but when i pull it it still feels attached to the side panels? when i look underneath they're riveted together (the back and sides)

[joe seinfeld]

It's definitely not coming off with just those 2 bolts in the boot undone. Pulled it pretty hard while under the car and i can see the sides holding it on. Don't know how to get the sides off though, can't see any screws under the wheel arch?

Around the bottom of the bumper behind (still the plastic bit) the sides and back are riveted together

[hi_ryder]

theres 2 little metal slider brackets that are pop riveted onto the top corners of the bumper near the wheel openings, then theres the plastic ones behind that hold the main side ones on. other than that theres only 2 nuts holding the reo to the back panel (inside the boot). if theres any other connections chances are its not stock... make sure theres not self tappers (or if bogan, building screws) holding that baby one somewhere..... sometimes when refitting the back bar people put urethane around the 2 holes to prevent water from getting in as well. just give it hell, should come off...

[joe seinfeld]

theres 2 little metal slider brackets that are pop riveted onto the top corners of the bumper near the wheel openings, then theres the plastic ones behind that hold the main side ones on. other than that theres only 2 nuts holding the reo to the back panel (inside the boot). if theres any other connections chances are its not stock... make sure theres not self tappers (or if bogan, building screws) holding that baby one somewhere..... sometimes when refitting the back bar people put urethane around the 2 holes to prevent water from getting in as well. just give it hell, should come off...

I'm giving it another go right now. Giving it a harder pull, the bar moves backwards as if it's going to come out (bolts almost completely come through the holes in the boot), but the sides also move. It's connected to it somewhere i just can't bloody find where!

**EDIT: I am meant to be taking off the entire bumper aren't i? not just the plastic body panel covering? For the life of me i don't know why it's not coming off!!!

[joe seinfeld]

I am stumped. At this point I'm VERY tempted to just sikaflex the entire lip on because this is ridiculous

[joe seinfeld]

Sorry to bump this again, but is there any way of getting the sides off without getting the rear off?

I've included some pictures to make the explanations easier in case i'm doing something really simple stupidly wrong

Any help would be much appreciated been dying to get this lip kit on for some time now! And there's no way of being able to get the screws in under the bar while it's still on the car.

Cheers guys

[Teletran1]

If you have undone those two nuts in the boot just slide the whole bumper back and off. No the quarters cannot be removed (while bumper is on car anyhow).
Once it is off you can unscrew the plastic bumper skin off the bumper steel reinforcement. No other way around it.

[joe seinfeld]

If you have undone those two nuts in the boot just slide the whole bumper back and off. No the quarters cannot be removed (while bumper is on car anyhow).
Once it is off you can unscrew the plastic bumper skin off the bumper steel reinforcement. No other way around it.

Ahh see that's my problem, when i pull on it it feels attached to those side panels. This is killer! Budges but doesn't come fully out!

[hi_ryder]

lol this bar is giving you hell....

[joe seinfeld]

lol this bar is giving you hell....

You don't say! haha so frustrating, had this kit for about 7 months, finally have it painted and finally have a bit of time to get it on, apparently a pretty easy thing to do and BAM, doesn't wanna play along!

Really don't wanna just sikaflex the whole thing for obvious reasons of it maybe falling off, but also because it won't pull it in tight enough to the bumper and then it'll look sh*tty i reckon

[mr calais 5.0]

Can you get the lip on with out removing the bumper?

[joe seinfeld]

Can you get the lip on with out removing the bumper?

Nah, I've drilled a few holes in the bumper, but its pretty much impossible to get my hand in under the bumper to get screws in, in most spots. That's the way I was doing it at first and only got about half way.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Pull the sides of the bumper out away from the car first. They should pop off the side clips.

[joe seinfeld]

Pull the sides of the bumper out away from the car first. They should pop off the side clips.

I thought the only way to pop the sides out was to have the rear off first?

Do you mean there are clips that secure the sides to the body and they could be the things restricting me from getting the rear out? And if i just pull them out slightly it will release it easier?

[somefool]

nah that are all one unit, althought it does look as if there is a back part and side parts. work on each side first and get the clips to pop out to get the understanding of how the clips come off.
i think you have to push it forewards first (keyhole-like design) to get the lug to come out. (of the sides)
I had to get my brother to help me as one side kept popping back in as i went to pull the bumper off.

but yes its just those lugs/clips on the sides and the 2 nuts at the back that hold the bumper on. and the mudflaps i think.. if you have them.

[joe seinfeld]

nah that are all one unit, althought it does look as if there is a back part and side parts. work on each side first and get the clips to pop out to get the understanding of how the clips come off.
i think you have to push it forewards first (keyhole-like design) to get the lug to come out. (of the sides)
I had to get my brother to help me as one side kept popping back in as i went to pull the bumper off.

but yes its just those lugs/clips on the sides and the 2 nuts at the back that hold the bumper on. and the mudflaps i think.. if you have them.

Awesome, i actually had another quick inspection last night before i tackle one last time on my own tomorrow and thought it might be clips on the sides, and figured the whole thing would have to come off.

Reading your post has put my mind at ease now, at least i know it's right! i was just going to pull though so lucky i saw this

I think i'll undo the nuts so it has wiggle room, push the side up towards the front of the car and try to get it to pop out, then do the same to the other side.

That's how you mean to do it for the sides yeah? push them towards the car then pull away from the car?

[hi_ryder]

if you pull the sides out away from the car chances are youll break the plastic bar slider brackets. im not even sure if holden sells those anymore. if you have a pick a part near by pop over there one day and take a bar off one of the crush candidates... you can be as rough as you like cause its not yours.... im close to making a how to video for you lol. ive only ever had to zip off the 2 nuts and pull back (no homo).....

PS. if you didnt already know the reo is bolted to the bar with 4 or 5 10mm bolts from the inside. so when you take the bar off the reo comes with....

[joe seinfeld]

if you pull the sides out away from the car chances are youll break the plastic bar slider brackets. im not even sure if holden sells those anymore

ahhh chit now you got me worried lol. Well I'll try it lightly and won't force it. Kinda like how the rear seats come out, how you have to push them down, backwards towards the boot, then lift up...

I guess i'm just one of those annoying members, won't deny it haha

[joe seinfeld]

I'm taking your advice and doing to the wreckers to rip some bumpers off friday.

tried again today and it looks as though it just pulls away, had no success with the keyhole idea

[hi_ryder]

what suburb you live? and dont worry theres plenty of members that ate 10 fold more annoying than you.... lol