Ok, after tearing about 80% of the car apart, I feel pretty stupid asking this question. How do we remove the rear bumper cover without destroying the plastic attachments? The bumper cover is attached by a dozen plastic "staples" which are in there SOLID. I've spent a half hour trying to take them out without damaging them but they look like they'd rather tear apart than come out.

Any help?

 

cut the plastic rivits off. they only cost a couple dollars to replace. and there are 3 bolts holding the ends of the cover to the quarters.

 

Yeah, bolts removed, so... the rivets do have to be cut off. Alright, sounds good to me, no risk of damaging the bumper that way, i suppose finding replacements will simply be another adventure for later, lol. Thanks.

 

they can be removed without cutting them....but it's frustrating, and the constant messing with them could damage the tabs on the cover. just keep one in good enough condition that you can go to autozone and match it up with there hugh selection there.

 

I have alwaysed used needle nose plyers to pull the center out and remove them. Not realy that hard but you can get a stuborn one every once in a wile.

 

I have removed my rear bumper and no matter how carefull you are, several of the plastic push in pieces will only come off when they are broken. Go to a Pep Boys or AutoZone and they'll carry a similar replacement piece. Bring one off the bumper to match when you go shopping for it.

 

Done, Bumper cover removed and yeah, you're right, regardless, the plastic pins do somewhat get damaged.

 

invest $15 in a haynes or chilton camaro manual or really do yourself a favor and go on ebay. spend the $80+ on a gm manual for your car. if your working this much on the car these books will really help you. this site is great for info but you should have something physical in your hands to help you.

 

I do, have haynes and some other book for 3rd gens, the problem is that haynes is mostly mechanical (which helped me in that manner), and the other book doesn't go into any details, if you can recommend a book that goes in detail in regards to body work, that'd be great. I use sites and learned a crazy amount on how to properly do things which help, just little things as such that are a pain.

This thread for example, I knew how to remove the pins, but not without damaging them. Finding pins like them here won't happen, but saw that hawks have replacements for 2$ each.

 

I got replacements at autozone...I payed about 2 or 3 bucks for an entire box...

 

hey, i know that the little plastic rivets are like 2 bucks a box,but if you did want to save them, it is true that all you need to do is just pop up the top of them and pull...its pretty simple and when i did my front bumper i didnt find it all that difficult at all...it was actually easier than all the bolts and speed nuts on there haha

 

I swapped the rear bumper skin on my 86 Iroc with one from a 92 RS.Piece of cake.As far as those pop clips are concerned I get all I need off of junkyard cars as they are redily available.I myself have never had a problem removing those clips.