Every time it rains I get these dirt marks on my rear bumper.
It seems as though the mud is coming from underneath the scuff plate on the top of the bumper.
Can anyone here tell me how to remove the scuff plate from a 2007 Patriot so I can clean out the accumulated mud.

Thanks

Might be dust accumulating under the scuff plate as you drive, then washing out when it rains.

Someone pulled theirs off recently, do a search for "bumper step" i believe... there were pics and everything. From what i recall, i believe there are just snaps that hold it on... you pry up on it hard enough and it should pop off... BUT i'd find that thread first and confirm, my memory is known to suck.

Other than maybe putting some double-sided tape along the length of the underside of the scuff plate (or on all edges even), i can't think of any way to prevent it.

Thanks nth256,

I found this thread:
http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55913
but mista_g713's Patriot is a 2008

Can anyone confirm if the bumper step just pulls off on a 2007?
I'd hate to break it.
I tugged on it a bit and it's stuck down real good.
Seems to me like I would need a tool for some sort for leverage.

Anyway thanks for all help :) much appreciated.

If you have a pressure washer you can shoot water under it without removing it and get the mud out, may work with a regular hose too but I've never tried it that way.

If you have a pressure washer you can shoot water under it without removing it and get the mud out, may work with a regular hose too but I've never tried it that way.

Thanks festerw, I will try that. :)

Maybe once you get the mud out, then seal the edges with silicone to prevent anything getting under it again.

Maybe once you get the mud out, then seal the edges with silicone to prevent anything getting under it again.

Thanks for the tip dixiedawg :)

I'd like to do that but I would want to remove the scuff plate if I did.
That way I could set the silicone bead far enough back from the edge of the plate that when I put the plate back on and applied a little pressure I wouldn't have to worry about it getting all over the paint.

I checked out the parts manual for the 2007 but it only shows the plate as part of the bumper fascia.

Anyone have any photos of the scuff plate/bumper step being removed?

Thanks again for the help :)

Should just snap right off.

Can anyone confirm if the bumper step just pulls off on a 2007?


According to the Mopar parts catalog, it's the same part for 2007-2009 models. If you do break it, they can be ordered online for $28 bucks from http://www.moparonlineparts.com

Thanks mista_g713 and todde702 :)

Now all I gotta do is work up the gumption to give it a good yank.
If I break it, it's nice to know it ain't to expensive to replace.

Thanks for all the input to everyone.

Eventually I will follow up on this and try and post a pic or two.

Well I gave it that yank!
The plate comes off real easy.
I was a big mess of mud underneath.
I decided to skip sealing it as it's really easy to take off and put back on.
I figure I'll clean it out every month or so
I attached some pics too.

Thanks again for everyone's help.
I wouldn't have tried it if you guys didn't give me a push in the right direction :)

Nice, and thanks for the photos too, this belongs in the Knowledge Base. I'm thinking that you could paint the bottom of it with bedliner, and then reinstall wet, and it would seal.