As promised i took pictures of my removal of the front bumper cover so here is the how to.

I wanted to find the best place to mount aftermarket tow hooks to an FDI, but it looks like the factory FDII tow hooks are the best bet and youll see why in the pics below.

1st youll need these tools to remove the bumper cover.

7mm socket and ratchet
7mm wrench
10mm socket
screw driver or panel removal tool (for push rivets)

Step 1 remove the 3 7mm screws on the wheel shroud in front of the front tire.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br1.jpg

Step 2 remove the push rivet on the inside of the wheel well. (top one on pic)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br2.jpg

step 3 remove the 2 push rivets on the bottom of the shroud that attach to the bumper cover.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br3.jpg


step 4 pull the shroud back to expose the inside of the bumber cover.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br4.jpg

Step 5 remove the 7mm bolt in the corner of the bumper cover connecting it to the fender. also remove the 2 larger push rivets you see in the same area. (second push rivet is behind metal piece to the right in picture)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br5.jpg

this is what the larger push rivets look like.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br6.jpg




repeat steps 1-5 on the other side.




step 6 romove the air intake upper piece by twisting the two plastic hand screws and remove.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br7.jpg

step 7 remove the 2 10mm bolts on the corners of the bumper cover were it meets the fenders under the hood(already removed in picture 1). and also remove the 5 plastic push rivets.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br8.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br9.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br10.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br11.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br12.jpg

step 8 underneith there is a clip that holds the bumper cover to the chasis. there should be 2 (mine only had one, yeah those cheap.... :mad: )

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br13.jpg

step 9 pull upward on the top part of the bumper cover near the headlight with one hand and pull outward on the corner below the fender at the same time with the other. the bumper will slide forward. only pull it out a few inches at first and then twist the turn signal sockets out of the housings before removing the bumper completely.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br14.jpg

a view with no bumper cover.... :wow: p.s the wires hanging are for my aftermarket fog lights.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br15.jpg

and here is the reason i say the factory FDII tow hooks may be the best option. all of the holes are there. and the metal in the front bumper is very thin and probably not a good idea to attach tow hooks to.

front view of were factory tow hooks would be. you can also see the mounting holes in the bottom of the bumper

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br16.jpg

a possible mounting hole from underneith the chasis

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br18.jpg

the thin metal in the front bumper

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br17.jpg

unused threaded hole in frame possibly for factory tow hooks?

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br19.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br20.jpg

tell me what you think?

Schoat, First let me thank you for taking these photos and posting them... Takes alot of guts to take apart such a large part of your Jeep. I know for one I appreciate these type of how to posts...

So, you going to cut the bumper and post those pics too?

wow! Do I understand correctly you did this for fun? Do you have the tow hooks?? I bet they'll be dead simple to install now.

Schoat, First let me thank you for taking these photos and posting them... Takes alot of guts to take apart such a large part of your Jeep. I know for one I appreciate these type of how to posts...

So, you going to cut the bumper and post those pics too?

im planning to go to the chrysler dealer tomorrow and see if they can get the FDII tow hooks.

I was going to go custom because i thought the Chasis itself may be different from the FDI to FDII.

I decided to take it all apart and find out for sure. It was well worth it since i now know that the FDII tow hooks can be made to fit the FDI with little or no modification to the Chasis since the frame itself is already open for the hook to go into (possibly only drilling a hole or 2, or adding an aftermarket bolt to attach it). If my dealer can get the tow hooks i will be ordering and cutting the bumper very soon. :D

if it's still off, could you take a picture of the inside of the bumper cover?

Looking at your front end, it's going to be quite difficult to design an aftermarket steel tubular bumper like other Jeeps have. Just too much plastic...

wow! Do I understand correctly you did this for fun? Do you have the tow hooks?? I bet they'll be dead simple to install now.

Well for fun and for a purpose at the same time. I will be doing many mods over the next few months so stay tuned. this was just to get and idea of what to do for front tow hooks. I hope it helps everyone else out as well. :smiley_thumbs_up:

if it's still off, could you take a picture of the inside of the bumper cover?

Looking at your front end, it's going to be quite difficult to design an aftermarket steel tubular bumper like other Jeeps have. Just too much plastic...

i have a few... let me get them on my photobucket and post em up.

heres the inside on the cover

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/bumpercoverinside.jpg

and here were the tow hook holes would be. you can see an outline of were the cut should be if you look close.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/towhookoutline.jpg

Schoat,

What's the trick to those push rivets?

Schoat,

What's the trick to those push rivets?

pry the ceter out while holding the outer piece in place. a neat trick i found was i used my little 7mm wrench like a small pry bar and stuck the open end under the center of the push rivet and it poped out, then you can remove the rest of it.

Hmmmm,

I had the 'pry the center part out' but then they wouldn't go anywhere, so I ended up breaking the heads off and poking them all the way through. I'm obviously missing something, maybe patients! Perhaps a photo step by step would help.

Thanks so much for posting the pictures. What tools are you going to use to cut the fascia?

Do you think maybe a drill hit to start, a reciprocating saw, and then a large coarse file to tidy up and make sure the holes end up with straight edges?

Will need some colour-matched paint to tidy up the cut edges, I think.

I'd make a rectangular hole into a piece of aluminum sheet with said drill and reciprocating saw (or get a machinist to mill a nice hole), and then I'd use this as a template to cut the bumper with an X-acto blade. Much less chance of screwing up.

I thought about drilling a hole in each corner and then using a straight edge to guide an X-acto knife on each side of the rectangle, but I have never cut material like the fascia before.

I would tape the painted side with the blue painters tape (clean off any wax/bugs/etc first so the tape sticks well) then drill and hand saw it myself. I'd probably use a small hacksaw and take my time following just inside of the guide lines on the inside of the bumper. Staying to the inside of the guide will give you some wiggle room and a chance to straighten the edges with a file. Just go real slow to minimize any paint chipping/damage.

Great how-to!

Thats what I like to see, great "how-to" I am impressed. Good to see someone getting down and dirty with their Patriot...Keep us posted on your progress...glad I have FDII, lol!!!

Good news. i ordered the front tow hooks yesterday. hopefully i cant do another how to this weekend ;) .

If you can, that would be awesome. I want to do the same thing with the tow hooks but just havn't had the time yet to play around with it. Thanks for the pics.

If I were you I'd think about replacing my horn with something a little louder/deeper while I had all that stuff pulled off...it'll never be easier to get to.

Hey schoat could you do me a huge favor? When you were removing the turn signals from the front bumper, did you only have to remove those 3 star shaped (triple square) screws and the turn signal came out?

those 3 star shaped (triple square) screws

they're called Torx screws - just FYI

I think the best way to cut the holes for tow hooks is tape off the area like mentioned before and drill out the corners. You don't want a square corner. Then I plan to use a dremel tool with a cutoff wheel. An exato knife will take forever and a recipercating saw will be too agressive. A dremel tool is small and easy to control. I also will use the black rubber door edge molding to go around the opening to hide any imperfections. I also plan on cutting the holes with the bumper still in place. There is nothing in the way and using the dremel and cutoff wheel I can take shallow passes until its cut through.

I can guarantee you won't be able to install the front towhooks with the bumper in place.

But the Dremel is the right way to go!

Hey schoat could you do me a huge favor? When you were removing the turn signals from the front bumper, did you only have to remove those 3 star shaped (triple square) screws and the turn signal came out?


you dont even have to remove them because they are attached to the bumper cover. just pull the cover off an inch or 2 at first so you can see the back of the corner lens, then twist the bulb socket out or unplug the connector.

you dont even have to remove them because they are attached to the bumper cover. just pull the cover off an inch or 2 at first so you can see the back of the corner lens, then twist the bulb socket out or unplug the connector.

I actually asked the question because I wanted to take off my turn signals. Im not that dumb:p

I was changing the bulbs in my turn signals and I saw those 3 screws in the back of the turn signals and I was wondering if they were the only 3 holding the housings in.

I actually asked the question because I wanted to take off my turn signals. Im not that dumb:p

I was changing the bulbs in my turn signals and I saw those 3 screws in the back of the turn signals and I was wondering if they were the only 3 holding the housings in.

Ohhhh.... Gotcha :doh:

Yes those are the only 3 screws that need removed.

Great picts and how to! Thanks!

As promised i took pictures of my removal of the front bumper cover so here is the how to.



http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br15.jpg



Any ideas on how a 6,000lb hidden winch mount might fit in there?

... Just had to ask!

Could you please take some more detailed pictures of the Patroit without the fount bumper on it? Maby a few from the side would help. Also some detailed pictures of the bumper off of the car would be nice. I want to do some drawings in AutoCad for a new frount bumper design based off of the SEMA bumper and I have been too lazy to take my bumper off. Thank you.

Great thread Schoat, thanks for posting!

Looking at your front end, it's going to be quite difficult to design an aftermarket steel tubular bumper like other Jeeps have. Just too much plastic...

I agree, that does not look very promising.

Could you please take some more detailed pictures of the Patroit without the fount bumper on it? Maby a few from the side would help. Also some detailed pictures of the bumper off of the car would be nice. I want to do some drawings in AutoCad for a new frount bumper design based off of the SEMA bumper and I have been too lazy to take my bumper off. Thank you.

sorry shes all back together now and im still waiting for my tow hooks. (on back order for some reason :icon_rolleyes: ). I might try to install them without taking the cover off.

Schoat,

Do you recall if the bumper is empty on the inside? I want to drill down into the top of the bumper, through the plastic into the metal to mount lights on the top of the bumper.

Do you know if there's anything inside the bumper (like an airbag sensor or it's filled with foam)?


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/schoat333/jeep/bumper%20removed/0br17.jpg

I'm not sure if the above picture is looking straight through the bumper, clear to the other side. If it is, then my question is answered.

let's see if fredlev finds this thread without doing a search...

those holes in the front metal bumper piece, are for the mopar off road light brackets, right?, if they are, thats a hell of a job to install the light brackets then. i jus installed mine onto my grill via, Metal Brackets from Home depot. and it looks nice, but definitely not as much as the actual mopar brackets

thanks for the info. looks like a good summer project for me.

I discovered a good way to remove the centers of the plastic rivets. I took a very small vice grip and clamped it with the top jaw toward the surface. There is a knotch in the outer part. Line up the small vice grip in the knotch and grab just the inner part. It is very flexible. Then just lever the center out.
5358

lol, I'm so glad I found this thread because I have to take that off to get to the grille. I think I may attempt to get the original grille out, cut off the vertical slots and tie in somehow some 1/2" X 1" diamond mesh that's powered black to the original frame, how long did it take you to pop off the whole front bumper?

I've taken mine off two times now. The first time took me longer to figure everything out. The second time, I had it off in about 10 minutes at the most. Just a bunch of plastic snaps and small screws.

I've taken mine off two times now. The first time took me longer to figure everything out. The second time, I had it off in about 10 minutes at the most. Just a bunch of plastic snaps and small screws.

hrm, just wondering, but is there any way to get the plastic factory insert out without taking the whole front cover off, or is that the only way to go?

I think you may be able to get it off without by going in through the top, but be prepared to chew up your hands on the radiator and ac condenser. There are about 14 round metal clips that old the insert on and I could see them hard to get off without having a lot of room. Not saying it's not possible but it makes things so much easier to just take the bumper off. I think I read on here somewhere that put the mesh in and didn't take the bumper off and he said it was really hard to do and hard on his hands. I will see if I can find the thread.

well good sir I currently have a 4500lb winch on the front of mine. works like a champ. plenty of pull weight for myself not so sure about the 6000 lb though. The bumper isnt that wide also just the 4500 causes a slight dip in the nose of the Jeep. tried to post pictures but cant figure it out. But I have a 10000 lb snatch block so I doubled my pull weight to 9000 pounds. Currently working on installing the tow hooks so I can utilize the snatch but 4500 lb is plenty of pull weight for the jeep itself. Not sure if your looking to pull someone else though. I know i pulled a wrangler out of a mud pit when he was buried to his windshield. Couldn't dislodge him until he gunned it in reverse though. Another thought if your looking at pulling bigger vehicles. Go to a machine shop and see if they are willing to build you a lift to put in your spare tire holder in the back of the Jeep. That way it remains out of sight until you need to use it kind of thing. Hidden winch wont work except under back bumper but the biggest winch I could find to fit was 3000 lb which isnt enough pull. hope this helps

. . . I currently have a 4500lb winch on the front of mine. works like a champ. plenty of pull weight for myself not so sure about the 6000 lb though. The bumper isnt that wide also just the 4500 causes a slight dip in the nose of the Jeep. . . .

Do you have any pics on how you mounted your winch?

my 3,000lb winch (hooked up to my hitch)pulled me out of mud up to my axle.luckily I had an extra 100ft of cable the closest tree that could pull me out was about 125ft.Got stuck trying to turn around I didn't think the ground was so soft.

Schoat hope you don't mind me adding this bit but I forgot to mention when I had to remove my bumper last weekend for the oil cooler install that i did it a bit different but still came off and went back on pretty quickly.

I removed the 3 7mm screws on either side of the wheel shroud
Did not remove the rivet on the top of the wheel well
Removed the 2 rivets on the bottom of the shroud on either side
Removed the 7mm screw for corner of bumper cover on both sides but did not remove the 2 large rivets
For step 8 I also only had one rivet to remove although clearly there should have been another

under the hood:
Did not remove the 2 10mm bolts or any of the 5 push rivets but instead remove 6 torx screws above the grill
Then slid out either side of the bumper and reversed to replace
in the second last pic of Schoat's 1st post you will actually see the molding for the large rivets and why you do not need to remove them.
It is open-faced and not a closed hole so you just clipping it in to those rivets if you get my drift

while i was under the riot I noticed my fd1 has a sort of recovery point(tow like hook) - think i got a pic of it but my camera's at home - will post later

Schoat hope you don't mind me adding this bit but I forgot to mention when I had to remove my bumper last weekend for the oil cooler install that i did it a bit different but still came off and went back on pretty quickly.

I removed the 3 7mm screws on either side of the wheel shroud
Did not remove the rivet on the top of the wheel well
Removed the 2 rivets on the bottom of the shroud on either side
Removed the 7mm screw for corner of bumper cover on both sides but did not remove the 2 large rivets
For step 8 I also only had one rivet to remove although clearly there should have been another

under the hood:
Did not remove the 2 10mm bolts or any of the 5 push rivets but instead remove 6 torx screws above the grill
Then slid out either side of the bumper and reversed to replace
in the second last pic of Schoat's 1st post you will actually see the molding for the large rivets and why you do not need to remove them.
It is open-faced and not a closed hole so you just clipping it in to those rivets if you get my drift

while i was under the riot I noticed my fd1 has a sort of recovery point(tow like hook) - think i got a pic of it but my camera's at home - will post later


I don't mind at all. Sound like you found an easier way to do it.

I didn't have a torx bit at the time so the push rivets worked for me. :smiley_thumbs_up:

while i was under the riot I noticed my fd1 has a sort of recovery point(tow like hook) - think i got a pic of it but my camera's at home - will post later

Very interested in this, though I assume it is just a tie-down point for transportation and not an actual recovery point...

Still waiting for time and money to figure out a front hitch...

here it is - let me know what you think