How to Replace a Nissan Xterra Bumper

The Nissan Xterra SUV is equipped with a plastic outer bumper. The bumper attaches to the bottom of the grille and to the bottom of the vehicle's skid plate. Perhaps you have damaged the bumper in an accident, or maybe you need to remove it to access other parts of the vehicle. With the help of an assistant to help you hold the bumper, you can remove and reinstall it in about an hour.
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions
Things You'll Need
Flat-tip screwdriver
Pliers
Phillips screwdriver
Socket set
Assistant
Removal
1

Remove the grille. Use a flat screwdriver to pry out the middle portion of the six plastic clips along the top of the grille and then pull them out with your fingers or pliers. Use pliers to remove the metal clip on each side of the grille. Attempt to pull the grille straight back and off. There are still six plastic fasteners called "pawls" that are attached, but they should pop out when you apply firm pressure. If not, feel around the inside-bottom edge of the grille to find the pawls. The pointed end sticks up. Use a small screwdriver to depress the small tab in the side and press them down out of the grille.
2

Remove the five plastic pins that attach the top of the bumper. They are the same type of pins you removed from the top of the grille.
3

Detach the front part of both front fender protectors where they attach to the bumper. There are four screws on each side. Two point up from the bottom of the bumper and two face forward from inside the fender well. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the screws and then separate the fender cover from the bumper. Make sure you don't lose the metal clips that hold the screws in place.
4

Remove the 10 mm bolt that attaches the outer edge of the bumper to the body. Pull the fender well cover back to access this bolt. There is one bolt on each side of the vehicle. The bumper is still held in place on each side by a clip in the corner of the bumper and one below the headlight. The easiest way to detach these clips is to remove the two screws that attach the clips to the body and remove the clips still attached to the bumper.
5

Unplug the fog lamp electrical connectors, if present. Reach under the bumper behind the fog lamps and unclip the plastic tabs on the sides of the connectors. Separate the two ends.
6

Remove the four 10 mm bolts along the bottom bumper fascia of the bumper. There are five bolts that you do not need to remove that run alongside these bottom bolts. Every other bolt is one that you must remove, with the two outermost bolts remaining in place. If R=remove, and D=don't remove, the bolts would appear "D-R-D-R-D-R-D." You can now pull off the bumper.
Replacement
1

Direct an assistant to hold the bumper in place while you replace the four 10 mm bolts along the bottom.
2

Reconnect the fog light electrical connectors.
3

Reattach the four clips to the vehicle's frame and replace the two screws that hold each clip in place.
4

Replace the two 10 mm bolts that attach the outer edges of the fender.
5

Replace the four screws on each side of the vehicle that attach the bumper to the fender well cover. Make sure that the metal clip that allows the screw to tighten is in place.
6

Replace the five plastic pins in the top of the bumper. Press their centers down to lock them in place.
7

Put the grille back in place. Make sure the clips on the grille line up with the slots in the top edge of the bumper. Push forward on the grille to lock them into place. Replace the six clips along the top of the grille and press the centers down to lock them into place.