How to remove a 1998 Vitara Front Bumper ???

[RickUK]

Would like some help please folks,i need to be able to remove the front plastic bumper from my 1998 LWB Vitara,it needs to be removed so that some small plates can be welded just behind the bumper,the welding job itself is pretty straight forward.

Can see some of the screws and bolts that require removing and of course like most things some are rusted but we have removed some of the fitting that we can see,but has anyone actually remove the full bumper from a Vitara and highlight any hidden fittings that are holding it on.

We can take the grill off and see behind the headlights but cannot see any fittings holding the bumper on still,also we would like to take the plastic cowling off that go around the headlamps as we feel that could show us some possible hidden fittings behind these headlight surrounds,one would think that removing a plastic wrap around bumper would be pretty straight forward but its being a bloody nightmare.

Can anyone help with any suggestion either from removing one yourself or have access to a workshop manual that shows how it can be done ??? i am fighting against the free MOT retest clock.

Any help would be most welcome,Thanks

[r-nottz]

There's screws eather corner just under the indicator side of the headlight.as far as I can remember, 2 on the bottom and a few across the top, been a while since I removed one I usually rip em off!

[RickUK]

There's screws eather corner just under the indicator side of the headlight.as far as I can remember, 2 on the bottom and a few across the top, been a while since I removed one I usually rip em off!

Thanks for the reply,i will take a look tomorrow,can find most of them but i am guessing i must be missing some as its still pretty solid,dont want to rip it off as such as it will be going back on again after the welding,i am thinking i must be missing a few of the screws but will find them tomorrow.

Once again thanks for your suggestions on locations of the screws.

[donkeychomp]

Pretty sure 4 bolts hold the actual bumper on. But there are many screws holding the grille on. Trying to recall how many when I took my bumper off. I do know it needed a ton of WD and a sledge hammer and a crowbar to get the damn thing off.

[donkeychomp]

This might help...

[RickUK]

@donkeychomp,i think that may be the information that i have been looking for,will have a look at it in the morning,its also in that area that the rust worm is,so will update you tomorrow.

Many thanks for that,gut feeling tells me that could be the cause of all the trouble.

Thanks you for taking the time out to post the pictures.

[twiss]

[RickUK]

Sussed how to take it off,just 4 main bolts but like most things when working on old motors you will always find one bolt that wont undo,it will tomorrow as i will cut the bloody thing out.

So welding will be done monday at last,its been fun and games trying to work out how to take it all off,but thanks for all your suggestion/help/advice etc.