The old-style chrome-plated metal bumpers are much simpler to replace than the newer-style ones are, but are much heavier. An assistant may be needed to hold the bumper in place while starting the fasteners.
These bumpers are held in place by four
carriage bolts. The heads of these bolts are kept from rotating by a square cutout in the metal of the bumper. Immediately behind the head of the bolt is a square area on the shaft that fits this cutout exactly.
Before trying to loosen the bolts, spray them with WD-40 or another light lubricating oil. If the threads of the bolts are rusted, use a drill-mounted
wire brush to clean off as much of the rust as possible. The nuts can be removed from these bolts with a
ratchet and
socket. A
breaker bar may be necessary to start loosening the nuts. Be sure to keep the head of the bolt flush up against the metal of the bumper so that it will not turn.
Once the four bolts are removed, the bumper should fall off. The new bumper can be placed onto the mounting brackets and the hardware re-installed. If the hardware is rusty, it is recommended to replace it with new hardware.