[Wolf_24]

Items needed:

- ¼ drive ratchet
- 9/32 socket
- Flexible ¼ drive socket extension
- Needle nose pliers
- Assortment of screwdrivers
- 2 or more Hand towels (I’ll explain later)
- New Panel Retainers (optional, but recommended)

I chose to leave the wheel on since I do not have the specific jack for this car, and did not want to mess around with my other jack.


Step 1:
Remove the 3 panel retainers in each wheel well. 90% of the time these are ruined and not good to reuse, so don’t worry about destroying them. Use a flat head screwdriver to pull them out enough to get the needle nose pliers in to remove them. You can find replacements at any car parts store.

Step 2:
Remove the 9/32 bolt/screw located at the bottom edge of the bumper near the wheel well, 1 per side.

Step 3:
Pull the wheel well back starting at the bottom of the rear bumper and about half way into the wheel well. Use a rolled up hand towel to put between the wheel well and the body to keep the wheel well held back. I used 2 towels. Place 1 at the top of the wheel well, and one at the bottom.

Step 4:
In the very top corner of the bumper at a very awkward angle is a 9/32 screw/bolt that is going to be the most fun to remove. I used a ¼ drive ratchet with a flex adapter to get the angle needed to be able to turn the ratchet. There is 1 on each side.

Step 5:
Pull back the corners of the bumper until they are free from the retaining clips. Use towels on the edges to protect them when you are removing the bumper.

Step 6:
!!!!!WARNING!!!!! I suggest having an extra set of hands to remove the bumper so that it does not hit the ground when it comes off. If you are doing this alone get a lot of towels or blankets to lay on the ground.

NOTE: There will be wiring harness for the license plate lights.

There are a series of retaining clips that hold the top lip of the bumper in below the trunk lid. I was able to pull the bumper out enough to expose them and use a screwdriver to free the bumper from each clip. Watch for the wiring harness for the license plate lamps when you have the bumper free.

I removed the tail lamp so that I could get a better grip on the bumper and see the clips.

Reverse the steps to reinstall.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REMOVING THE LOWER VALANCE:

Step 1:
Flip the bumper over and remove the 2 screws (one on each end), and the 4 plugs in the middle.

Step 2:
Remove the inner structure by removing the 2 plugs located at the top.

Step 3:
Remove the 2 retaining screws holding in the rear valance.

Step 4:
Carefully start pulling the valance from one side. You may need to use a screwdriver to pop the clips as you go along.

Reverse the steps to reinstall.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

Very good! Thank you for taking your time and effort to document this for our members.

 

[Wolf_24]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

Thanks, I was going a little crazy trying to find a detailed description before I gave up and just tried it myself. If anyone has anything to add, please let me know and I will edit my post.

 

[DarrenWS6]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

Good informative and well documented how/to. If I may bold to ask, what would you need to remove the rear bumper for? Aside of maybe damage requiring replacement.

 

[Wolf_24]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

I had to remove the rear bumper to change the lower valance. I have an I4 with single exhaust and I am doing a dual setup. The 2 set screws that hold the valance in need to be removed from the top, so the bumper had to come off.

I have a set of 4" Magnaflow tips to add onto this:

 

[MyGirlsMalibu]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

I had a question, I see you removed the rear bumper. Is it possible to removed the license plate chrome piece without removing the rear bumper. Let me know!!

 

[Wolf_24]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

I did not look at the mounting while I had it off. You can remove the 4 plugs that hold the valence on. From there you can pull the bumper away enough so that you can get your hand in there to see where the screws are mounted.

 

[MyGirlsMalibu]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

Thank you, I am doing some light modding to my girls malibu

 

[EEEJAY]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

I knew that I would find the answer for how to remove my rear bumper on this site. But I have a question...
I bought my car, Feburary 2010 and just noticed the clips behind the trunk that assist with securing the bumper are not connected..

Shall I take it to the dealer for repair? If yes, should I expect to be charged for the repair?

I also wonder if there were any recall service performed by the dealer that would have caused them to remove my bumper....

 

[DrivenDaily]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

I'd say that there must have been someone doing mods or inspections before you bought it. Was it used? If not then I'd go in and mention what you found and ask the service department if they could finish building the car (jokingly, of course) since GM didn't seem to have the time. But that should be covered under the "Bumper to Bumper" warranty, and this time it'll take covering it all the way to the bumper, if ya know what I mean.

 

[Wolf_24]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

I am glad someone replied to this tread or I would not have noticed the picture hosting site I use is not working. All picture links have been updated.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Svc]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

Dear EEEJAY,

I would have to agree with DrivenDaily. If you are the original owner of this vehicle, I would most definitely take the vehicle into the dealership about your concern.

Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service

 

[EEEJAY]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

Thank you everyone for your replies. I also see that 'refreshing' this post brought to the attention of its originator the missing pictures. The clips I see on my car unattached is displayed in Wolf's last picture. What else I find great is Chevy monitoring this website. Nice. Driven, it was your posts that made me a believer of this website. Honest, detailed, instructions. There are many great people here and I knew that I wouldn't be lead into the wrong direction.

The task of me removing the bumper is probably more work than I'm willing to try at this time. If there are four screws, one is surely to test my patience.

I bought the car new so as suggested, I'll take it to the dealership and humorously speaking will ask that they honor the bumper to bumper warranty. I'll follow up with the results.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[Oncewasarental]

Re: How-to remove the rear bumper and valance

Good informative and well documented how/to. If I may bold to ask, what would you need to remove the rear bumper for? Aside of maybe damage requiring replacement.

You also have to remove the rear bumper(at least partially) to replace the rear side marker lights. I tried to cheat by removing the trunk liner...no dice, I could reach the plug(I had to remove the air filter from the body, or whatever that thing is) but there wasnt enough clearance to pull the bulb/socket out with the bumper fully attached.....gotta love Government Motors' designers.....

 

[rluck9277]

Items needed:

- ¼ drive ratchet
- 9/32 socket
- Flexible ¼ drive socket extension
- Needle nose pliers
- Assortment of screwdrivers
- 2 or more Hand towels (I’ll explain later)
- New Panel Retainers (optional, but recommended)

I chose to leave the wheel on since I do not have the specific jack for this car, and did not want to mess around with my other jack.


Step 1:
Remove the 3 panel retainers in each wheel well. 90% of the time these are ruined and not good to reuse, so don’t worry about destroying them. Use a flat head screwdriver to pull them out enough to get the needle nose pliers in to remove them. You can find replacements at any car parts store.

Step 2:
Remove the 9/32 bolt/screw located at the bottom edge of the bumper near the wheel well, 1 per side.

Step 3:
Pull the wheel well back starting at the bottom of the rear bumper and about half way into the wheel well. Use a rolled up hand towel to put between the wheel well and the body to keep the wheel well held back. I used 2 towels. Place 1 at the top of the wheel well, and one at the bottom.

Step 4:
In the very top corner of the bumper at a very awkward angle is a 9/32 screw/bolt that is going to be the most fun to remove. I used a ¼ drive ratchet with a flex adapter to get the angle needed to be able to turn the ratchet. There is 1 on each side.

Step 5:
Pull back the corners of the bumper until they are free from the retaining clips. Use towels on the edges to protect them when you are removing the bumper.

Step 6:
!!!!!WARNING!!!!! I suggest having an extra set of hands to remove the bumper so that it does not hit the ground when it comes off. If you are doing this alone get a lot of towels or blankets to lay on the ground.

NOTE: There will be wiring harness for the license plate lights.

There are a series of retaining clips that hold the top lip of the bumper in below the trunk lid. I was able to pull the bumper out enough to expose them and use a screwdriver to free the bumper from each clip. Watch for the wiring harness for the license plate lamps when you have the bumper free.

I removed the tail lamp so that I could get a better grip on the bumper and see the clips.

Reverse the steps to reinstall.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REMOVING THE LOWER VALANCE:

Step 1:
Flip the bumper over and remove the 2 screws (one on each end), and the 4 plugs in the middle.

Step 2:
Remove the inner structure by removing the 2 plugs located at the top.

Step 3:
Remove the 2 retaining screws holding in the rear valance.

Step 4:
Carefully start pulling the valance from one side. You may need to use a screwdriver to pop the clips as you go along.

Reverse the steps to reinstall.

Thanks for the write up. A couple weeks ago my wife backed into a brick wall with our Malibu (she dosen't drive it very oftern). The damage is minimal, just cosmetic, but it needs a new rear bumper cover. Well yesterday I found a complete bumper cover (lover valance, liscense plate chrome trim, all the lamps, and painted the right color) in perfect shape on ebay for $150. So I bought it and am going to put it on myself. My deductible is $500, so I figure I will save some money and the chance of my insurance going up. How long did it take you to do this?

thanks again for the great write up.

 

[Wolf_24]

It took me a few hours, but that was due to documenting this, and those 2 screws in the top (they are at a very awkward position). They were a pain to get out. I could probably do it in an hour the 2nd time.

 

[rusLA-DLC]

Is the rear bumper sort of loose to begin with? When I bought the car and brought it home I noticed the bumper was flimsy, but not falling off or anything. So basically the four screws and six plastic clips is the only thing securing the bumper?

 

[jetfuelonly]

Where did you end up getting the lower valence? I see them on a number of sites and ebay for $35-$60 but they all end up charging freight shipping and the final number is over $100. I believe the GM retail is around $85, so I have yet to see if my local dealership will charge me any more than that.

 

[Wolf_24]

Where did you end up getting the lower valence? I see them on a number of sites and ebay for $35-$60 but they all end up charging freight shipping and the final number is over $100. I believe the GM retail is around $85, so I have yet to see if my local dealership will charge me any more than that.

I bought it from http://www.partsgeek.com/mmparts/valance_panel/chevrolet/malibu.html

At the time they had their sale I had bought it for $37.

 

[jetfuelonly]

Thanks for the write up! Made install of my replacement lower valance a breeze. I didn't want to believe you when you said the bumper had to come off, but you were totally right. I ended up getting mine at the dealer for about $75. Everywhere that shipped called it oversized and it ended up being that much or more.