Sorry for bringing back an old thread but I had a question after reading this.

Why is it near impossible?

Mine is damaged and I would like to pull it to fill the marks and then paint it. I'm currently stationed overseas so if by doing this there is a chance that I may break clips then I may need to rethink my plan, finding parts for an American truck in England isn't the easiest and shipping parts can be a PITA.

 

No one has anything to add? I just really want to know if Its just a PITA or if I'm going to have something break...

Breaking things with no real easy way to get parts is something I wish to avoid.

 

i think you would break the clips that hold it in. but if you could go behind it which should not be too hard and try to pop them out one by one which there is like 20 in that small piece. even if you break a couple i see no problem in it staying put if you decide to put it back in. for me i would just paint it if i were you. sand it, prime it, paint it.

 

I figured as much, I think that is going to be my plan. I appreciate the response.

 

I just plasti dipped the whole front end and rear bumper on mine. I didn't have the chrome piece but would essentially look the same.

 

Sorry for the delayed response. The clips are angled in such a way that it is extremely difficult to get them back in the slots on the bumper cover without breaking them or breaking the chrome piece in have trying to bend it to get the clips to engage.

 

No problem with the delay, we all have a life to attend to. This might not be as easy of a project as I though it was going to be... My plan was to use some of the Spray on bed liner I used to make Bed rail caps just over the chrome piece. So I'd like to remove the whole piece so I can avoid any over spray concerns while making sure I get enough coverage so there isn't any chrome visible.

 

I agree with the others, just get it painted.
This was my 2005 which i took to a buddy to have all the chrome painted and the bumper to much the black color.
I now have a 2007 4x4 which i'll be doing the same thing.