Plastic shield on lower front bumper ...

1999 Silverado, Auto Trans, 5.3L eng, 4WD

I want to remove the plastic shield that is clipped to the bottom of the front bumper but i'm having trouble removing the plastic split pins that hold it on. they look like they are made to remove easily, but i'm quite the novice mechanic. should i even bother removing them carefully and reuse them or should i just rip them out and buy new ones?

Thanks ...

Next time it rains, go get stuck in a deep ditch!! That'll rip it right off! lol, just kidding, you should try pulling it forward, away fromt he bumper, I think thats how it comes off.

read your ownersmanual

I found the easiest way is to pry each spot with a flathead screw driver. Just curious though, why do you want to remove it?

A portion of the shield has been pulled out of place and is not being held on by those clips but the clips are still in place. It appears there is a way to remove them without destroying them so i can re-attach the shield like it supposed to be. i'm just gonna rip them out and go by some new clips. they can't be that expensive ... ha, gee, i've never said that before!

I also lost my owner's manual, so i can't see what that has to say about it.

OK here's how it works. The pins are actually each made of two pieces: a plastic ring sort of thing that is put in place, and then a plastic peg sort of thing that is stuck through it. If you examine them closely from the correct side (its cold and dark outside I aint goin' out there to look!), you will see a circlular piece of plastic with another circular piece of plastic inside of it, and you simply jam a flathead screw driver underneath the inner circle, and pry it right off. I had to figure that out myself when I installed my grille gaurd, as the grille had to be pulled to access the bumper bolts. That's how it is done.

HOWEVER!!! In the owners manual, it says that the air dam (the piece of plastic you are talking about) should not be removed for long periods of time, as it can cause improper airflow to the engine.

All of this is detailed, with pictures, in the manual of my '04 in the off-road driving section, page number 4-20. Oughta be in yours regardless of year. Let us know if you have any problems with air flow.

Ai'm just gonna rip them out and go by some new clips. they can't be that expensive ... ha, gee, i've never said that before!

I think they're like $7 for a set of four, and I know it takes more than four to secure the air dam properly.

Not surprising these plastic pieces are so expensive. We are talking about GM here...quality parts :bigthumb: (i'm not being sarcastic...ok maybe a little)

HOWEVER!!! In the owners manual, it says that the air dam (the piece of plastic you are talking about) should not be removed for long periods of time, as it can cause improper airflow to the engine.

All of this is detailed, with pictures, in the manual of my '04 in the off-road driving section, page number 4-20. Oughta be in yours regardless of year. Let us know if you have any problems with air flow.
I just read the owners manual. Since they do not go into any inclusive detail, I believe they included that in there so they are not held responsible if something goes wrong while "Off-Roading" as they say. Basically a clause to keep them from getting sued in any way, shape, or form.

On my third airdam by the way. Damn parking blocks.