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Rear Bumper Cover Removal

36K views 15 replies 9 participants last post by  kcy  
#1 ·
Has anyone removed a rear bumper cover on a gen 5 Outback? Ours got some minor parking lot damage over the winter, and the body shop can fix it but said it will save me a ton of money if I remove it and bring it to them.


If anyone can help out, has diagrams, pics or a video, it would be appreciated.


Thanks
 
#3 ·
probably the same process as on my 13.

*** if you have any rear sensors in the bumper, get advice from someone besides me ***

Do it on a warm day or in a heated garage.

Put a line of painter's tape on the bumper and body seam to prevent scratches. Remove the tail lights. Remove all the plastic clips along the bottom edge of the bumper cover. A few of them are hard to find inside the wheel wells.

As you remove the clips you'll see the cover start hanging loose. Start at one wheel well and gently tug the edge of the cover. It will begin to unsnap and you can continue all the way around. It sounds intimidating, but it really isn't.

Should only take a few minutes to do, not sure why the body shop would charge so much.

Be careful when you put it back on, getting it aligned takes an extra minute or two.


edit:

or watch the video
 
#4 ·
Some pictures I took when I installed the OE hitch. I have some video as well but this should help you get the bumper fascia off. Now you'll know where all the clips are that you need to pry off.
 

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owns 2018 Subaru Outback 2.5l Touring
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#5 ·
I forgot about taking off the lights first and since I put on OE splash guards I had a few extra things to undo.
 

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owns 2018 Subaru Outback 2.5l Touring
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#6 ·
the 4 back up sensors wire bundle clip. It has a small lock tab to squeeze & then you can slide off the wire connector. Each sensor has the same type wire connector on them. I put dielectric on the contacts & put silicone on the wires going into the connectors. My backup moves have not activated the RAB anymore in the rain for no reason.
 

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owns 2018 Subaru Outback 2.5l Touring
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#9 ·
the clips are the same push pin types that are in the front. They are not a single use part though. I have a few spares, but have never messed one up (I only have spares in case I step on one and break it that way).

7 clips on the underside - 909140007
2 clips (one in each wheel well) - 909140062
two screws on the top of the bumper - 904560045
 
#15 ·
Believe what you want. This is a shop I know and trust and the owner was helping me out. It cost me $150 cash to get it fixed and repainted after I removed it. It saves them the time and labour to remove it. Plus they don't have an extra car in the shop, which is very busy and has little extra room.
 
#16 ·
For anyone doing this in the future, in reference to post #5 pic #131733 above, note that those open tabs or "loops" on the facia are very thin and fragile (they catch on a fixed barb on the body). The facia-end you begin removing will have the least flexibility. I thought I was being careful and still broke one or two of those tabs. Been back together for a year now and no problems, thankfully. If breaking even one bothers you, you might want to work in direct sunlight on a warm day or use a heat gun to warm them and get 'em good and flexible.