DIY Bumper Installation for a 2000 Silverado

The front bumper on the 2000 Chevy Silverado base model is secured with four bolts that must be accessed from under the truck. To remove the front bumper, the front parking lamps, side markers and grille must also be removed. If the bumper is not being replaced, have a soft blanket or large towel handy to place the bumper on once it is removed to prevent damage to the finish.

Instructions

Remove the screws holding the parking lamps and side marker lenses to the front grille. Pull the parking lamp lens away from the grille and turn the bulb housing counterclockwise to remove it from the lens. Pull the side marker out of the grille; turn the bulb housing counterclockwise to remove it from the lens. Place the side markers and parking lamp lenses in a safe place.

Remove the four screws holding the front grille to the core support of the truck with the screwdriver. Remove the bolt holding the grille to the hood latch support with the socket and ratchet. Remove the screw in each upper corner of the grille that holds the grille to the radiator support with the screwdriver.

Slide a flathead screwdriver directly under the outermost side of the parking lamp hole, between the bumper and grille, to release the lower grille clamp on each side. Remove the grille from the truck and set it in a safe place.

Lie down under the front of the vehicle and locate where the front bumper braces meet the bumper, at the bumper curve, on each side of the bumper. Remove the bumper brace upper and lower mounting bolts on each side of the bumper with the socket and ratchet.

Remove the lower mounting bolts where the truck frame meets the bumper with the socket and ratchet. Remove the upper mounting bolts where the frame meets the bumper from the top of the truck with the socket and ratchet. Remove the bumper from the truck.

If replacing the bumper, remove the bolts securing the bumper guards to the bumper with the socket and ratchet. Remove the bumper guards. Remove the screws securing the bottom air deflector to the bumper and remove the deflector from the bumper.

Lay the bumper on the soft blanket. Wrap the blanket around the bumper to protect it until it will be reinstalled.

If the bumper is being replaced with a new one, install the bumper guards from the original bumper. Tighten the bumper guard bolts to 18 foot-pounds with the torque wrench. Install the air deflector to the bottom of the bumper and tighten the mounting screws with the screwdriver.

Place the bumper over the front frame rails of the truck. Install the upper mounting bolts loosely by hand.

Lie down under the truck and loosely install the lower mounting bolts where the frame meets the bumper. Install the upper and lower mounting bolts at the bumper support bracket loosely. Align the bumper with the grille area and ensure the gap between the front fenders and bumper is equal on each side of the truck.

Tighten the mounting bolts to 83 foot-pounds with the torque wrench, starting with the upper frame mounting bolts and working to the lower mounting bolts, then the bracket mounting bolts.

Set the grille into position over the bumper. Line up the upper mounting holes where the bumper meets the core support. Loosely install the mounting screws at the core support. Tap just below the parking lamp mounting hole to clip the lower grille into place.

Install the grille mounting bolt at the hood support latch and tighten it 18 inch-pounds with the torque wrench. Install the grille to radiator support mounting screws. Tighten the core support screws to 9 inch-pounds with a screwdriver attachment and the torque wrench.

Install the parking lamp and side marker bulb housing into the parking lamp and side marker lenses. Rotate the bulb housing counter clockwise to secure them to the lenses. Set the lenses into position on the grille and install the mounting screws.