DIY: Front License Plate Bracket Removal! | Ford Explorer Forums - Serious Explorations

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DIY: Front License Plate Bracket Removal!

Bubz!

Active Member
Joined
March 2, 2011
Messages
80
Reaction score
12
City, State
Fayetteville, NC
Year, Model & Trim Level
2016 Sport
If you are like me, you will love this thread.

I went out of state to get the exact 2011 Explorer I wanted. Just so happens it has a Front License Plate Bracket on it.

These are installed during manufacturing with plastic rivets.

Here we go!

Tools needed:
-Screw Driver
-Drill w/ assorted bit sizes
-2 Trim Retainers (I bought mine at Advanced Auto Parts)

5492981344_a11bc2a691.jpg


5492982382_4b6ae77e29.jpg


Remove Plate
5492389707_55ca2fa7bb.jpg


Plastic Rivet
5492391153_4ebf32892f.jpg


Use a Drill w/ a Small Drill Bit to drill out the rivet
5492393679_4e7c9134ba.jpg


After that use a Flathead Screwdriver and pry the Rivet out
5492392485_9c68996b68.jpg


After the plate is removed
5492394745_0262510c5e.jpg


Trim Retainers
5492998886_e6ec577fd0.jpg


Installed Trim Retainers
5492990876_f87cedfd62.jpg


Old Rivets
5492992198_cb3ffa382b.jpg


Scratches from the Vibration of the Bracket
5492993094_cc1c76824b.jpg


NXT!
5492399013_7d44c8fe78.jpg


Bracket
5492996074_4146c13794.jpg




Finished!
5492404877_862f33c763.jpg


5493001484_cde8f5b4a9.jpg


5493002344_b88dc958f3.jpg




Hope this helps!
 



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Now this is a great post! Can't wait to do this to mine when it comes in.
 












Awesome writeup, Bubz!

Also- thank you for your service in the Air Force... We are forever indebted! :salute:
 






Looks familiar... :)

I had slight marks from my license plate holder too. Used ScratchX 2.0 to remove them before waxing.
 






yup I cant beleive how good the retainers look once installed. I thought the finish would be slightly off but it isnt.
 






Sigh...front plates required in NY, so I'm stuck with the ugly thing. Your mod looks very nice though.
 






thanks^^ if anyone is needed a front plate, I'll sell mine cheap!
 






Sigh...front plates required in NY, so I'm stuck with the ugly thing. Your mod looks very nice though.

Ditto........ however I refused to put one on my GTO and have only been pulled over once (by state trooper no less) in 7 years.
 






That looks a lot nicer than the normal 2011 - it's amazing what a little bit can do. It's too bad my 08's molding is body colored so I can't really try this (I guess I could, but I think it would look crappy).
 












Good simple writeup. :)
 






Awesome thanks I hate that thing!
 






illegal in ohio to not have a front license bracket! sucks because i hate them! lol nice job though. looks great.
 






illegal in ohio to not have a front license bracket! sucks because i hate them! lol nice job though. looks great.

Ugh, I ordered mine in Indiana (I'm from Ohio though) and they forgot to order me a front license plate bracket.

Looks l'm gonna be doing the reverse of this...
 






I can't believe how big it is compared to the plate. Why is 1"+ of "Gray" space needed...that's the only thing that look rediculous on the whole thing!
 






Thanks Bubz! It took me all of 20 seconds thanks to your awesome instructions!
 






Bubz,

Thanks for the awesome instructions - didn't take long and looks much better without the bracket and me shilling for the dealership.

Thanks again,

Paul
 



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Bubz,
Thanks for this. Because of you, I was able to remove the bracket before it had time to scratch the paint :D
 






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