Front License Plate Holder

[cmaupin]

Greetings everyone. I just purchased a used 2006 Explorer last weekend. So far I love it! I do, however, have a desire to take the front license plate holder off. I live in AZ and we don't need a front plate. I looked at this last night and it appears the plastic license plate holder is rivited onto the bumper. I tried getting to it from behind but there is styrafoam in there. The only way I see to get it off is to take the whole front piece off. Has anyone else ever attempted this? Are there other ways of getting the license plate holder off of there? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[blichy]

An easy way to take the bracket off is to drill out the rivets. Just be aware that there will be the 2 holes in the bumper cover.

 

[cmaupin]

Actually, there will be 3 i the bumper because there are three rivits holding it on. That's still better than having the plastic license plate holder on the front.

I will give this a try over the weekend. Thanks for the tip.

 

[blichy]

Actually, there will be 3 i the bumper because there are three rivits holding it on. That's still better than having the plastic license plate holder on the front.

I will give this a try over the weekend. Thanks for the tip.

Ahhh, didn't realize they went to 3 for MY06--probably more secure than the 2 used previously.

A cheap fix for the holes is to paint some screws or rivets and put them in. The holes are one of the bad things about states that require front plates--my company car may get a new front fascia when it is sold because the dealer put the plate bracket on before I got there to pick it up.

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

Ah crap, they would do this... I am moving to AZ, and thus, get to ditch my front plate, great another thing to do after i move

 

[appstatedixon]

I am considering purchasing a 2006 ford explorer eddie bauer. And it appears that some have mounted plate holders on the front and some don't. Is this something that can be installed? From pictures it seems that some EB's have a cutout in the bumper for the holder and some do not. Can someone shed some light on this for me? Thanks

 

[gerry67]

ya you are right - not meant to be removed - drill out the rivets ...ive got a black cherry Ltd - do ti carefully and the marks arent bad - you could fill them and throw some touch up paint on the holes ... - looks way better without LP holder ...

 

[hitmanbob143]

Try drilling the rivets out. Get a drill bit a little larger than the hole in the rivet. That has always worked for me. Hope this helps

 

[tmike]

Go to bumperplugs.com They look a hell of alot better then rivets or screws!

 

[willied]

This is a really old thread.