Hi folks, I was able to get the bumper cover off with little issues but reinstalling is not getting stellar results, the areas where the Claws live, they had a good grip before I removed the cover, now not so much, is there a secret to their grip or do they need replaced?? any help is much appreciated!!

 

Show us a pic of the area. Maybe you damaged something.

 

 

Did you remember to put the screw back in the inside flange?

 

some guy backed up into my car; the rear bumper was replaced and the body shop could never make it 100% like before, I needed up taking everything apart and realized the clips were they sit in were chipped off. So it was alway lose I ended up replacing them on both sides. problem solved.
Mine was rear but it seems very similair / you need to check the clips on the bumper and where they sit in almost like (teeth) are lined up and not broken from anywhere.

 

so did the white clip on the bumper itself break or did the holes on the bumper cover get cut off..?

 

 

I've found reinstalling bumper covers significantly harder than removing them. I can remove one by myself but I need at least one helper to reinstall one. All the gaps have to be eliminated and the bumper cover perfectly aligned and snapped into place before a single fastener is installed.

My "tool" for snapping a bumper cover into place is my open hand - it can take a healthy slap. Tabs/clips on bumper covers can be fragile so be careful with alignment before popping it into place. I wouldn't have as much practice if my wife didn't keep hitting curbs.

 

I had the same problem. It is relatively easy to access the attachment points for that panel, after removing the wheel and pulling back the wheel-well liner cover. Follow the instructions used to replace the main headlight bulb - same procedure to access that panel. I repaired mine as a while-I-was-in-there during headlight bulb replacement.

The problem is the top attachment for that panel is easily broken, allowing the panel to hang out.

I repaired mine using an oversized star washer that bites into the broken connection flange, holding the panel well in place. Using just an oversized washer doesn't work as there is not enough surface area friction to retain the plastic flange in place. Sorry, no pics.