jdpstang

Wondering if anyone has any info on removing the ugly front plate bracket on an '11 GT. Yup...live in one of those stupid two plate states, but HATE the look of that big piece of plastic. Planning to go with one of the hideaway setups. I know if I remove the stock one, I'll probably have two nice holes in the front bumper. Not sure what I'm gonna do about that yet. Perhaps have them filled and painted. Any info greatly appreciated!

Modshack

Buy some plastic plugs for about a buck from the hardware drawers at Home Depot or Lowes. Paint em with touch up, shoot with some clear and pop into the holes. Not perfect, but an affordable temporary fix. If you get busted for no tag, just pop them out and put your bracket back on..

On my GTI:

20115.0

^ +1, or you can try these guys http://www.bumperplugs.com/BPindex.html

SD6

Nice find thanks. I'm fine with $24.95 for color matched plugs (they have Sterling Grey Metallic Ford).
No point me doing it before winter, but in spring I'd like to get the fold down license plate that Big Papi uses.

jdpstang

Thanks for the advice on what to do with the holes in the bumper. Think I'll definitely take that route as opposed to having them filled and painted. Now....any advice as to how the bracket comes off? Does the whole front bumper have to come off? Best I can tell is that it's two screws that go in from behind....but not sure. Anybody taken one off yet?

HPwhitevert

For the 05-09 there were expandable threaded inserts that are pushed into the holes. No need to remove the bumper cover. Remove screws, take off the bracket, then screw in the screw a few threads. While pulling out on the head of the screw, use a plastic pry tool on the flange of the threaded inserts and carefully lift out. Repeat.

see attached photo for finished look with bumper plugs.
I carry the bracket, fasteners, pry tool, small screwdriver and front plate in the trunk just in case I get pulled over - I can install right there. So far no problems and I haven't needed to use my "field install kit".

jdpstang

Hmmm...ok. I'll have to take another look when I have a chance, but from what I recall, there were no heads to the screws looking from the front. All I saw were threads, as if the screws went in from the back. They almost look like rivets, but I can definitely see a few threads. I sincerely doubt the A-Hole dealer I bought the car from took the whole bumper off to put the plate on, so I'm not quite sure how it's on there. I appreciate all the info already. Certainly no offense to HPwhitevert....but anyone taken one of these off a 10-11 yet? We all know Ford is infamous for changing little things like fasteners, etc. from year to year.

DaSFGiants4Life

Which color would we get for a black car? Would it be the EBONY Black? Or just Black?

jdpstang

Bump. Anyone? Would love to get this thing off!

S197 GT

10mm socket

Remove 2 bolts from plate frame.

Remove 2 bolts from bracket.

Done.

20115.0

i just looked at the front plate of a guy that works in the same complex as me and his is just two screws. Doesnt the dealer install the front plate bracket? So maybe they did it differently than other dealers

GTCS 2k9

This has been a great thread. Didn't know about the caps from Ford. Ordered my 2009 Mustang and made it clear to the dealer not to install that bracket. Sure enough, my clear instruction was missed. To say I was upset is an understatement. Was offered a new front clip. Declined because I was afraid of another screw up.

stangfoeva

I did the same thing. Except when my car came in, my salesman went out to the car and took the bracket out of the trunk. He made sure they were'nt going to mess up and install it. I still have 2 very small holes though from the factory pre-drill

xkornkidx01

mine didnt come with any... come to think of it, I dont know where I put that extra license plate for the front =P

jdpstang

I'm gonna have to take a picture of the fasteners to show you guys what has me so plagued. It sounds as though mine is attached with something different then what everybody has described so far. It would be my luck that I have to take the whole bumper off to remove this **** plate! Really hope that's not the case though. I'll post a picture later so everyone can see what I'm talking about. Surely if it were a 10mm, or just a phillips, the bracket would already be in the trash!

jdpstang

Ok...here's a picture I snapped of what I see from the front side of the license plate bracket. As I said earlier, it looks as though the screw goes in from the back. I took off the plastic piece today that covers the radiator support to see if I could get at the screws from behind....but the bumper support and styrofoam are in the way. It's looking more and more like the bumper has to come off, but I really don't want to do that. My only other idea is to drill out the screw from the front. Any suggestions? Anyone have the same fasteners on their '11? Thanks!

Modshack

Not a screw...It's a rivet. You're going to have to drill that out.

Adam

The license plate bracket is riveted on? WTF? Since when?

jdpstang

It's not a rivet. There are threads poking through. It's either that the screw comes through from the back, or they sheared off the head after installing.

Big Papi's Pony

Are you sure it's not some type of speed nut? can you grab the round washer looking thing with pliers and see if you can back it off ? I have never seen that before.