[moonchild1214]

Im trying to figure out how to remove the front license plate holder/bracket on my 1995 ford escort. There are no screws, but did see 2 things that are holding it in. Are these push pins?

 

[nezwick]

Hmm, as far as I can remember, they're more like plastic rivets than push pins.

It may sound kinda ghetto, but I just used a pair of vise grips to "crush" the end of the rivet so I could then remove the plate holder.

Of course, only do it that way if you don't plan to ever reinstall it.

 

[moonchild1214]

Yeah I looked and from what I see I cant remove it. My state requires you to have a front license plate,but Im taking the car down in the morning for a paint job and want behind the bracket the color Im painting the car.

 

[madmatt2024]

There is no law that says you can't screw the plate directly into the bumper. You could probably drill some new holes in the holder and screw it back on as well. You should definitively remove it if your painting the car.

 

[zzyzzx]

They are plastic rivets and or push pins, and they aren't reusable! I ended up just getting some really long bolts and going through the front bumper to put it back on. If I remember correctly, I think I used 7.5" bolts.

 

[drew-z]

i kicked mine off

 

[dave8338]

i kicked mine off

That'll wurk! :lol:

 

[moonchild1214]

Thanks all who replied. I broke the pieces off this morning, had no time to play with it, I just wanted the car painted,lol. Although they told me with the paint job I'm getting I couldn't do the color I wanted. I'll figure out how to put the bracket back on later, at least it will be the same color as the car under there.

 

[needWheels]

Sorry to bump a year old thread but I also want to remove it.

If they are plastic rivets, can I drill them out?
How deep do they go?

So that will leave two small holes in the bumper, right?

 

[Joey_Twowagons]

Front plate attachment

On wagon number two the bracket was broken, so I drilled out the attaching fasteners, borrowed a threaded rivet installing tool from the sheet metal shop of a friend, and installed the threaded rivets in those holes. Then I drilled holes in the license plate to suit these (former) bracket attaching locations.

 

[needWheels]

Ah I forgot to update my findings.

Apparently the plastic "rivets" are really soft, almost rubber-like.

So I was able to pull the plate holder forward from the bumper about half an inch and then slip a cutting tool in that space and snip the plastic rivet.

Wow the original color was much nicer behind there, lol

Hopefully that gives a tiny bit better mpg and tiny bit better cooling air to the engine.

Wish I could remove the fake airfoil so easily, bet that is stealing at least 1mpg and it's blocking the low rear view too.

 

[Intuit]

If the plate is screwed directly to the bumper, might vibrate and rattle, driving the occupants/driver nutty.

There's a state law for it here as well. However it's not enforced, and was even issued a single plate one year. (budget cuts I suppose) I think the law remains on the books just in case someone want's to knit-pick.

Took mine off many several ago and have yet to be bothered over it. Front plates are ugly and inefficient anyway. Good riddance...

 

[Joey_Twowagons]

I've had no noticeable vibration, rattle or other problems with the plate attached directly to the bumper. It seems that if anything, attaching directly instead of through a bracket is more rigid.

 

[harley]

Its really easy to get off, i removed mine too because i was painting my car. All you have to do is get a small punch or phillips head screw driver and push the center in really hard and it will pop in then you are able to get it out. Its basically a plastic rivet.