I really would like to put a set of the chrome tow hooks on my '05 Excursion...but wonder if the bumper has to be removed for this?

 

I been wondering the same thing. I have a pair of the chrome hooks already. Been looking off and on for how to replace them. There is no way I can get a socket to those 3 bolts. A wrench *might* fit but I doubt it. Any pointers would be great.

 

Yes, the bumper needs to come off. The three nuts are spot welded to the hook and the only way to get to the bolts is bumper removal. The good news is that taking off the bumper is cake. There are 6 bolts that hold it on, 2 next to each hook and 1 on each side in the wheel well. The bumper is rediculously light. Just don't forget to un-hook the foglights if you have them.

 

Ahh, very good news. Thank you. Maybe now I'll get around to swapping out my hooks this weekend

 

make sure when you reinstall the hook bolts, to use some locktight and torque them down to 76ft lbs.

 

Good point. Those bolts also help to hold the spring hangers on.

 

Just swapped out my black hooks from chrome. Was really easy, only took 1.5hrs from start to wiping down the last tool. There was also 2 phone calls in there. I did not see how those 3 bolts per hook held any springs. Maybe you have the 4wd and thats the difference? Ohh well, used the lock tight and set the wrench to 76lbs. All taken care of.

 

Oops! Your right, I should have mentioned that doesn't apply to SD 4x2's and MY '05+ SD's (not Excursions). You have the twin I-beam and the SD's have Coils. Sorry about that.

 

You don't need to remove the bumper. I used a 6" extension with a knuckle and another 3" and got them out w/ a 1/2 socket. They are on pretty good and I would use lock tite. I change mine stockers for a set of HD chrome that I got for $50.

...Rich

 

Hey what do you plan to do with the old ones? wanna sell them? im interested.

 

You can get them off ebay. I listed mine. $20-$30.

 

I had not decided what to do with the old ones. I would be suprised if anyone wanted them. Don't every SD come with black hooks? Looking at the size and material makup I can not imagine these breaking to need replaced. Also, they weigh a log, I would think shipping would cost as much as the sale price.

At first I thought of offering them to someone in the Dallas area, then decided to just toss em in the attic *shrug*

 

Okay...I looked under my 05 Ex today, and see that with an extension and universal that they should come off easily.

What I am unclear on is how these hooks are also attached to the spring mounts.I just don;t see that on my Ex..maybe I am missing something?

 

Matt, if your Excursion is a 4x2 don't worry about it. Just use the extension and take the bolts off. No bumper removal is neccessary. It's only on the 4x4's with the leaf springs that the bolts help hold the spring hangers on. The bolts attach up through the bottom of the hangers through the frame and into the nuts on the hook. In that case the bumper should come off so you can get an accurate torque on the bolts. If the torque wrench isn't perpendicular to the bolt the torque won't be accurate.

ON EDIT: I should probably make it clear that on the 4x4's the three bolts that hold the hooks on and help support the hangers aren't the only bolts holding the spring hangers on. You can remove the bolts without fear of the front suspension collapsing. But because of their importance they do need to be properly torqued back down.

 

EnviroCon..thanks for the clarification. My '05 is a 4x4, so I guess I have to remove the bumper. I can torque them without problem and good point on a straight shot on torqueing.