How to Remove a Sierra Rear Bumper

The rear bumper on a GMC Sierra truck is designed to protect the vehicle in the event of a collision. When a collision occurs, the bumper crumples inward, absorbing some of the impact from the crash. This bumper also contains a place to mount the rear license plate and a light to illuminate the plate in low-light and nighttime conditions. When this bumper is damaged, it cannot effectively absorb the impact from a collision and must be replaced. Replacement bumpers are available from certified GMC dealerships and automotive salvage yards.

Things You'll Need

  • Wheel chocks
  • 1/2-inch ratchet
  • 1/2-inch metric socket set
  • Place the truck's transmission in park -- or first gear if it's a manual transmission -- and shut down the engine. Set the parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.

  • Crawl underneath the rear of the truck, and disconnect the license plate light electrical connectors from the bumper.

  • Remove the steel bolts that hold the bumper to the frame using a 1/2-inch ratchet connected to a metric socket.

  • Pull the bumper off of the truck.