The 2008 Ford Focus came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a five-speed manual or a four-speed electric controlled automatic transmission. Regardless of equipped options or trim level, all variations of the front or rear bumper covers mount to the vehicle in the same way. If you are replacing either bumper due to damage caused from an accident, or otherwise, you may have to replace some of the push pin retainers that hold the bumper cover to your Focus. The required push pins can be procured inexpensively at your local auto parts store or dealership.
Park the vehicle on a level surface and set the parking brake. Lift the hood and support it with the hood prop rod. Examine the front grille and locate the four push-pin style retainers that secure the grill to the radiator core support. Pry up on the center of all four retainers with a flat-head screwdriver. Lift the push out of the grille and set them aside.
Lift the front of the vehicle into the air with a floor jack and place jack stands under the front sub-frame rails. Lower the vehicle until it rests securely on the jack stands. Locate the push pins that secure the lower air guard to the radiator, bumper cover and wheel well splash shields and remove them with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove any retaining screws for the air guard, if equipped. Lower the air guard from under the vehicle and position it aside.
Locate the three front-most push pin retainers for the wheel well splash shield on each side of the vehicle and remove them with a flat-head screwdriver. Position yourself under the vehicle in a manor that allows you to reach the fog light wiring harness, if equipped. Remove the push pin retainer for the fog light wiring harness. Squeeze the locking tabs and disconnect the wiring harness from the fog lights, if equipped.
Find the two push pin retainers that secure the bumper cover to the metal bumper and remove them with a flat-head screwdriver. Pull the bumper away from the wheel well and fender on each side and then pull the bumper straight off of the vehicle.
Sit the bumper so that the inside faces downward. Place the flat-head screwdriver into the left or right side of the fog light bezel and carefully pry the bezel out of the old bumper cover. Remove the four mounting screws for the fog lamp and remove the fog lamp from the bumper cover. Repeat this for the opposite fog light, if equipped. Remove the foam insert from the center of the bumper.
Examine the inner fender splash shields and lower air deflector for any damage and replace them as necessary, if the bumper is being replaced as a result of a collision. Inspect all push pin retainers for damage and replace as necessary, there should be 20 in total for this process.
Lay out a blanket and position the new bumper cover so that the inside faces down. Examine the area of the cover where the fog light bezel and lamp is installed. Place a small serrated knife through the opening on either side of the plastic trim and cut out the plate where the fog light is to be installed. Repeat this for the opposite fog light, if your vehicle is equipped with fog lights.
Place the original fog lamp into position in the new bumper cover and install the mounting screws. Tighten the fog lamp mounting screws to 13 inch-pounds with an inch-pounds torque wrench. Place the fog lamp bezel into place and push it until the retaining clips click into place, the bezel should sit flush with the bumper cover. Repeat this step for the opposite fog light, if your Focus is equipped with fog lights.
Flip the bumper cover over so that the outside of the bumper is resting on the blanket. Coat the impact foam with spray adhesive and set it into position on the inside of the bumper cover; do not force it, it will only fit in one place and one way inside the bumper. Allow the adhesive to dry for at least one hour before continuing.
Set the new bumper cover into position on the metal frame bumper and install the two top push pin retainers. Push the center pins until they secure the bumper cover to the frame. Push the bumper cover into position under the fender on each side of the vehicle and install the 3 push pin retainers for the wheel splash shield on each side of the vehicle.
Lift the lower air guard into place and install the push pin retainers. Install any screws securing the lower air guard to the lower core support with a screwdriver, if equipped. Connect the fog light wiring harness to the fog lights and secure the fog light harness with it's push pin connector. Lift the front of the vehicle off of the jack stands and remove the jack stands from under the vehicle. Lower the vehicle to the ground.
Set the radiator grill into position on the core support and the bumper cover. Install the four push pin retainers through the grill and into the core support. Shut the vehicle hood. Take the vehicle to a local body shop to have the front bumper painted to match the rest of the vehicle, if necessary.
Park the vehicle on a level surface and set the parking brake. Open the rear hatch door and clear anything that may be in the luggage compartment.
Pull outwards on the trim carefully to disengage the clips holding it to the inner shell, you may use a flat-head screwdriver or trim removal tool if necessary. Remove the two nuts securing the tail lamp to the vehicle with a socket and ratchet. Pull outward on the bottom of the tail lamp assembly and then straight away from the vehicle, there is a hidden metal clip that will require some effort to disengage when pulling out the tail lamp assembly. Disconnect the electrical connectors and store the tail lamp assembly in a safe place. Repeat this step for the opposite tail lamp.
Squeeze the locking tab for the license plate light electrical connector and separate the two plugs. Remove the four upper bumper push-pin retainers with a flat-head screwdriver. Remove the two upper bumper mounting bolts that were hidden by the tail lamp assembly with a socket and ratchet. Examine where the rear bumper cover meets the wheel well and remove the single push pin retainer on each side of the vehicle with a flat-head screwdriver.
Place wheel chalks around the front wheels and lift the rear of the vehicle into the air with a floor jack. Place jack stands under the rear suspension and lower the vehicle until it rests securely on the jack stands.
Look under the bumper cover and remove the two push pin retainers with a flat-head screwdriver. Look at the corners of the bumper cover on the inside to find a support brace on each side of the bumper. Remove the support bolt on each side with a socket and ratchet. Pull outward on the upper corners of the bumper at the wheel well and then pull the bumper straight off the vehicle.
Set the new bumper into place and install two of the four upper push pin retainers. Push each corner of the bumper into place at the wheel well and install the push pin retainer on each side at the bottom of the bumper and splash shield.
Lay down under the bumper and install the two push pin retainers towards the center of the bumper. Install the bolt that secures the bumper to the support brace and tighten to 108 inch-pounds with a torque wrench.
Lift the rear of the vehicle of the jack stands and remove the jack stands from under the suspension. Lower the vehicle to the ground. Install the remaining upper bumper push pin retainers. Install the two upper mounting bolts in the tail lamp cavity and tighten with a socket and ratchet.
Connect the tail light electrical connectors. Push the tail lamp assemblies into place top side first, apply moderate pressure to the top to engage the hidden metal clip. Install the retaining nuts and tighten to 35 inch-pounds. Repeat this step for the opposite tail light. Connect the license plate light wiring harness.
Place the interior trim into position and lightly tap each piece until the trim is secured to the inner shell. Shut the hatch door and drive the vehicle to a local body shop to have the bumper painted to match the vehicle color, if necessary.
