2014 Step Bumper Install on 2012

shortnugly · February 18, 2014

Got the new bumper '14 on my '12 so I thought I'd share before and after pics and some things I ran across.

Pics of '12 bumper. fitment and gaps were a little tighter than the new '14 bumper.

For those that are particular about the millimeters, you decide.

Note the two bolts supporting the bumper

One side of the bumper attachment. Easy to get to.

Wicked little bracket that holds the spare tire access hole. Pain in the @ss to get out. Gotta bend each little tooth out so the plastic collar can back out.

Broke a locking tab getting the round trailer receptacle out. No biggie.

Evil little collar that holds the spare tire access tube in place. Fu$k it. Ebay has them for $8.

Edited February 18, 2014 by shortnugly

shortnugly · February 18, 2014

Dang...

Gonna have to break it up in chunks.

shortnugly · February 18, 2014

Will continue this tomorrow.....

2017SierraSLT · February 18, 2014

No worries with the broken trailer receptacle. The '14 bumper takes a whole different unit.

shortnugly · February 18, 2014

No worries with the broken trailer receptacle. The '14 bumper takes a whole different unit.

Yes, got the new dual receptacle on order. $32 shipped from GMpartsdirect

shortnugly · February 18, 2014

Twist out the license plate lights. Left and Right.

Pull out the wiring loom retainers. 6 of them along one edge of the bumper.

Wide shot of the back of the '12 bumper. Wire loom removed.

Thought I had to pull back the bottom plastic shield to get to the nuts that attach/support the middle of the bumper on the top of the receiver bracket. I didn't. the two bottom bolts came out without spinning the nut.

Lucy - Da Boss - She's head of Quality Control

No need to remove the bottom plastic. Cool tool though. Panel remover. Must have for any body/trim work

21mm to remove the two bolts that attach/support the middle of the bumper.

Safety comes first . . . . . . Stay hydrated.

One last shot of the old bumper.

mike94silverado · February 18, 2014

making progress

shortnugly · February 18, 2014

Bracket on the inside of the right and left. 18 mm nuts.

Two nuts that remove the inner bracket. 18mm. Smaller bolt to the right is 15mm.

More shots of how tight the old bumper is.

Aligning bolt on the underside of each bumper to frame attachment point. 21mm again.

Bumper off. A little drafty.

'12 on the left, '14 on the right. New one is slightly longer. next shot shows the difference. Here they're placed evenly.

Shot of the other end shows the length difference. 1 3/8" longer on the new one.

Length view

Difference of 1 3/8"-ish

Overall length shows the new bumper is wider, ie: extends and wraps farther into the bed side. Better shots later show this.

New bumper wiring harness. Includes backup sensors - which I didn't use. I pulled the new harness off.

Re-used the retaining clip found on the new bumper for the spare tire access collar. Just bent some of the teeth back in so it would grab & hold the collar.

Old license plate illuminating harness. New '14 has different connectors. I used the old harness. '12 bulbs twist in to the '14 housing. Nice break.

Leave it.

'12 trailer wiring harness. I used the existing one. Detach from the back of the old bumper-mounted receptacle.

It will plug into the new GM dual receptacle part # 22799842. NO cutting or splicing was required because I had no backup sensors.

SILVERADOSC540 · February 19, 2014

Awesome, detailed write up. Looking forward to seeing the finished product.

jdnoble18 · February 19, 2014

Nice! I might have to do this on my truck.

99silveradoz71 · February 20, 2014

Good writeup and nice beverage choice.

shortnugly · February 20, 2014

Corner shot with the new bumper on. Step flares out a little but still pretty clean lines.

Great utility. I really like the look.

Side shot. The upper corner radius is smaller where the old bumper had a larger corner radius. Nitpicking here but wanted to point out all my observations. No one but me will ever notice.

Old bumper for comparison.

Good, tight fit against the bed.

New bumper is "thinner" so the receiver protrudes out a little more. Not a problem for me. Better access to the hitch pin.

Old bumper shot for comparison. Covers the receiver tube more.

Look at the difference in bumper widths. '12 bumper is wider.

Edited February 20, 2014 by shortnugly

shortnugly · February 20, 2014

Tucks in nicely.

Shot of the bracket that supported the old bumper.

3/4" space. Gonna fab up some aluminum dowels to wedge in there on both sides. Tap one end and secure with a fender washer.

New bumper sits up against the bed.

shortnugly · February 20, 2014

The gaps on top were ever-so-slightly wider than the old bumper. So if you walk out of the store and catch someone back there with a millimeter ruler, punch him right in the left ear.