Front bumper removal to install AntiRock

[GregBelleville]

Happy Sunday all. So I was planning to install an anti rock sway bar today and started removal of my Smittybilt XRC front bumper and ran into a problem pretty quickly. I discovered after removing the mounting bolts that the bumper is welded to the frame underneath.

This doesn't seem like it was supposed to be welded, I believe it should just be bolted on correct?

What would be the best way to break these welds? All I have at the moment are hand tools, I don't have a grinder of my own but could borrow one possibly if that's the only way to break the welds.

Are there other options? Sorry this is probably a stupid question, but I have no experience at all with welding or fabrication.

 

[John Cooper]

Grinder would be the best, or cut off wheel. If you don't have those a chisel and a hammer will work. Just slower.

 

[tnjeepguy]

grinder And wear good eye protection; working looking up.

Cut off wheel OK, just be careful and go slow, check frequently to not cut into frame.

 

[GregBelleville]

Well I'll try the hammer and chisel first and go from there since I have those tools on hand.

 

[flyinfish]

You could pickup a cheap 4-1/2" grinder at Harbor Freight. Pick up a cutting wheel and grinding wheel. Cut the weld enough to remove the bumper then grind smooth.

 

[GregBelleville]

You could pickup a cheap 4-1/2" grinder at Harbor Freight. Pick up a cutting wheel and grinding wheel. Cut the weld enough to remove the bumper then grind smooth.

Good call, this might be the opportunity I've been waiting for to finally pull the trigger on a grinder.

 

[flyinfish]

Good call, this might be the opportunity I've been waiting for to finally pull the trigger on a grinder.

At a point you start cutting & grinding more, I'd suggest a cordless Milwaukee grinder. A HF grinder will do what you need for now.

 

[jjvw]

Well I'll try the hammer and chisel first and go from there since I have those tools on hand.

You will really wish you bought a grinder by the time you are done with the hammer and chisel.

 

[GPK03X]

Let us know how the installation goes. I’d definitely buy the grinder because you may have to do some cutting on that bumper for the anti rock to fit.

 

[John Cooper]

Should be able to cut the weld off in under 5 minutes with a good chisel.

 

[GregBelleville]

You will really wish you bought a grinder by the time you are done with the hammer and chisel.

At harbor freight right now, I gave up on the chisel quick lol

 

[bluescapegoat]

At a point you start cutting & grinding more, I'd suggest a cordless Milwaukee grinder. A HF grinder will do what you need for now.

I cut and grind quite a bit and all those tools are corded or air powered aside from a Milwaukee die grinder for tight spaces. Nice to have but batteries drain so fast in grinding jobs. I always keep two HF or Northern Tool corded angle grinders laying around, one with a cut off wheel and one with a flap disc.

Chiseling off a weld is going to take forever, or never, unless the weld is really shit.

 

[John Cooper]

I cut and grind quite a bit and all those tools are corded or air powered aside from a Milwaukee die grinder for tight spaces. Nice to have but batteries drain so fast in grinding jobs. I always keep two HF or Northern Tool corded angle grinders laying around, one with a cut off wheel and one with a flap disc.

Chiseling off a weld is going to take forever, or never, unless the weld is really shit.

Forget the weld, cut the smittybuilt bumper from the weld, even though the weld doesn't look that good either.

A good sharp Cole chisel would cut the thin bumper metal quickly.

 

[GregBelleville]

Trigger grip or paddle switch, help me choose#

 

[John Cooper]

Either or, personal preference.

Paddle for me.

 

[bluescapegoat]

Trigger grip or paddle switch, help me choose#

View attachment 435606

I buy the $10 ones personally lol.

 

[1o1proof]

Trigger grip or paddle switch, help me choose#

View attachment 435606

whichever feels best in your paws…

 

[GregBelleville]

I buy the $10 ones personally lol.

Yeah there's these warrior brand for 15 or 20 also, only 4.3 and 5 amps compared to 8 amps for the Bauer

 

[C.J. Roberts]

I bought the cheap HF angle grinder about 10 years ago for a single job I needed to do, and have needed it a few times since. It's done everything I asked of it, even with the HF disk set I got with it. I've found that HF tools will do what I need them too since I'm not using them on a daily basis, nor for anything difficult, (I live in Arizona, so corrosion is not a problem). $15
https://www.harborfreight.com/power...in-angle-grinder-with-slide-switch-58089.html

 

[voodooridr]

Trigger grip or paddle switch, help me choose#

View attachment 435606

I have the one on the right, has done everything I've asked of it so far