Black plastic around the z71 side steps (removal)?

[08z71tahoe]

Has anyone removed just the plastic part around the steps? Looks like just a couple bolts hold it on…

How easy is the removal? How easy to put back on? How exactly do you remove them?

 

[08z71tahoe]

no one has taken these off?

 

[cjweb11]

Just took mine off a few days ago. Pretty basic:

1. Snap off the 4 aluminum "rivets" below the 1/2" bolts. (small screwdriver works)

2. Remove 4 1/2" bolts holding plastic to mounting arm of the nerf bars
(There is a 4th 1/2" bolt at in the front plastic panel mounting it to the underside of the body)

3. Disassemble the 3 joints of the plastic segments

4. Loosen and/or remove the 4 1/2" bolts holding the mounting arms to the body.
Separate the plastic from the nerf bar and remount.

I heard you can do it without removing the nerf bars entirely, but it just seemed easier... plus it looks good without 'em all together, so i'm leaving it off for the time being.

---------- Post added at 11:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:30 PM ----------

I meant to say that there is a *5th 1/2" bolt in the front plastic panel mounting it to the underside of the body

This should show you a pic, new the forum still figuring it out:

http://tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=2381&pictureid=17911

 

[08z71tahoe]

thank you for the detailed description buddy.

 

[CREETO]

took mine off o few years ago... gives the appearance that the truck sits higher because of the "see through" space between the bars and body. not too hard to do, and looks great! check out my pics.

 

[cjweb11]

It's the poor mans lift kit

 

[08z71tahoe]

lol... taking the plastic around the steps off is a lift???

 

[cjweb11]

haha just in appearance it looks "higher" off the ground.... but maybe it sits a little higher after shedding the extra weight??! lol

 

[Fallz]

I took mine off my 2012 not that hard but I did wreck them taking them off lol.

 

[08z71tahoe]

there has got to be an easier way to remove them then unbolting the steps... i could cut the off, but what if i wanna put them back on???

 

[cjweb11]

If you have a 1/2in or even 13mm socket wrench it's pretty painless to remove/install the nerf bars. Even easier if someone is there to hold the weight of the nerf bars, but not necessary.

I put in a pretty decent effort trying not to take them off entirely, but I don't think you want to destroy those whitish/yellow plastic clips around the lower bolt holes.. which I came close to doing trying to muscle the plastic pieces off.

In the end it really did seem the "easy" way was removing the nerfs.

That being said, you will be so pleased once the plastic is off I highly doubt you'll ever want it back on...

So, in conclusion, easy = cut the f*ckers off!

 

[08z71tahoe]

does anybody have some pics of the steps installed with the plastic removed?

 

[emann_01]

http://tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24783

 

[08z71tahoe]

thanks for the link to the pics buddy

 

[CREETO]

here's mine with the plastic guards removed from behind the step bar... removing the bar is the only way to take them off without destroying them.