plugging holes left by front license plate...what to use?

14551 Views 15 Replies 12 Participants Last post by C Team, Sep 11, 2012

Jeremiah

Discussion Starter · Jan 3, 2011

so i despise having a plate i don't need on the front of my terrain...yesterday i drilled out the rivets the dealer put in and got that sucker off. the resulting holes are small but too noticeable (for me at least) and i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on plugs. i don't really want to have to drill them any larger just to get it to a size where a larger plug would fit in...but i need something.

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gearhead

· #2 · Jan 3, 2011

Jeremiah said:
so i despise having a plate i don't need on the front of my terrain...yesterday i drilled out the rivets the dealer put in and got that sucker off. the resulting holes are small but too noticeable (for me at least) and i was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on plugs. i don't really want to have to drill them any larger just to get it to a size where a larger plug would fit in...but i need something.

How about some silicone?
You can get it in many colours now.

gar187er

· #3 · Jan 3, 2011

bumperplugs.com

GARYD

· #4 · Jan 3, 2011

Put a "I don't brake for politicians" sticker over them. ;D

Most rubber plugs are black so they will still be noticable. If you can find plastic plugs, you could buy some touch up paint and paint them . Do you have access to a McMaster-Carrr catalog? If they don't have a plug your size = nobody does.

What size holes do you have and how far apart are they and where are they?

How about a piece of chrome trim across the holes? I'm sure you could find a chrome part that would fit.

Or as Jeremiah said get some silicone (same color), put tape behind the holes and fill with the silicone. Then smooth area as much as possible.

gearhead

· #5 · Jan 3, 2011

GARYD said:
Put a "I don't brake for politicians" sticker over them. ;D

Most rubber plugs are black so they will still be noticable. If you can find plastic plugs, you could buy some touch up paint and paint them . Do you have access to a McMaster-Carrr catalog? If they don't have a plug your size = nobody does.

What size holes do you have and how far apart are they and where are they?

How about a piece of chrome trim across the holes? I'm sure you could find a chrome part that would fit.

Or as Jeremiah said get some silicone (same color), put tape behind the holes and fill with the silicone. Then smooth area as much as possible.

That is funny about politicians!
True that about McMaster Carr.
Their catalog is thick as 2 NY City phone books.

Fortunately, they have a website too:
http://www.mcmaster.com/

Search away!

Jeremiah

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 3, 2011

Thanks guys. I saw the bumperplugs site but after shipping it's almost 60 bucks which is a little much IMO. I'll check out the site you guys recommended and see if I can find some matching paint. The holes aren't huge so if I have to drill on em to bore them out I'll probably just leave them

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GARYD

· #7 · Jan 3, 2011

If you find something you can use, I think you can order directly from McMaster, but if you can't we buy from them all the time, and I could order them for you.

fourmoremarine

· #8 · Jan 3, 2011

Jeremiah said:
Thanks guys. I saw the bumperplugs site but after shipping it's almost 60 bucks which is a little much IMO. I'll check out the site you guys recommended and see if I can find some matching paint. The holes aren't huge so if I have to drill on em to bore them out I'll probably just leave them

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CAN YOU FILL THEM WITH SOME KIND OF EPOXY THEN PAINT THEM?

Jeremiah

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jan 3, 2011

thanks GaryD

i've been googling around and people seem to be having luck with getting just plain plugs at home depot and using touch-up paint on them...worth a shot i guess...and it would be about the cheapest solution

nmagsino

· #10 · Mar 17, 2011

I feel the same way about the front end license plate. Such a nice sleek front end on the Nox, and then uglified by the Lic.Plate.

What I did was remove the bracket and filled the holes with the screws that were holding the bracket. The result is more subtle, the holes are plugged...but the draw back is that there are 4 screws on the bumper. I can settle for this as a quick fix for now.

I've also contemplated using the screw caps for license plate frames (chrome or black) to cover the screws for a little more detail...but I also don't want to draw attention to the front where the plate is supposed to be.

AMG Eric

· #11 · Dec 1, 2011

2

i used a 3/16" drill bit to drill them out. then i used a screw driver to clearance the foam behind the bumper cover and inserted these babies i bought from lowes for $0.80 for a pack of 2.

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vice86

· #12 · Dec 6, 2011

AMG Eric said:
i used a 3/16" drill bit to drill them out. then i used a screw driver to clearance the foam behind the bumper cover and inserted these babies i bought from lowes for $0.80 for a pack of 2.

ooooh...i like. I live in PA where we don't need plates but the car was bought in NJ where they have to have a front plate :angryfire:

bydnar

· #13 · Mar 10, 2012

4

I too, found myself being surprised by the dealer. In this case, I am from a state that does not require a front plate, so I am accustomed to it not being an issue. I took delivery anyway. Front plates are hideous IMO, so off it went. Now what to do? Forum!!! I found these tiny little plugs at Lowe's. They're in the drawers of oddities. I then got some Duplicolor touch-up paint. I was lucky that the holes were just 3/16" diameter, so the 3/16" plugs with a 1/4" head were perfect for the concealment. I painted the domes before insertion. Is it perfect, as it came off the assembly line? No, but not nearly as bad as with the front bracket.

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NODES

· #14 · Mar 10, 2012

This reminds me to mount my front one on the sports bar somehow, getting harassed by border guards every time I across into the states. :angryfire:

RIT333

· #15 · Mar 10, 2012

bydnar said:
I too, found myself being surprised by the dealer. In this case, I am from a state that does not require a front plate, so I am accustomed to it not being an issue. I took delivery anyway. Front plates are hideous IMO, so off it went. Now what to do? Forum!!! I found these tiny little plugs at Lowe's. They're in the drawers of oddities. I then got some Duplicolor touch-up paint. I was lucky that the holes were just 3/16" diameter, so the 3/16" plugs with a 1/4" head were perfect for the concealment. I painted the domes before insertion. Is it perfect, as it came off the assembly line? No, but not nearly as bad as with the front bracket.

Nice job, and a great tip !

C Team

· #16 · Sep 11, 2012

Great tips and info guys. I just posted about removing my plate today on my new Equinox. I will order some touch-up paint from the dealer first and get those plugs. I can't believe someone mounted that **** holder on my new vehicle!

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