Removing The Tow Ball

[XF Falcon]

Hi all

I've just purchased a BF XR6T (picking it up in a few days).

It has a tow ball fitted (not sure if its factory or part of a H/D towing pack...etc - have not looked at it in great detail at the dealer).

Im looking to remove it and put a cap back in its place.

1) Do I have to remove the rear bumper in order to get to the bolts underneath the tow ball? Or can I do it all from underneath the car?

2) Also im assuming once the tow bar is gone, and I get a cap painted in mercury silver then I can simply push the cap in place (once again without removing the bumper) ?

Thanks.

Attached is the only photo I have of the rear end at the moment if it helps:

Edited 09/05/07 06:13 PM by XF Falcon

[deek]

Hi The bar looks like it's not a HD one. You will however need to remove the back bumper to get it off

(from memory only 2 bolts in the boot and some screws in the mudguards)

The cap does just push in.

I would imagine they come undercoated so there won't be any need for you to paint it

[GlennAUII]

Yeah I just took my towbar off my XT. Remove the screws/scrivets from the inner guard where it attatches to the rear bar. Pop your boot and remove the carpet on the sides, there should be a nut either side to undo. Then go to the side of the bumper and pull it outwards so it unclips. Then the bar should just come off. Lay down a sheet or blanket so it doesn't scratch.

Theres 3 bolts for the towbar, you might need a rattle gun for the one underneath the car because I tried to get it off and it snapped my spanner! Then just either cut or unplug the loom (I had to cut mine because it was spliced in)

[tmac450]

Check the fitment first. On my tow bar, I just have to remove the tounge (two bolts) and the rest sits behind the bumper line. I kept the cap from when I got the car so I pop it on when the tow bar is off. This way it's still there when I need it, and not a shin finder when I don't.

By the way, the bar cap is not that easy to snap in or out. They're a tight fit and you need to contort your arm up behind the bar and guide it in from both sides. Removing it pretty much the same deal.

[XF Falcon]

Ok thanks guys, I'll give it a shot.

Hopefully the back half can be unbolted and the rest will hide behind the bumper once the clip is on. Otherwise I'll be removing the first bumper I've ever done, but after those instructions I can picture exactly how to do it, cheers.

And wheres the easiest/cheapest place to pick up one of those caps to put on the bumper? ford dealer or somewhere like that or wreckers?

I've got a mate whos a spray painter so I'll get it painted from him eventually.

I guess im gonna be expected to cop a bit of flack for the colour I chose.. its very controversial on this forum isnt it.. lol but I love it

[tmac450]

  XF Falcon said:

Ok thanks guys, I'll give it a shot.

Hopefully the back half can be unbolted and the rest will hide behind the bumper once the clip is on. Otherwise I'll be removing the first bumper I've ever done, but after those instructions I can picture exactly how to do it, cheers.

And wheres the easiest/cheapest place to pick up one of those caps to put on the bumper? ford dealer or somewhere like that or wreckers?

I've got a mate whos a spray painter so I'll get it painted from him eventually.

I guess im gonna be expected to cop a bit of flack for the colour I chose.. its very controversial on this forum isnt it.. lol but I love it

You might be able to see if a Ford dealer has any they've taken off a new car they've fitted a tow bar to. You may even get one already in the right colour. My dealer had a bin full of them.

[ZAP]

I removed my standard 1600kg towbar without removing the rear bar. It took about 10mins all up with a rattlegun and air ratchet.

The hardest job was getting the wiring loom through the grommet in the boot and this only took 3 mins.

As TMAC said, you should only need to remove the 2 bolts from the toung and then fit the cap.

[AzMahoony]

I removed my toe bar etc so all there is, is the black bit that barely sticks out, I also had I cap which I found with the spare tyre in the back, ive tried and tried but I cant bloody get the cap on, do I need to remove the little black bit where you remove the bolts from?

[tmac450]

  Silhoutte6T said:

I removed my toe bar etc so all there is, is the black bit that barely sticks out, I also had I cap which I found with the spare tyre in the back, ive tried and tried but I cant bloody get the cap on, do I need to remove the little black bit where you remove the bolts from?

Depends how far the bar sticks out. One of my workers has a N/A XR6 and his sticks out too far for the cap to go on.

If you just try to fit the cap by pushing it in from the outside, you'll never do it. I had to get a Ford mechanic to show me the trick, which is (as stated above) to contort one arm behind the bar to position and guide the cap into place from both sides.

[GlennAUII]

iirc ford only charge about $30 for one.