How do you remove the vinyl/plastic cover to the bumperettes?

[GoldHawg]

I'm going to have the bumpers powder coated gloss black and I'm trying to get the plastic or vinyl pieces off the bumperettes. They have an easily removable push nut on them on one end, but the other end is some bushing thing. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to pry it out, or squeeze it w/pliers. If the latter, I can't get around it uniformly, on one of the set (rears I think), but in the other, it is hidden underneath a welded on bracket. See pics. Anybody ever remove these for repainting? What's the trick? TIA

 

[turbohh]

I just did this two nites ago ... I grabbed the loose end and started twisting the pad counterclockwise and on one the retaining keeper popped out of the bumperette altogether still on the stud, and on the other one I kept spinning the pad until it unscrewed. It helps to spray the threads on the bottom stud with WD-40 or Liquid Wrench or the like ... Trying to spread out the sprung-loaded retainer clip to release the stud wasn't getting me anywhere LOL ... Good luck!
John A, Turbohh