Vacuum pump relocation

[Tswhit15]

Let me just start by saying that I'm not super mechanically inclined... Someone, who in all good intentions, had gifted me a bullbar for my JK which was a truly nice gesture but I'm eventually (a year or so) going to go with a different bumper anyways. However I did get some foglights to attach to it and decided to install it considering no matter what I did, I would eventually have to relocate the vacuum pump if I wanted a new bumper anyways. Way more work than I thought, had to recruit help in the form of cutting/grinding tools, and took the better portion of the day. Anyone have this issue or am I just making more work for myself? Either way, was a beautiful day for it!

[schwalby]

You have to do that with several brands of bumpers. Usually they come with the bracket though.

[Grumpfish]

99% of aftermarket bumpers need you to relocate that pump. As said by Schwalby, the bumper company usually sends a bracket along with the bolt package. My Aries front bumper wasn't bad to relocate but I have read horror stories as well. Did you take the OEM bumper off to put the foglights in or did you go in from the plastic cover on the top? If you didn't take the bumper off totally, that could have been the headache you encountered. I tried to change my fogs a couple of years ago on my OEM bumper and it was such a PITA I decided to just take off the front bumper to do it. Big hands in tight spots don't mix.

[Tswhit15]

Oh I definitely took the bumper off, that was probably the easiest part. I'm glad I got it done because now if I upgrade the bumper later it will make it much easier.