Remove:

1.    Raise vehicle on hoist.

2.    At rear of right rear wheel opening, disconnect fuel overflow hose
from rear bumper cover.

3.    Remove 10 push pins retaining rear bumper cover to rear bumper and
quarter panel.

4.    Working through left and right wheel openings, remove screw on each
side retaining tip of rear bumper cover to left and right quarter panels.

5.    Remove two screws on each side retaining rear bumper cover to rear
quarter splash shield.

6.    Working through the right rear wheel opening, remove nut retaining
rear bumper cover to right rear quarter panel.

7.    Lower vehicle. Open luggage compartment door.

8.    Remove scuff plate.

9.    Pull back left and right luggage compartment trim panels.

10.    Inside right quarter panel, remove nut retaining rear bumper cover
to right quarter panel.

11.    Inside left quarter panel, remove two nuts (forward nut is accessed
through hole in support) retaining rear bumper cover to left quarter panel.

12.    In luggage compartment, remove eight nuts retaining rear bumper
cover to rear of vehicle.

13.    Disconnect side marker lamp and license plate lamp connectors.

Installation

1.    Follow removal procedure in reverse order.

2.    Tighten nuts to 10.2-13.8 N-m (91-122 lb-in).

3.    Tighten two screws to 1.4-2.0 N-m (13-17 lb-in).

4.    Tighten screws to rear quarter splash shield to 1.2-1.8 N-m (11-15
lb-in).

There you go... easy as pie!

Rob

My wife backed out into traffic some time ago and was hit in the rear
quarter panel.  Apparently, there was only damage to the bumper cover
itself.  The actual bumper mechanism seems to be ok. So, my question
is, how do i remove the bumper cover itself?  Just replacing a light
bulb in the brake lights was an ordeal, will it be as hard for the
bumper?  Luckily, the Taurus was white, and all the state government
cars here use white Tauruses of a similar model year, so i should be
able to find a replacement part with little trouble.

Thanks,

Rob