When I tried to remove the rear corenrs when installing my exhaust, I wound up breaking the plastic clips underneath. They are also under the hood. Before I install my revi instake, is there a trick or tool to getting these off?

Warm them up a bit with a hair dryer. I did that only only broke one. They can be fixed with crazy glue. Can't help you on the under hood ones.

It's a losing battle for the exhaust surrounds. The surround clips get brittle from the exhaust heat, your best bet is to find someone with a lift that will go high enough so you can tilt the exhaust out without removing them. An alternative is to have a muffler shop cut the pipe and install a pair of flanges in it so you can drop the muffler separately like the aftermarket exhausts.

hmmm...I was hoping for an answer that pretty much said I was doing something wrong and it was really easy to get them off. On my Honda, they have a similar looking clip, however the center part can easliy be lifted with a fingernail and then the whole clip pulls right out. Installation back is even easier. Oh well. Need to buy a bag of spare clips from the dealer I guess.

The round clips with the philips head screws that are used for a lot of the body parts ...tend to get full of dirt and they are difficult to remove. A shot of WD-40 sometimes helps. They are really cheap at the dealer...I got a bag of ten for about 5 bucks.....

Which clips were you talking about? My post was in reference to the exhaust trim like in the photo. Or the round, pop rivet like ones? The pop rivet ones can be found in most auto parts stores.

So what is the key to 2 little clips on the underside of the exhaust shrouds? Do you pry the center out and the rest of the clip comes with it, or do you just pry the whole thing out? I believe there are only 2 of them per shroud.

You soak it with orange citrus cleaner and then pry the center pin out about 4mm with a flat-blade screwdriver. Then grab them with a pair of needle-nosed pliers on the shank of the pin and wiggle downward until they pop out.

Thanks MM. Can't wait to get my new exhaust tomorrow. These plastic finishers are what I am the most concerned about with the install.

Once again thanks MM, I was able to what you said by putting a flat head screwdriver and wiggle the middle part down a little and then grab it with needlenose pliers and gently tug, and right out they came.

Glad it worked for you.
Doing this, I've never managed to break one of those clips.
I do loose them from time to time, however.
A warning - the clips like these that hold the air diversion panel under the hood (the plastic panel that bridges the gap between the top of the bumper and the front engine compartment frame member) are not a universal part. They have an odd sixe and finish and Mazda wants $6 for EACH of these. I'm missing two at the moment...

You soak it with orange citrus cleaner and then pry the center pin out about 4mm with a flat-blade screwdriver. Then grab them with a pair of needle-nosed pliers on the shank of the pin and wiggle downward until they pop out.

LOL...I just broke the tabs and removed them. I hate cheap plastic clips so I replaced them with black anodized screws, washers, and nuts.

^^ Much more elegant solution! Did you use blind nuts or regular ones?

it seem slike the whole cars put togeter with these things.no wounder every thin rattles.i just pried the stobern one out with a flat head screw driver.only broke 3 out of like 25 in the front end when installing AEM intake

Some types are intended as single-use fasteners and should be replaced after they are removed. Yeah, they're cheap, but consider what you got for your money with this car. Ya coulda boughta Boxster for $20K more and maybe it would have more elegant fasteners.