Wow, what a pain in the ***** ! Took me forever to get the clips off...ended up snapping 2 of the plastic ends...lost 1 clip in the hood somewhere...! , but I was able to get the insert out clean, no issues. I hope to install the Grill Craft MX black grille tonight...we'll see if I get a second after dinner...Anyone see any issues with have the clips snapped when putting in an after market grill?

 

From what I have gathered here I have seen multiple people say they end up snapping a few when removing the grille, seems pretty normal and it works out fine in the end. Just makes me wonder why they made it so easy to break when trying to remove...

 

cheap plastic is probably the reason...that and the fact that the actual clips have these small, sharp anchor type things that grip onto the plastic for dear life...either way, it's out...not damage done and i'll sacrifice a couple clips as long as nothing else is damaged. next is getting that emblem off....seems easy...but something is definitely keeping it on there...removed those cheap plastic nuts from the back, still can't get it off.

 

Probably double sided tape. Most Ford emblems are held on with a combo of speed nuts and 2 side tape. Careful with the speed nuts as well. Sometimes on the reinstall you can cut the plastic posts off.

 

Having the right tool makes the job a breeze, all you need is a small plastic wedge to tap down between the grill and hood and they pull free with ease, just swapped my xlt solid chrome grill for an FX4 grill with broken tabs. Not one single tab on my xlt grill is broken. Found the how to video on you tube.

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This is true. I've never broken any as well, but i am an auto body painter/body tech, at a Ford dealer no less, so i do have all the right tools. But i do see how many people break those clips.

 

^ this. Did this awhile ago and came off in 1 minute.

 

I've replaced my grille twice so I feel your pain. Best way to get the grill off without breaking them is to pull straight up on the top of the grille, working from one end to the other. If you pull just a little horizontal, the tabs will break. Cold weather doesn't help either.

 

In for finished pics. I wanna lose this c clamp chrome grill and still deciding what route I wanna go

 

I'm patiently waiting (not really) for the 2014's to come out so I can get my new grill. I need a vin# off a 2014 to order it.