I did a search and saw there were quite a few threads on the best grill guards, but I didn't want to necro post to an old thread.

My t4r came with a grill guard, it's rusty, started disassembling to paint and started thinking its too junky to salvage. By photos it looks very similar to hunter, DNA, and aries brand guards.

The only difference is that mine is a two piece design, it has a nice pivot feature that makes it easier to open the hood by rotating the top half back.

Maybe the pivot feature is not necessary? In fairness, it rusted and chipped the paint where it pivots. However, none of the designs I see for sale online have this feature, they're all 1 piece design.

Should I just get over not having this pivot feature in terms of replacing the unit?

Fair enough! I'll work on that

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Pulled it off for mechanic just in case he would have to change head gasket, didn't want him to get annoyed. Plus I wanted to paint it anyway. Started flaking apart during disassembly though, especially under the rubber bumpers (removed). So, was considering replacing entirely. But if it's a rare model, maybe I'll try to restore it instead.

Trucks still at the shop, that's all I have for pictures so far. The other half is still mounted to the frame . But this top half pivots on the bolt hole where it's really rusty. Had sort of a bike wheel quick release for 2 of the bolts. But that broke off when I removed it.

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Leave it off, those things are ugly and worthless and can do more damage to your truck if you bump into anything.

Ugly, OK fine, but worthless, depends how you define worth! My wife only wanted an FJ, and thought all 4runners were ugly until she saw this one that came with the guard. I can be very irrational for peace and harmony. I did mention the damage multiplying effect to her. No comment.

I'm willing to gamble the guard for a year or two, and if the truck seems reliable, maybe we'll spring for a shrockrock bumper?

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