3rd Gen Grill Removal

[ugamurph]

I plan to eventually attempt a Satoshi Grill for my 2001 4Runner. In the meantime, I want to black out my original grill.

I found many posts that told me how difficult it is to remove the grill without 2 people. But, because I was working alone I needed to find a way. Originally, I came up with a tool to squeeze top and bottom of the clip. As indicated below by [MENTION=25058]ChildrenOfBodom[/MENTION], that was completely unnecessary.

Edited:
The grill is held on by 7 special clips that have a release tab in the center of each mounting point. Use a flathead screwdriver (or your finger if it fits) to push the release tab up or down. That will release the clip and grill.

Special clip:

Release tab in grill bracket:

(Sorry about the large size. Tapatalk no longer allows resizing.)



I released the top 4 clips first starting on one side and working my way across. Put some outward pressure on the side that has already been released while releasing the other clips or it will just snap back into place.

Then I released the bottom 3 clips starting with the sides and releasing the middle last.

Now the grill's off and I can easily paint or dip it.

Hope this is helpful for y'all.

 

[Millerad1651]

Ha, I don't think I even have any clips left...its all on there with zip ties! But good job in fabbing that up...whatever makes your life easier.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

FYI, they don't need to be squeezed top and bottom.

They have a release tab that sticks out. Push it with your finger and it releases.

The grille comes out in less than a minute.

 

[GladeRunner]

Thanks UGAmurph for the writeup and pics. I'm glad to see grill removal is possible when solo.

 

[ugamurph]

FYI, they don't need to be squeezed top and bottom.

They have a release tab that sticks out. Push it with your finger and it releases.

The grille comes out in less than a minute.

I tried that before making the "tools." It didn't work for me.

 

[redrunner02]

My new grille is bolted on, no more broken clips for me

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I tried that before making the "tools." It didn't work for me.

If you'd like, I can make a quick video demonstrating how you can remove the grille by yourself in less than one minute.

 

[cj80cruiser]

If you'd like, I can make a quick video demonstrating how you can remove the grille by yourself in less than one minute.

Please do man cause it really does take a minute or less to do it the way you describe....been doing like this myself.

Also, I only put 3 clips in to make removal even easier (2 on the top center and 1 on the bottom center)

 

[JoeT4R]

If you'd like, I can make a quick video demonstrating how you can remove the grille by yourself in less than one minute.

You never got around to making that video! LOL
I'm going to try to do this tomorrow morning. Could you post a few pics really quick as to how you just "have a release tab that sticks out. Push it with your finger and it releases."

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

You never got around to making that video! LOL
I'm going to try to do this tomorrow morning. Could you post a few pics really quick as to how you just "have a release tab that sticks out. Push it with your finger and it releases."

Hey someone noticed lol

Yeah dude just look at the clips. See the top part? Where the grille mount meets the metal core support, that little plastic tab sticks out towards the front of the truck. You just push it up or down and it will release its hold.

It will make sense when you see how they fit in there. Once you get one loose, just pull lightly on the grille so it doesn't snap back in. Bring a long flathead for the hard to reach ones.

 

[TheDurk]

I use the COB tab/finger method.

One thing to realize is the first time a grill is removed it is a major pain no matter how you do it. The clips really fight to re-lock themselves before you can do the next one and you can't do them with just a finger. I ended up parking in front of the garage door and clipping a few bungees from the door lift handle to one side of the grill. That worked.

12 years later, it goes in and out easily and the bungees are not needed. I still have all my clips working, too.

 

[JoeT4R]

Hey someone noticed lol

Yeah dude just look at the clips. See the top part? Where the grille mount meets the metal core support, that little plastic tab sticks out towards the front of the truck. You just push it up or down and it will release its hold.

It will make sense when you see how they fit in there. Once you get one loose, just pull lightly on the grille so it doesn't snap back in. Bring a long flathead for the hard to reach ones.

Thank you, COB! You are the man, especially for allowing me to do this and not making me late for work because of knowing how to do it. Haha. To anyone who is interested in removing their 3rd gen's grille, this is the exact how to. It probably took me about 1 minute and 10 seconds to get the whole thing removed. All you need is a flathead screwdriver.

 

[ugamurph]

Hey someone noticed lol

Yeah dude just look at the clips. See the top part? Where the grille mount meets the metal core support, that little plastic tab sticks out towards the front of the truck. You just push it up or down and it will release its hold.

It will make sense when you see how they fit in there. Once you get one loose, just pull lightly on the grille so it doesn't snap back in. Bring a long flathead for the hard to reach ones.

I had forgotten about this post.

A couple of months after coming up with my "innovative" method, I had to take my grill off again. I saw the little plastic tabs and a lightbulb went off, "Oh! That's what COB was talking about."

Real easy, and no clips broken yet. But, I have to use a flathead screwdriver because I can't get my fingers in there.

I'll be editing the first post to indicate the correct method. No sense in confusing anyone else about this.

 

[NotALimited]

You're right Ugamurph, removal only took a minute or two. The hardest one was the bottom middle, had to access it at the underside of the bumper. Great tip. Thanks!