Pro Grille install gone wrong

Ordered a pro grille off of tacoma beast for my 2nd gen, and love how it looks but the install went a bit wrong. The push pins that were holding the old grille in place were very old and brittle and broke quite a bit when I pulled them out of the slots. When I went to put them back in after I put on the pro grille we couldn't get them to go, so we grabbed a mallet thinking it would be ok to punch them in. This caused a break on both side pieces that hold the grille flush with the head lights. Dumb mistake I know. Right now I have it zip tied and it looks great from the outside, but bothers me that its zip tied and not a permanent solution. Also not sure how long these zip ties will hold up.

Anyone have a suggestion for a permanent fix for this?

 

I don't really foresee why the zip ties wouldn't hold up other than it just looking janky when you pop the hood.

Stating the obvious, but you're only real permanent solution is new headlights. Depending on the type of plastic of those headlight housings and if you still have the broken ends (assuming they aren't shattered into multiple pieces) you might be able to plastic weld them back together?

Also, it appears you're missing the rubber seal that mounts to the top section of the grille's bezel and sandwiches between the hood.

 

What condition are your 16 year-old headlights in otherwise? Lenses cloudy? DRL lenses melted?

 

If the zip ties hold up, then I'm cool with it i guess! Only time will tell. I was wondering if after market headlights came with a new mount pieces? I tried to watch some youtube videos of guys upgrading theirs and couldn't quite tell if that part gets replaced with new headlights. Sounds like a no.

Also yes the grille came with the weather strip, and i couldn't get the glue to adhere to the grille so i left it off for now.

 

When i bought the truck they were in bad shape, super clouded. My neighbor details cars and offered to clean them up for me. Came out pretty good!

 

I like that grille. What a bummer. I know this is too late to help you now, but I found that the trick to those %$!#@* clips is to work the button part completely out of the lower leg part once it is out. When you're ready to put them back in, push the lower half into the hole in the body first, and then push the button into the lower piece to expand and secure it in place. Sometimes when they get old the clips break, even when taking them out. Pieces of the top button break off, or the expanding leg too. I'd keep your current fix in place. No one will ever know.

I have been eyeing that grill from that place but was worried about the quality. After seeing your pics which are much better, I think I'm going to go for it.

 

Yeah aftermarket headlights come with the corner mount:



Picture is just for example. 2012-2015 headlights shown. 2005-2011 headlights similar.

Your existing headlights will require yearly coating with an UV protectant to remain clear. Otherwise they'll get cloudy again.

 

Reach out to Tacoma Beast and see what they have to say. You can’t be the first person with this issue.

grill does look good.

 

Thanks for this, sounds like a great excuse to upgrade.

 

Good to know! Thanks, overall I am in love with how it looks, but the install process was a bit tricky. Avoid my mistake and you'll be good to go.

 

well thats something i havent seen done before when swapping a grill... but if you want a actual fix get new headlights thats the best option but if you are fine with the zipties then just leave them and it should be fine it will just look a little janky


i will recommend if you want the grill to look better to paint the outer edge the same color as the truck instead of it all just being flat plastic it would give it a more oem look

 

Be sure to compare TacomaBeast prices against eBay before ordering...

 

Lol. The only way to fix this is to replaced the headlights or at least the headlight buckets.

 

My grille has been held in place with zipties all along the bottom for 100k miles or so. I understand it bothering you being "janky", but I wouldn't worry about them not holding up - there's very little stress on those parts.

 

thanks! I wont sweat it.

 

You may need to get new lamps. It looks like the housing is cracked to the point moisture can get in. If so they will look bad quickly.

 

Looking at the same grille this morning. Saw one taco w it. OP his looks like one piece whereas pic below mesh part is separate piece. Wonder if it can be taken out/mod to fit stock chrome part.

 

I just bought this same grill how did you get the weather stripping to stay on ?

 

The answer is to throw it away. There is a "z-type" weatherstripping that is actually rubber, and goes on trouble-free, with just a little slicing around the upper mounts.

HOUTBY 4Meter Z Shape Car Door Window Trim Edge Moulding Rubber Weatherstrip Seal Strip Auto Protector

https://www.amazon.ca/HOUTBY-4Meter...t=&hvlocphy=9001064&hvtargid=pla-586391565966