TRD Pro Grille install problems?

Two months ago, I installed the TRD Pro Grille on my 2016 TRD Sport with no issues. It was easier than the online videos led me to believe. 25 minutes start to finish.

My buddy has a 2016 TRD OR that we are trying to do the install on. Two upper Phillips screws removed, 2 upper and 4 lower black push-pin clips removed. The upper part of the grille surround comes loose, but the lower portion will not budge. We've tried rocking it, moving side to side while pulling forward; nothing. It's almost like there is something else holding it in place. We inspected thoroughly, but came up with nothing. On my install, the entire thing pulled straight out (forward) with little difficulty.

Has anyone else run into this difficulty? Did a mid-year design change add some unseen clips?

Thanks in advance,

Brent

 

My 2017 grille came out easily. Good luck!

 

I just installed one and it popped off extremely easy with a little shimmy and pull on a 2017 Sport. Only had to remove the 2 top screws and 2 top clips.

 

I think there are some slight tolerance differences from grill to grill. Mine was pretty hard to split from the grill surround.

 

Use a phillips screwdriver to remove the two screws and the flat head screwdriver to remove the two plastic tab screws on the top. Grab the upper supports and pull straight out. The plastic tabs on the bottom will come out. No need to remove plastic tab screws in the bottom. Pulling from those upper supports makes it a lot easier. Give it a light shimmy side to side as you pull if needed.

 

Hi Pwalnut, both of out 2016's have 4 of the black plastic push pins holding the bottom of the surround into the bumper. I think 2017 model year eliminated these.

 

I used the same method as Pwalnut shows in post#5 on my 2016. Only removed the 2 upper screws and two upper pins. My grill popped out no problem. Never touched the bottom 4 pins

 

Mine is a 2017 purchased 12/22/16 only a few days after delivery to the dealer. I have bottom push pins as well and I removed them the first time I removed the grill to swap it from Sport to Pro. The second time I removed it, for the light bar, I only removed the 2 upper screws and 2 upper push pins. It came out with no problem. Grabbing from those upper supports was the trick to get it out super easily.

 

Interesting. So you are saying the lower 4 pins don't even need to come out? That makes the difficulty on my friend's truck, even more perplexing....

 

I don't believe so. It should come right out easily with the upper 4 only

 

I had the same issue. I figured cold temperatures made it difficult to remove. However, I eventually removed it. Try loosening it by the headlights.

 

+2

 

Had to pull mine pretty hard straight out to get it to release at the bottom. Actually, when it did release, it sounded as though something broke. But, on further inspection, all was well and nothing was broke. For me, re-installing it was another matter that took a little extra patience.

 

Easy peezy!

 

On my 2016, I did not remove any push pins on the bottom. Did the swap in a cold garage (temperature may be a factor on how easy it pops out). I used my fist to pound the bottom of the grill from the inside and it popped out. After watching videos in other threads on removing a Sport grill, I was confident I would not break anything by tapping on the inside. Hope this helps.