2018 OR Grill No More Chrome

Did it yesterday on a 19 and very happy with results. Like the stealth cheese grater!

Good tip is to 1st release the 2 clips holding the TSS wiring harness to the supports. This allowed me to flip the connector over and easily unplug. Would have been very difficult without popping those 2 clips out 1st.

Much thanks to the OP and all who contributed!

 

Any advise on doing this install to keep from breaking grille tabs?

 

It’s very easy, I just did mine over the weekend. Just watch a couple videos on how to remove the grille first, it only takes a couple minutes. If you have TSS, unplug that and disconnect the harness first. Make sure to set the grill on something that won’t scratch it like a big towel. After removing all 8 Phillips head screws from the back of the bezel, start at one side, and squeeze the tabs with a pair of needle nose pliers, while keeping constant pressure to push it out as well. Once you get the first one started, get your fingers in between the bezel and the grille to keep tension on it so it doesn’t snap back into place. The center grille section (which does not need to be removed) is held in the same way as the bezel so it’s handy to have the new bezel side by side to compare to, so you don’t go prying on any of the center grille section tabs.

 

Is it easy when looking at it to tell which are the bezel tabs vs the actual center grille tabs?

 

I was doing mine at midnight in some pretty shitty lighting so I can’t really tell ya lol. I just had the new one there to compare to, and it made it very easy to tell.

 

Did you buy a new bezel or are you painting the original one?

 

If I did this again, once the entire assembly is removed from the vehicle and placed on a flat padded surface, I'd grab a beer right then and take some time to stare at it. Made the mistake of quickly plowing ahead in anticipation of my usual mod completed beer by starting to pop out tabs for the grill itself, not the surround only, and broke one. Then, thought to myself, then said to myself, "hold on dude it's gotta be easier than this". So once the assembly is off, recommend taking some time to identify how the components attach and specifically which tabs and screws hold the surround only. Remove screws then tabs for surround release easily. It's actually pretty obvious even for a mechanically challenged person such as myself.

 

I just ordered the mentioned part number in this thread (

$124 52711-04010 Toyota Genuine Parts - Moulding, Fr Bumper (52711-04010)

52711-04010).

 

Haha I'll go with this plan so that at least if I mess one up I'll feel better. I don't really care if I break a surround tab since it's getting replaced but I don't want to even touch any of the actual grille tabs so I hope I can tell. Was there any danger in messing up any tabs or anything up that actually connect the grille to the vehicle when taking it off or putting it back? (Clips on the bottom that just pop loose with a pull)

 

I’m with you. I just gotta get rid of that chrome.

 

If you ordered the black one, just lay it side by side with the grille when you're removing the original bezel. It'll be totally obvious which ones are the bezel and which ones are for the center section.

When removing the whole assembly from the truck, just make sure to remove the push in plastic clips with a small flat head screwdriver, and the (2) 10mm bolts on top. To unseat the assembly, grab the top and bottom of the painted section and give it a sharp pull away from the truck. Do one side first, support it so the remaining clips aren't taking the whole weight of the grille assembly, then move to the other side and give it a sharp pull. It will pop right off. Just make sure to don't drop it into the truck or onto the ground!

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjRzcxgc9GM

There are (2) 10mm bolts and (2) plastic push pins holding it in place, that is it. Pop those out, disconnect the sensor, and give it a pull!

 

When replacing it back onto the truck did you have to make sure the bottom tabs are seated before you just go pushing it back in place? I'm sure it seems I'm overthinking all of this but I would rather ask more questions than needed and do it right than regret it after messing something up. Hopefully these questions will help someone else as well. As far as the TSS wire clips go is it as simple as it seems like it would be? Just pinch and push through then pop them back in place?

 

I watched his video. He is very "violent" in everything he takes apart but it made it clear how to do it. All these people are removing the inner grille and outter so they don't ever go into that aspect of what we are doing. Plus these people on YouTube never mention broken clips. The last thing I would wanna do is mess some of the tabs that hold the actual surround to the truck up.

 

Just below the plastic push pins on either side are some alignment pins (look like miniature tent stakes) that slide into a square shaped hole. Make sure those are lined up correctly, and it should slide back in and snap together all in one shot. Just give it a few love taps all the edge to make sure the snaps are seated properly.

 

@ 3:49 seconds in that video I posted, pause it, and look in he background and you can see the alignment holes.

 

Cool. Thanks. I'll just make sure to have my replacement shroud on hand before messing with it. I'll take some pictures for everyone when I have them side by side. It should help people that are just wanting to repaint.

 

I guarantee you'll come back saying "That was easy!"

 

Was not an issue for me. Watched some vids on that process and it popped off and back on nicely. One side popped out 1st, then worked other side loose before pulling straight back.

I'm with those that like the grill but hated the chrome surround. To me this is a mod that says "Not a Pro, do not want to be or identify as a Pro (not that there is ANYTHING wrong with that), proud being born as an OR but need to be me which is just a little different from the other kids".

 

I'm torn, I really like both and can't decide which I wan't to do permanently. One upside to keeping the OR grille is the TSS sensor doesn't have to be recalibrated, plus I think it looks really sharp. The Pro grille looks good, but all that smooth unpainted plastic almost gives it a kind of cheap look. I'll have to buy one and throw it on to see how I like it, if I decide I like the blacked out OR grille better I can always sell the Pro grille.