2018 TRD PRO Grille w/ TSS-P Radar Info/DIY

No, you don't have to reach down to the lower clips. Leave them in.
It's just the two bolts and clips on top, unplug radar, grill assembly pulls straight out.

Push nuts only go on one way. The teeth point up, which allows you to push them down the plastic post.
Use a deep well socket to push them down while also holding the garnish tight to the grill.
You shouldn't be able to wiggle to garnish once the push nuts are tight.

 

Yep, what he said.

 

Thanks guys. Installed tonight. Broke some clips off removing the old grill but oh well, in the garbage it goes.

One question I had was the two main 10mm bolts on the top when reinstalling... they won’t fully tighten and keep spinning. Any reason for this? I don’t see how I could have stripped anything as I was careful.

 

With the pro grille so popular and price off Amazon/eBay it seems, thinking of just getting my 2018 grill spray painted gloss black, Thoughts? Here is my color of truck and what I want mine to look like

https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p401/Coil/Bilstein_5100_Kit_(HS16BK-1).html

 

The grille is already gloss black. Only the bezel is chrome. Buy an SR bezel and it's a 15 minute changeout. That's what I did and it's a big improvement. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2018-or-grill-no-more-chrome.552749/

 

I’ve toyed with the idea of doing the same, but the inner portion of the grille is still pretty shiny and reflective, at least in my opinion.

 

After much debate, I ordered a Pro grille via Ebay. After installing the garnish, I noticed top of the garnish is not sitting flush, instead it’s rececessed compared to the bottom. I have the lock nut washers holding the studs on the back of the garnish in place, so it’s difficult to make any further adjustments. Anyone else have this experience?

 

Bump. Anyone notice the bolts won’t fully tighten and keep spinning?

 

Use a socket and push the bolts flush while holding the garnish tight against the grill. Worked for me.

 

You’ll be fine.

 

I should have left the garnish as it was. I tried to maneuver the garnish to get it more flush with the rest of the grille, but ended up breaking the two lower tabs of the garnish. I also broke off the studs at the top of the granish which were held in place by lock nut washes. I’ll probably try to use epoxy to hold the garnish in place. Overall, I’m extremely frustrated.

 

@OgabarM this is exactly what I'm planning on doing - have you continued to have success with this set up?

From reading the threads on this and looking at detail pictures of the "garnish" piece, I couldn't think of a reason this wouldn't work with minimal reduction in functionality. The "garnish" is made from PC-AEPDS which I believe makes is slightly more radar transparent that a PC-ABS (which I assume the grill and insert are made from). The only real issue with the standard insert is the two holes which allows water in and the patterned recesses which probably diminish the radar's accuracy by a small percentage, the former is solved by your solution and the later isn't really enough of a concern to spend another $60-75 on the "garnish" IMO.

 

I drive with these functions off in my brand new '19 TRD.

I just find them annoying. More nanny state.

 

Could have just not used the garnish piece. My 18 with tss works fine without. Had clean sensor errors for 100 miles while sensor adapted to new obstruction but fine now. Good luck with your fix

 

This is exactly what was wrong with my mad hornets knockoff...

 

@samjpatt
Almost 2k miles in since putting it on and no warnings/errors at all.. Went through some mountain passes with heavy snow during that time and have been in rain almost everyday up here in WA and everything is still good!!

 

Hello all. First post here. Great resource. I've been researching this thread for a while and I decided to go OEM. I just want to give an update on the whole "Toyota is cracking down on non-TRD Pro owners buying TRD Pro grills". I placed an order through Lowe Toyota Parts a few days ago and used a VIN from a TRD Pro that is being sold locally here at a dealer and the order went through and should be here the 16th. It was $267.11 before shipping for the grill, garnish, longer harness, and 2 lock washers. Unfortunately shipping was over $35 but still not a bad price for all OEM parts.

 

Not bad at all!!!

 

Barb at TRDParts4U will get you one, however, it will be 500. If your dealer cannot/will not get you one, and cash isn't a problem, I suggest giving them a call.

 

That’s a pretty good deal for shipping.