Clips on 24 grill

[mrmag00]

Alpoba & trmrzla thanks for your help on finding part numbers for these clips. What makes this place so great.

 

[HelmPilot]

Those of you that have taken off the grill do you just muscle (pry) the edges of the headlight ring or is there some trick to getting the clip barbs to release?

 

[trmrzla]

Those of you that have taken off the grill do you just muscle (pry) the edges of the headlight ring or is there some trick to getting the clip barbs to release?

No trick. I just used a trim tool around the ring.

 

[HelmPilot]

Thanks ……… Just needed an excuse to buy one of those trim tools. Tired of using a putty knife!

 

[trmrzla]

Thanks ……… Just needed an excuse to buy one of those trim tools. Tired of using a putty knife!

I've got this kit and others, seems to do the trick:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZFJJZLF?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1

 

[Alpoba]

You're correct @mrmag00 there are clips that clip into the grill surround which clip onto the tabs on the headlights. Good news is I've never lost one because if it wasn't still on the headlight, it was in the grill!

But...if you needed them, I think Ford has been using them for awhile.

Ford Bumper Retaining Clip - Ford: W715801-S439

Bumper Retaining Clip for Ford Vehicles. Ford: W715801-S439

www.clipsandfasteners.com

View attachment 220997

I’m puzzled now. I know for a fact that my 23 came without any such clips from factory. I took the grill off 4 times by now. The photo is from the 1st time. It’s good to know that i can add these clips for a better hold, but i’m not really sure if they are truly needed.

 

[trmrzla]

I’m puzzled now. I know for a fact that my 23 came without any such clips from factory. I took the grill off 4 times by now. The photo is from the 1st time. It’s good to know that i can add these clips for a better hold, but i’m not really sure if they are truly needed.


View attachment 221016

Can't really tell from the picture, but it looks like yours stayed on the headlights as designed...located here:

 

[mrmag00]

Hard to tell from the picture but looks like the clips are still on around the headlights, maybe there’re supposed to stay on the lights and not come off with the grille. Looks like the clip has 2 fingers to hold it in so it pop free from the grille not the light.

 

[trmrzla]

Exactly

and if they do come off with the grille, I just take them out, bend the little teeth down and put them back on the headlight for when I put the grille back on

 

[HeavyAssault]

Found this as well...I'm not saying anything bad about Ford engineers......BUT.....nah...I'll just let it speak.

 

[mrmag00]

You would think it would be part of either the headlight schematic or grille schematic.

 

[Alpoba]

Hard to tell from the picture but looks like the clips are still on around the headlights, maybe there’re supposed to stay on the lights and not come off with the grille. Looks like the clip has 2 fingers to hold it in so it pop free from the grille not the light.

Exactly

and if they do come off with the grille, I just take them out, bend the little teeth down and put them back on the headlight for when I put the grille back on

i feel like an idiot, lol, didn’t notice these clips until now.

 

[mrmag00]

Well I know I learned something in this thread. Thanks to all that commented. Glad they don’t use plastic clips anymore.

 

[Slippers]

Just how tight do the clips attach the grille around the headlights? I noticed while washing mine some time ago that the surrounds seem fairly loose, like I can press them towards the headlights quite a bit, or even pull them away. I haven't thought twice about it until seeing this thread. Now I am wondering if I'm missing a few clips.

 

[trmrzla]

Just how tight do the clips attach the grille around the headlights? I noticed while washing mine some time ago that the surrounds seem fairly loose, like I can press them towards the headlights quite a bit, or even pull them away. I haven't thought twice about it until seeing this thread. Now I am wondering if I'm missing a few clips.

Even with the clips, the area around the headlights is still not very snug. There is a lot of play.

 

[Slippers]

Even with the clips, the area around the headlights is still not very snug. There is a lot of play.

Thanks for confirming. I won’t worry about it.

 

[Alpoba]

Here’s what ends up happening if you take the grill off 4-5 times, or if you’re not particularly careful when doing it, could happen the first time. I noticed just now, on my 4th time, that one of my clips was broken. I super glued it back, remains to been seen if it will hold.

 

[Hunterman]

What have you done that requires you to take the grill off 4 times? Hiding some mods behind it? I was going to take the grill off when I installed some lights but I thought it would be a huge PITA. Turns out it would probably have been easier and less bloody knuckles if it did

 

[Alpoba]

What have you done that requires you to take the grill off 4 times? Hiding some mods behind it? I was going to take the grill off when I installed some lights but I thought it would be a huge PITA. Turns out it would probably have been easier and less bloody knuckles if it did

Added raptor lights 1st time, changed badge 2nd time, changed to lighted badge 3rd time, reallocated ACC sensor behind grill 4th time, i’m probably forgetting something else, lol. Yesterday i swapped grills - that was 5.

@trmrzla swapped his grills like 5 times already, so he aught to be cautious too

And i heard @Optimus🤖 is getting ready to upgrade to a new gen soon, so please be careful with those clips!

 

[trmrzla]

Added raptor lights 1st time, changed badge 2nd time, changed to lighted badge 3rd time, reallocated ACC sensor behind grill 4th time, i’m probably forgetting something else, lol. Yesterday i swapped grills - that was 5.

@trmrzla swapped his grills like 5 times already, so he aught to be cautious too

And i heard @Optimus🤖 is getting ready to upgrade to a new gen soon, so please be careful with those clips!

All good here!