OK, I was trying to replace the grille insertions on my limited with the chrome ones tonight. After trying for the whole night using the "mouse hand" way, finally I gave up. Now I'm considering to remove the bumper. I followed the instructions here (http://site.justforjeeps.com/guide/meshinserts.pdf) but I have some questions:
1. Are the plastic rivets reusable (instead of cutting them off)? If not, what's the size of them? A link to the proper rivets and rivet guns are appreciated!
2. That part is confusing as hell. But all you have to do is cut off the bottom 2 rivets and the bolt directly above that on the fender lining.
Then you pop the 2 or was it 3 reusable clips above the grille, and the 4 on the very bottom of the bumper.
3. Look at Step 4 on the PDF. It's located on the bottom of ea corner of the liner/bumper.
The scary put is pulling on the bumper to separate the clips/snaps. I was afraid of breaking the bumper.
Do like the video by pulling the plastic fender guard halfway around. It just snaps into place.
Where your bolt was, there's a lip there, so you kinda pull back a little bit to clear the bumper from that mounting point. Then you just pull and you'll feel/see the bumper popping off. You keep working it all the way underneath the headlights too.
Do the same thing to the top of the grille. That top black piece is snapped into place also.
Concerning the rivet size, I don't know exactly. I haven't used one yet. I've been driving for the past several days without the rivets in place. I knew I had to go back in, so I just left them out for the time being. Hand Riveter with 40 Industrial Strength Poly Rivets
After you remove the bumper cover the first time you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner - very easy process. I used that Harbor Freight rivet kit in link above; it comes with several different sizes, I don't know the specific size for the GC but just use the largest rivet that will fit through the hole on the liner & fender & you're good. My tip for reinstalling the cover is to make sure the cover fits in (slides past, towards the engine) below the lower inside corners of the headlight assembly on each side - seems like that makes the entire installation process easier once that's done.
Update: no luck. After removing all retainers (2 on the top, 4 on the bottom, 2 on the fender liners) and rivets (4 on the fender liners) and bolts(2 on the fender liners), I was not able to take off the bumper. The wife is very unhappy about what I did to the vehicle. I will take it to the dealer tomorrow.
I don't remember removing any extra on the "2 on the fender liners".
But what happen? You did pull out the plastic side fender halfway up the wheel well, correct? After that, you just start pulling on the bumper straight outwards starting on 1 end. It's going to take a lot of force the 1st time. Like I said, it feels scary as shit because you think you're going to break something.
anyone have the part # for the rivets? My father in law has the rivet tool, but he didnt have the correct rivets for the Jeep. I searched, but cant find the part # anywhere. The only thing I found was this - http://www.quadratec.com/products/73031_7003.htm
Don't buy Chrysler rivets - just get this $16.00 kit from Harbor Freight; comes with the rivet tool and enough rivets to remove and replace the bumper 3 times. (I know because I've done that.) Hand Riveter with 40 Industrial Strength Poly Rivets
I don't know the exact size you'll need. Again, just buy that kit - which is probably cheaper than one rivet from Chrysler. Just use the largest rivet out of the kit that will fit through the hole.
I was just quoted $465 to install black honeycomb grill inserts on 2017 grand cherokee...... that is after I buy the part. I would have been willing to pay $90 but $465....looks like I will be doing it myself and hoping it all works out
I just did this on my 2014 the other day, literally takes about 45 minutes max. Bumper removal is a breeze, the only "tricky" part is getting the old inserts out without breaking any of the tabs.
Thanks for responding..... When you said breaking tabs were you referring to the tabs on the grates or the tabs where you reinsert the bumper. When I bought my new grates they are a different style than the 2014 meaning they do not have the clips (I think they bolt in but i need to take off the bumper to be sure, there is no way to just pop them out without taking off the bumper or "front fasca" as the dealer said). My major concern is damaging the car when trying to remove and install the rivets (as I have never done that) and actually removing the bumper (the whole pull on it and it will pop off kind of scares me.
Any advice on removing the actual bumper where you are supposed to "pop it off" after all the rivits, push pins and bolts are out?
With my OEM inserts, there were a bunch of tabs around the perimeter of each of the 3 pieces that needed to be pinched in to release the insert. They don't seem to be very strong, but thankfully I didn't break any. Although it's a different mounting style, I would think those plastic clips would still be how they are attached, not bolted on.
For the rivets it's not a big deal. The rivets can be drilled out and removed. Once you go to replace them, buy re-usable fasteners...1/4" screw in type body fasteners, makes the job 10x easier next time (if there is one).
The bumper is just as easy, once everything is undone, just grab the fender at the wheel well and PULL, you're not going to break it. There are several tabs that go from the wheel well to just past the headlight, just work your way across you'll feel them release as you go. It's held on really well, so once you release everything across the front, it's not just going to fall to the ground, you'll be able to hang on to it and guide it down....just make sure you've got some towels to lay it on.
Best of luck, don't be scared to give it a shot, nothing is going to break if you're patient and take your time.
Thank you IndustrialChaos for the advice, I completed the task in under 45 minutes like you said. I have never really done anything to a car so it helped to hear your encouragement.
1. Took out the rivets like you said by drilling them out (used 1/8 drill bit) was very easy.
3. Followed the rest of the instructions from the video to totally remove front end.
4. So the difference was in the actual grill. In the 2017 the inserts are individual. There were 2 screws that hold each in place and the grills are surrounded by a outer piece (separate from the grill inserts). After the screws the inserts and holder can be removed form the main front of the car by pushing the tab (i pushed the bottom tab) and it easily released the piece with the grill insert and its holder. Now the grill insert holder has 4 tabs that hold the grill insert in the holder. They are fragile (or at least were not made to bend much) I broke one on the first insert, so after that I had to be really careful with each piece as to not break more. It was not easy but I did get the rest out without breaking any more. The good news though, when I put the new ones in and got to the part where I clip back into the main piece and screw in it seems that the screws alone will hold the pieces in so the one piece that i broke has no effect at all .
Put the rest back together and I was done.
Now that it is over I am glad I did it my self. Could not have done it with out the instructions and motivation so thank you to all!
Hardest part is learning how hard you need to pull the front facia sideways at the fender to get it to release. It really needs a big pull at least it did on my 2015 since then I have had the bumper off a lot doing an HID install on foggs and headlights. Eventually the black plastic retainers that bolt to the bottom edge of the fender that the bumper clips into loosen up and the fit between the fender and the bumper is not as tight. These plastic clips are available from the dealer and are not expensive, about $10.00usd. Or in my case $15.00cdn so if you break one dont worry about them also some buddy on one of the videos I watched talked about a GM push pin clip to use instead of the plastic rivets but I have not found those yet part # 461030 supposedly. Also on my 2015 there is the 4 plastic clips you turn 1/4 turn and also 4 10mm bolts on the bottom to remove as well as the clips under the hood.
Thank you for all of the advice and help Industrial I really appreciate it. Flash you are exactly right, thanks for your help as well.
The only difference would be in the 2017 the inserts are individual rather than grouped together. They screw out but they are also clipped in with very fragile clips (no change there). Other than that everything was exactly as you guys said it would be and the you tube video.
I am very happy with the look and glad I did it myself.
Couple of other tips people may find useful. On the bumper where the 10mm bolt goes through from the wheel well it goes into a black plastic mount that sticks out a bit into the hole in the bumper fascia so when you take the bolt out the inside edge of the bumper has to go rearward about 1/8" so it clears the lip of the bracket if you pull straight side ways on the bumper it may catch on that lip and this is part of what increases the effort to get it to release. If you have troubles along the bumper to fender and under the headlight I use a plastic trim stick and push it straight in between the 2 parts and that gives room for the bumper fascia to un clip itself.
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