ravencr

How in the heck do you get this front grill off of a 1998 4-Runner? It seems you three people with 2 screwdrivers a piece to pull the sucker off. The grill is sooo solid it won't let me pull out one of the clips while working on the other. Any tricks or ideas?

Chris

Joec500

yeah....there is this super Expesive tools you need.

They're called toothpicks!,Just use tooth picks to hold open the clips.


Joe

midiwall

I can tell you what I found on the '96, and it may help you on the '98.

I started from the top right point (as you look at it from the front). I popped the tab, pulled the grill out a bit so that the grill now sets on the tab, then moved to the next tab to the left on the top and did the same thing. You have to work carefully and not put too much pressure on the clips that you've already done otherwise they'll slip back in.

Something that may help is to remember that the clips will slide left & right in their slots on the frame piece. So, after you pop the grill away from one, sliding the clip to the side will cause it to be misaligned from the hole in the grill, and it won't slide back in.

The hard one for me was the middle one on the top. I took a long pick tool that had a bend in it to reach down through the top of the grill (pop the hood), got underneath the center clip and basically got lucky to pull it down far enough to free up the joint.

Each clip that you free will reduce the pressure on the previous one, and eventually you'll get the grill off.

Good luck!

ravencr

I must be stupid, because I tried that, but not the toothpicks. Are you serious? I appreciate the help!

Chris