A conclusive guide to car grilles
The most noticeable part at the front of any car is the grille. It is why when one is considering customizing their car, putting in a custom grille comes to mind first. The right custom grille can alter how the car looks. Knowing more on grilles can help you pick and put in the right grille.
What is a car grille?
Top car front modifications
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The front grille is an integral part of the car’s design as it is the face of the car. Usually, it houses the emblem or is located underneath it. Heavily ingrained into the car’s design even without the emblem, it helps people identify certain car brands.
So what is a car grille?
It is the steel opening at the front of your car that lets in air to the radiator helping it cool the engine. Described as a grating that forms a barrier particularly an ornamental one at the front of the car. Grilles can also be found on the front bumper, in front of the wheels to cool the brakes, in the cowl to ventilate the cabin, or at the back for rear engine vehicles. Most grilles come with a plastic or metallic insert that giving it distinct visual appeal.
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Key factors to consider when getting a car grille
Vehicle make and model
Most grilles come made to specifications of the vehicle models they are to be installed in. The installation of many grilles does not even require the removal of the front bumper or cut away ant parts as they come fitted for the opening already in the car.
Quality and Durability of the Grille
A good quality durable grille protects your radiator and front mounted intercoolers and other vital engine components from debris. They are constructed such that only water and air can get in. Small rocks can turn into projectiles and easily damage the engine. The grille has to be able to withstand abuse from debris. Think of the materials and finishes. Go for a grille that made from quality material.
Budget in Getting New Car Grille
Determine how much money you want or have to spend on a new car grille. This will help you choose between a custom grille, an OEM replacement or making your own.
Warranty of the Grille
Are you planning of getting an OEM grille replacement or is it an aftermarket grille? It is essential to know if the grille you are planning on getting has a warranty. There are two types of warranty:
- Manufacturer’s Warranty – This refers to the extensive damage or faulty product coverage by the maker where terms and conditions, as well as parts covered, remain the same throughout warranty.
- External Third Party Warranty – This is coverage offered by third parties like insurance companies, or the aftermarket parts makers and dealers.
Does the grille affect the car’s mobility
Will the grill you choose to have any effect on how the car moves? Will the grill assembly and its accessories cause any hindrances. If the grille needs additional parts, make sure they do not pose any problems to the car’s movements.
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Materials used to make the car grilles
The grille needs to be made of a material that can withstand the constant battering from the elements and debris. Here are some common materials used in making grilles:
- Metal – These include stainless steel, aircraft-grade others. They are quite durable and have an elegant look. The downside to using metal is it can be expensive in terms of getting the materials and all the extra treatments needed to make it rust and corrosion proof as well as specialized metal paints. They are hard to manipulate and replacing a damaged metallic grille can be difficult.Billet grilles are made of aluminum which is lightweight and can be easily polished. Mesh grilles are often made from steel as it is harder and more resistant to bending than aluminum. Since the wires are usually thin, its tensile strength makes it ideal.
- Plastic – it is a cheaper alternative to metal. It is cheaper to produce and manipulate than metal. It is lighter which reduces the overall weight of the car making it more energy efficient. It is a lot easier to replace a plastic grille than a metallic one. They allow more creative room in customization as making a plastic grille is easy. Another added advantage is that it is corrosion proof. The major drawback to using plastic is that it can look cheap as is often viewed as a lesser material to metal.Chromium is added to the steel to make it shinier and help it resist rusting and make it harder.The plastic can be chrome plated to look like metal. This is often done on the front edges of the grille while the sides are colored with a non-reflective colorant so as not to mirror the radiator.
Design and style of the grille
The design and style of the grille will determine which one you choose. Your style and tastes can help you select the right grille. Ask yourself if you intend to keep the original look that is if you are replacing it, or you want to change up the look of your car. When you are getting a grille assembly, decide whether you want the finish to complement the grille or blend in with the rest of the vehicle.
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What is the purpose of a car grille?
Why cars need grilles
Automobiles nowadays have different size grilles from thin lines to wide intake ones like in the GMC Sierra, and its shape can define the car’s style. With the many grilles, their various shapes and sizes, one wonders why do cars even need grilles?
What do vehicle grilles do?
The primary purpose of a grille is to let in air to cool the car’s radiator. However, the look of the car grille matters a lot for customer satisfaction. Without a way for air to get into the engine compartment, a car could easily overheat, and this could be a danger. While many vehicles nowadays can get enough air to cool the engine through vents underneath the car, a front grille is more effective and looks cooler.While grilles are vital, there is a lot of elbow room left on how it should look. An attractive grille makes a car appealing and can mold its identity by tying it to the manufacturer’s history and reputation. An excellent example of this is BMW’s kidney grille design. Even without the emblem, you can quickly identify a BMW car from its grille. Advancements in technology have made grilles not only look better but allow them to play an even more significant part in improving the performance of the car. Some car makers have employed aerodynamic technology that closes some of the grille grating when the car is moving at high speeds to reduce drag and boost aerodynamic airflow. Others have exclusive performance trims that have specific airflow paths built into the car hood so air can freely move through the engine and out in such a way that the car maintains a tight grip on the road while efficiently cooling the radiator.
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Types of car grilles
Automobile grille categories
Car Grilles Three Distinct Categories
As per the mounting locationBelow are the different kinds of louvers mounted on the car body:
- A radiator grille found at the front of the car
- Roof or trunk grilles which located in the back of rear engine vehicles
- Bumper skirt grilles which can be in the front or back
- Fender grilles which cover brake ventilation and duct covers
- Hood scoop grilles which are mounted on hood scoops to allow air into the intercooler.
As per the styleThe aftermarket restyling industry defines grilles in two ways
OEM Factory-style grilles
– these match the grill made by the car manufacturers
Custom style grilles
– these are made specifically for certain cars. They are often fabricated in small quantities and are made of an assortment of materials.
As per the method of fastening This refers to the installation method used.
- Bolt over style – this method merely bolts the new grille over the existing OEM plastic grille. It does not require drilling or cutting of the grille shell. Hidden bolts, clamps and brackets are used for this simple installation. The major drawback is that it may not look as neat or clean as the replacement method as you can still see the other grille underneath. It does not take a lot of time to install a grille like this.
- Replacement style – this method requires the removal of the OEM grille first and the replacement mounted in its place. Drilling and cutting may sometimes be necessary. Installation instructions are provided with the grille, but it may still be hard to install.
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Most common custom grille styles
Billet Grilles
They get their names from the material they are made from. Billets are round, square cross-section aluminum rods mostly used in the aircraft industry. They are made differently from OEM grilles, which are either made from tubing or C-channels, where solid billets are molded to match the vehicle’s contours reducing the risk of kinking. Billet grilles are seen as a set of bars the run across the grille, usually mounted horizontally though some also run vertically. These bars are then TIG welded together and formed into a framework making a solid piece.This grille style is popular for customizing light trucks as the bars exude a masculine, rugged appearance, popular with truck owners.
Mesh Grilles
They are made of a wire mesh similar to a net, hence the name “mesh.” This gives a smoother look and a flatter surface. They are popular in sports and muscle cars as they provide that elegant, sporty look.
Bumper Grilles
These are other grilles that fill the opening in a bumper and are used together with billet or mesh grilles. Some car models have an open area between the bumper an the car’s lower skirt. It is common to include a bumper grille here to extend the regular grille, further customizing the car’s look. It has to match the billet or mesh grille chosen.
Car Grille Finishes
Grilles can be varnished in many ways. The usual method is to use a powder-coat. Instead of generally painting with a brush or sprayer, the paint is delivered on to the surface of the grille via electricity. Both the paint particles and the metal are charged with opposite polarity, and when the powder is applied, it sticks to the metal surface due to the electrical attraction.Since the process is so precise, the result is a lot better than that of grills painted in any other manner.Since the paint particles are electrostatically attached to the grille, it provides a better coating that better protection of the grille. This method of painting is more eco-friendly, from the paints used to the application method. Manufacturing can be scaled down since you only use a little amount of paint powder and it does not affect the quality. Some grilles have the front powder coating removed and the metal polished, this gives it a 3D look as the shine stands out from the black., or it is left coated. This coating is usually black and is preferred for its mysterious look. It blends into the background making other features like the emblem more prominent.
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How to install a custom grille?
Custom car grille installation
While each can and grille manufacturer has their way of fixing the grille, there are standard features in all grilles. Most aftermarket grilles are meant to completely replace OEM grilles, requiring the removal of this grille. There are those that are placed over the OEM grille, but their use is not common.
- Open the hood and remove the upper fan cover. This is where the upper mounting hardware for the grill usually is. With the cover removed you can remove the hardware securing it to the top, bottom and other body panels. This can include a snap-in connector, tabs that slide into notches on body panels or screws.
- Once you are done the grille should be easy to lift off. If it gets stuck, this is an indication that you have missed something.
- Some aftermarket grilles have special brackets that need to be put in place before the grille can be put in. This is due to the many different manufacturing methods. The heavier metals used do not allow it to snap into place like the OEM parts.
- The new grill should slip into place. If the new grille did not come securing hardware, you could use the ones you removed.
- Be sure to fasten it well into place. There should be no rattling or movement.
- Reinstall the fan cover. It guards the hands against injury by the fan blades and can affect the cooling of the car.
- and polish the grille and enjoy your new look car.
We hope that the tips in this post have helped you know more about car grilles and getting the right one for you. Just remember, the grille style will significantly affect the appearance of the car.