All About Car Grille

The engine needs to be at just the right temperature to function efficiently and having a proper car grille will help ventilate the engine and its various components while also serving as more of an ornamental piece of kit. Grille has been under the microscope for many decades and it would be safe to say that we may have reached a saturation point as the modern grilles serve the purpose they were intended for and still contribute to making your ride look as snazzy as possible.

The grille is probably the first thing that a person looking at a new model of car notices as these are one of the most prominent styling features in modern cars. They can be found right at the front under the car's hood while also highlighting the brand emblem of your car

Since the dawn of the vehicles one element that has always been a part of the automobile has been the grille and today are available in a few types:

• Mesh: The most common type of grille as it is usually made by OEMs. They are standard on every car.
• Billet: They consist of straight parallel lines that stretch the length of the grille. There are basically two different types of billet grills. One is known as Horizontal Billet Grille, having thin bars stacked with a few heavy bars horizontally and the other is Vertical Billet Grille having vertical bars.
• CNC grilles: These are manufactured using computer aid. The computer control module means intricate shapes and patterns can be made like the finishing of the product, rough edges, etc. are glossed over with utter precision. This grille allows you to choose your own design
  

Here are the important aspects of a grille:

• The front grille of a vehicle was originally designed for a real purpose: to allow airflow under the hood, which could cool off the engine and radiator. Cars are full of components that are all moving very quickly to run the massive machine, and all that friction will generate heat, so it is important to have as many ways to cool it all off as possible. Engineering has evolved in such a way that, while the front grille still functions as it originally has, it is seen as more of a decorative design aspect than in the past.
• They provide a distinctive look to every vehicle and are in fact a defining feature of the vehicle
• They also help publish the brand emblem of the vehicle manufacturer or can be customized by the driver.
• The modern grilles have been so engineered that they may be actuated to close or open to allow only the necessary amount of air into the engine bay for the best aerodynamic performance
  

The grille is one of the most susceptible parts to damage during driving, as it can easily be struck by a number of incoming objects. Direct bumper impact can break the grille as it is one of the first elements that come in contact and hence it is common to have a broken grille after a head-on collision or any accident that involves the front end. Grilles are designed to allow airflow and not other particulates like rocks, dirt, ice, and road salt and debris which can severely damage the internals like the car’s radiators and other heat exchangers.

The grille is one of the first things that anyone looks at in a vehicle and hence any damage to it is almost always very clearly visible, like a broken or fractured grille or scuffed up paintwork. A simple inspection of the grille will be enough to determine any problems on a grille.

• Ratchet
• Socket Set
• Gloves
• Screwdriver
• Clip tools

When it comes to vehicle owners choice, the brands really matter a lot. You might pay a premium for a specific car part brand, over time, as it has created a perception of quality, stability as well as trust. There are some leading car parts brands which are more than just products or services as they give rise to memories and emotions related with the quality. So have a look at some top brands for Grille.

There are many parts associated with Front Bumper and Grille and one must always be aware of them all in order for the best replacement of the various parts:

• Grille Moulding
• Grille Brackets and Retainers
• Front Bumper Cover
• Front Bumper Insert
• Front Bumper Brackets
• Front Bumper Retainer
• Front Bumper Rebar
• Front Bumper Impact Absorber
• License Plate Bracket
• Front Bumper Moulding
• Bumper Valance
• Car Fender
• Headlight
• Fog light
• Fog light Cover

The grille is an essential part of the car and making sure it stays intact is necessary for the protection of the various engine components like the radiator and other engine components. Regular inspection can help determine and problems before they develop into bigger more expensive fixes. A replacement grille can go a long way into renewing the look of the car while ensuring optimum engine performance. They come in a variety of different finishes like chrome, steel or powder coated and materials like ABS plastic, aluminium or steel and hence cost varyingly.

Replacing the Grille may be a little complex but the right tools and this guide can make it a bit easier so follow along these steps :

• In most cars, the grille is part of the front bumper and in order to gain access to the grille, you need to remove the front bumper cover.
• If in case the grille on your vehicle is directly attached to the hood of the car then simply open the hood and locate the bolts holding the grille and undo them using a ratchet and the appropriate socket. This should separate the grille from the hood.
• To refit the new grille revert the process and attach the bolts to securely hold the new grille in place.
• For vehicles with grille attached to the bumper cover follow these steps: Pop the hood and using a clip tool or straight head screwdriver remove the clips holding down the upper shield above the grille and the fender liner in the wheel well.
• Repeat the process for the under shield or in some cars - the valance if the bumper is attached via the shield. If there are other visible bolts or clips holding it down then only undo them.
• Now using a ratchet and socket undo the bolts holding the bumper to the frame and the bumper is ready to come off. The bumper is popped from the bracket under the fender.
• Make sure to remove all electrical connections on the bumper like the fog light connections.
• The grille can now be removed from the bumper by undoing the bolts that secure it to the bumper.
• Place the new grille in place and redo the bolts. Now refit the bumper the same way it came off by following the steps in the reverse order

The process for removal and refitting will differ between different car makes and models and this guide provides an approximate as to what steps may be involved while installation or removal. Make sure to refer to your owner's manual for further clarification