Anyone ever removed a grill on a 2012 F150? Those clips are a real pain! Any clue what they are for when there are bolts right next to them! I pulled my grill off yesterday in hopes of installing a new bug shield. Finally got the grill off by removing the six upper nuts and two lower bolts then hitting the bottom of the grill with your hand. That was a real pain trying to dislodge the clips. Finally got that and installed the behind the grill bug shield and this is when the bad stuff happened. Doing a reverse install on the grill and trying to tap the top of the grill back down I broke off 3 of the 5 clips plus cut my hands all up on the sharp plastic edges of the grill. Couldn't get the grill back on and had to walk away in total sickness. How in the world is a bug shield supposed to be sandwiched between the metal hood and grill and have those clips snap back into place? Now I'm faced with a broken grill and scratches on my hood from trying to re-install it! All this for a $65 bug shield. Ruined my day! Any help offered would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks a lot

 

I had the same trouble and it was a pain,It did fit and looks better then any other ive seen. You have to pop them back in one at a time with your hand.

 

I did try that and worked starting from one end but the 1st one wouldn't snap in! You would think that the Bug Shield instructions would say to remove the metal clips off the plastic tabs and just use the tabs as an insert then use the bolts/nuts to anchor the grill back into place. I had an 04 F150 and had to remove the grill but it was a no-brainer installing the bug shield then re-installing the grill. This really bites because now i have a truck without a grill in hopes of the dealership getting me a new one. My only concern is that I sure don't want this to happen to the new grill once i get it! It totally made me sick after it happened. What's the trick in getting the grill to pop back in to place? Thanks again for the reply

 

I'd go the 3m tape route. It's clear, lasts forever, and protects just like a bug shield.

 

The 3m tape might work along with the bolts, its been a while but i might have broke one or two off myself.

 

I know a lot of people add bug guards on their trucks for looks, but I have found modern trucks have as much windshield rake as cars. I have a heavy foot myself and often cruise at 78/80 on the highway. I have yet to notice any more than normal bug splats. I've also had a guard on every truck I've ever owned up until my new F-150, mostly because I would hate to break up the lines on the front of this truck.

The 3M stuff works great but won't do anything to minimize rock chips on the glass. I used to get big guards on my truck because my theory was that it would keep the rock chips and cracks on the glass down but this never proved to be true.

 

You just stated my driving habits and my exact experiences with bug shields, etc.

I wanted one for my new truck and I've seen a couple with them and they look nice but I'm not willing to do the work it takes to mount one.

 

shopped them all and came to same conclusion...truck looks better without the bug shield or screen. Spoils the lines and doesn't add much if any bug deflection functionality.

 

Again, 3m clear tape! Keeps those nasty rock chips off the end of your hood where they happen most.