DIY: How to remove 2019+ T1 Sierra Grill

Jonofmac · May 28, 2020

Since there is no DIY for this, I decided to take a few video clips as I was figuring it out during my Denali grill to a glossy black piece swap to make a DIY. Excuse the stuttering, I hadn't eaten all day and had tried several different things. I recorded after I had figured out how to remove everything. It's honestly not that bad, but you'll want 2 people when removing the fog lights and reinstalling that piece because if you're not careful, they'll fall out and scratch your lower bumper!

Steps:

1) Pop hood and remove the hood release handle (2x T15 screws). Once screws are removed, handle slides towards front of vehicle and off.

2) Remove 10 plastic push clips along the perimeter of the big plastic cover. Lift straight up when done and plastic piece comes out.

3) For both fender wells, you need to remove the 2x torx screws just on the inside of the fender.

4) With your hand on the front-most bottom part of the fender flare, pull straight out to the side to release the clips. There is a 7 mm screw under the fender flare you need to gain access to. I ended up removing the entire fender flare and then removing the push clips individually, reinstalling them into the fender flair, and then install the fender flair as one piece on re-assembly.

5) Once the 2 torx screws and 1 7mm screw under the fender flare are removed, pull straight out to the side at the corner where the quarter panel meets the front lower bumper/fog light area. It *should* just pop out with some force. One of my sides gave me trouble and I had to use a plastic pick (to avoid damaging paint) to push on the pin to release it once I got it out enough. You then pull along the headlights. The piece in the middle of the fog lights will pop right out if you pull towards the front of the vehicle, or use a plastic pry tool. You MUST undo the fog light connectors from the fog light housing and remove the harness clips from the housing as well. I believe there is only a connector to disconnect on the passenger side but a harness holder/clip and the connector on the driver side.

6) To release the clips connecting this bumper plastic piece to the grill, you'll have to crawl under the truck and pull back the soft plastic cover that you'll see. You can stick a hand in there and release the locking tabs while having a helper support the plastic bumper piece and work together to remove it. The entire piece will come out this way. Note there are 3 plastic clips that hold the plastic in the bumper that will come out with a little force.

7) Remove the 3 (10 mm) bolts on the bottom of the grill that are now exposed. There are 4 (10 mm) bolts on the top of the grill that need to be removed as well.

8 ) You can either release the 3 locking metal clips (left, center and right sides) that hold the bumper in place now or later. I didn't notice a big difference. If you do it now, give a firm and quick jolt towards the front of the vehicle and you'll hear the clip release. Don't pull too far or you could break clips.

9) Grabbing the top of the grill, lift up (not too much force) while pulling towards the front of the vehicle. You have to lift the bumper a little bit before it'll come forward.

10) If you have a camera, undo the 2 (T25) screws holding the camera onto teh grill and then the bumper should be free.

Installation is the reverse of removal.

Best of luck!