New front emblems will not snap in?

todd308 · May 25, 2021

So like an idiot I thought I'd change out my red GMC emblems for black, I did order GM parts, black emblems from the Carbon Pro. I was able to get the old emblems off okay, but the new ones all the tabs will not snap in tight. Here I thought getting the old ones out would be the problem, and that was easy!

It looks like the tabs in the grill that capture the hook on the emblem tab are just a bit too long for the new emblems. From what I can see the emblem tab is not going in far enough to get "captured" fully at all the tabs.

Anyone had this problem, and ideas? Plenty of pressure has already been applied and then some

Edited May 25, 2021 by todd308

Smrtasp · May 26, 2021

I replaced a set on my 2019 Denali with the chrome and black ones and that went perfect. I traded my 2019 for a 2021 AT4 2 weeks ago and just replaced the front emblems again but this time with an all black set where the chrome is painted gloss black. They will not lock in all the way for exactly the same reason that you described above. What I noticed is that these all black ones have those tabs also painted and that probably added just enough extra size to those clips. I ended up focusing more on locking the top ones in and on the bottom you can reach your hand in underneath and behind the mounting area and wrap your fingers behind where the clips lock in. I was able to get a few of them locked in this way as you can touch the clips. On top however its impossible for me to wrap my fingers behind to get to those clips. Messing with it this way for a while finally got them all locked in.

todd308 · May 26, 2021

Yeah I bet that's the issue, sounds like we have the exact same emblems, all black, gloss on the outside and flat on the inside. In the end like you mentioned for most clips I was able to get behind the grill, flex the hook part of the emblem clip away from the tab that captures the hook, for all but 2 this gave enough extra room to let the grill tab engage the emblem hook. There were two that were actually just a tiny bit loose (top of the "C") perhaps we damaged/stretched the grill clips in removal, but they ended up snug once the bottom ones were hooked in.

I will say after doing it, I'll never do it again. Installing the upfitter aux switches was less hassle, and that's saying something!